The Wolfsonian Museum is a museum, library, research center and architectural jewel in Miami Beach’s Art Deco District. The museum is widely recognized for its unique collection of modern artworks and industrial design objects and is an incorporated department of the Florida International University. Discover the modern history of art and design from the United States, Europe and beyond in two collections comprising around 120,000 pieces.
Mitchell Wolfson, Jr. opened up his impressive collection of modern design objects and printed matter to the public in 1995 and donated the collection to Florida International University in 1997. Wolfson used the towering white 1920s-era building as a storage facility before transforming it into the impressive museum it is today. Admire the stunning Mediterranean Revival building from the street and note its carved embellishments and waving flags for the nations represented in the collection.
Enter through the museum’s ornate iron gate to find seven floors of state-of-the-art facilities. Floors four through seven house a collection of industrial design objects, modern furniture, works on paper, rare books and textiles. See American industrial design patent models, fine British arts and crafts, Dutch and Italian Art Nouveau pieces and political propaganda from former Eastern Europe.
Join a public program at the Wolfsonian Museum’s auditorium and classrooms and participate in a lecture, tour, film screening or workshop. Check the temporary exhibition gallery to see a rotating selection of collection items.
Stop by the museum gift shop to browse an excellent selection of design and history books and magazines and souvenirs. Relax with a cup of coffee in the cozy café.
The Wolfsonian Museum is located in Miami Beach’s Art Deco District, approximately 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) south of Lincoln Road Mall. Catch a bus or drive from downtown Miami. Parking is available for a fee in garages and on the street. The museum is open daily except for Wednesdays. A small admission fee applies, except on Friday evenings when entry is free.