Visitor Tips and Policies
At the Lightner Museum, we strive to be a welcoming place for all. Our staff and volunteers are here to provide you with an enjoyable visit and ensure an environment of respect for our community, one another, and the art. To help us accomplish this, we ask you to be respectful to our staff, volunteers, and fellow visitors and follow our visiting guidelines.
Protect the Art
- Please do not touch any museum artifacts. Help us preserve the museum and its collections for everyone to enjoy. Accidental handling can damage or destroy artwork. Remember to stay at least two feet away from all artwork and artifacts.
- Please avoid touching or leaning on display cases.
- Seating is available throughout the building. Do not sit or step on display platforms or ledges.
- Take your time: walk, don’t run in the galleries.
Prohibited Items
- Possession of dangerous materials, including firearms, is not permitted in the Lightner Museum.
- Luggage and larger backpacks must be checked at the admission desk. Neither backpacks nor backpack baby carriers may be worn on your back in the galleries. If permitted to carry your bag, you will be asked to wear it on the front of your body.
- Umbrellas are not permitted in the galleries and must be left at the admissions desk.
- Food and drink should not be brought into the museum galleries.
- Out of consideration for others, set cell phones to silent at all times. Please refrain from talking on cell phones in the galleries.
Accessibility and Service Animals
- The Lightner Museum is wheelchair accessible. Ramp access is via Granada and Cordova streets. The museum also has a limited number of wheelchairs for visitors on a first come, first serve basis.
- The museum has an elevator that accesses each floor except the historic pool, which has an accessible entrance on Cordova Street.
- Service animals are welcome in the museum. Pets are not allowed. The Lightner Museum complies with all ADA requirements and accepts service animals in the museum as defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The Lightner Museum does not allow Emotional Support Animals (ESA) or Comfort Animals, as they are not service animals as defined under the ADA.
Families with Young Children
- Little ones are welcome—children 11 and under are free.
- Stay together. The best way to look at art is as a family so stay with your children throughout your visit. Hold very young children by the hand.
- The museum offers a free family guide that can be picked up in the admissions area.
- Strollers are permitted in most areas. For safety reasons, strollers are not allowed in certain galleries. Please wear baby carriers on the front of your body to help keep everyone safe.
- You’re welcome to nurse your baby anywhere in the museum. If you would like a nursing room, ask at any Visitor Services Desk.
- A baby-changing station is located in the gender-neutral ground floor restroom in the admissions area.
Photography and Filming
- You may take personal photos in the permanent collection galleries but no flash, tripods, or selfie sticks. Photographs may not be commercially published, sold, reproduced, transferred, or distributed.
- Commercial photography is prohibited at the museum. Commercial photography includes photos or videos taken for a fee or for sale or for any purpose other than private personal use.
- The museum reserves the right to deny any person permission to photograph or record video on the museum premises for any reason.
- When taking photos, be cautious around artwork and other visitors and stay aware of your surroundings.
- During your visit, you may be photographed or filmed by museum staff. We may use these images in signage, printed materials, and online for any purpose, commercial or otherwise.
- A full copy of our photography and filming policy can be downloaded below.
