The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art

The art of the American West - and the spirit of its native peoples - come to life at the James Museum in St. Petersburg. It’s an absolute treasure, nestled in the quaint but urban downtown center of this coastal city. Steps from the cultural center of St. Pete, this modern homage to a by-gone era is a delightful journey for everyone. Take a solo tour or enjoy a family or group adventure. The artwork is divine, the stories filled with joy and sorrow, and the scenery of this lost land is preserved with dignity and majesty. The cafe and store are both worth perusing, and the bar is an authentic wooden fixture that conjures the saloons of Deadwood, where a sarsaparilla might pare with some tales of wandering ‘round the yellow roses of Texas. If you’re in St. Pete, do not miss this experience. And remember to hit the Dali Museum as well. They’re both reminders that this is an art colony, and there’s more to explore than just the beaches, water sports, and cuisine.

We've been to many museums all across America. This is definitely one of the best. The architectural design of the museum is enough to put it at the top of the list. The exhibits were incredible, and there were far more paintings and statues than we anticipated. We look forward to taking visiting family and friends there in the future.

Wonderful museum about American west. It freely expresses the tension between European American and Native American. The exhibit tries to achieve a historical accuracy through modern and contemporary artworks. The most surprising exhibit is about the Chinese immigrants who were invited by European Americans to build the railway. The brief introduction is available with business style presentation. Hence, we can found a relatively complete west picture in this museum.

The James Museum truly exceeded our expectations! Our wedding was everything we had hoped for and more. The waterfall and bronze sculptures in the Arroyo added a special touch to our ceremony. Valeria was nothing less than amazing to work with! She was extremely helpful and very patient in answering our questions throughout the planning process. The James Museum was also very accommodating to our requests, which proved how much they truly care about their clients. Our guests really enjoyed the opportunity to explore the galleries during cocktail hour and complemented the unique atmosphere. It was truly the perfect venue for a night we’ll never forget.

Will return to this wonderfully curated museum of contemporary art. The museum has eight galleries, showcasing sculptures, paintings, jewelry, and other artifacts created by contemporary artists. From the Belknap family's journey from Ohio to Oregon in the 1840s, to Chinese railroad laborers, to jewelry, the Black Moccasin Meeting Lewis and Clark sculpture, and Clint Eastwood's spaghetti western painting. The $75m James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art was created by Tom and Mary James and opened in 2018. Thomas James (born 1942 or 43) is the chairman of Raymond James Financial, which was founded by his father, Robert James (1909-83). It's based in St. Pete. I think the firm is more like eTrade than Morgan Stanley.

This is a stunning, carefully curated collection of traditional and modern styles of American Western art. Some of the best stuff comes from contemporary Native artists. This museum is worth your time.

I have wanted to come here for years, and I am so happy we made it. Wow, the amount of artwork hidden inside this gem was breathtaking. This museum is not to be missed, if you are a local, or visiting, make time for this museum, you will not regret it. We needed so much more time as we got there pretty late in the day, but $10 Tuesdays have my name all over them. The artwork is some of the most breathtaking I’ve seen. The artist’s various techniques were both hyper realistic and surreal all at the same time, and very unique. The landscapes, the way the mist and clouds were painted was really amazing and the colors the artists achieved and brushstrokes are just like I’ve not really seen before. I could’ve easily spent double the amount of time here.

Had the pleasure of photographing a wedding at the James Museum this past month. It is such a beautiful venue with so many spots for creative photos. The bride and groom were so happy with the atmosphere and overall feel of the museum. I love this spot and cannot wait to photograph many more weddings upcoming here at the James!

I was absolutely blown away by this place. I took my mother who is an artist. The collections are HUGE. the space is beautiful. Even the architecture of the build and interior is art in and of itself. The design team must be very proud of that amazing bridge. The Survival of the Fittest exhibit was phenomenal. I loved my time here. it is a great experience. They even do a $10/Tuesdays ticket price. It is well worth it. The art pieces in the normal halls are beautiful.

Been trying to visit since opening Cannot Imagine how fast time flies... don't e a Joe....GO! It is both expected, surprising, sad, embarrassing and mesmerizing all wrapped up in a "slot canyon" designed exhibit space. Art and spirit, though we the colonizers tried and continue to oppress, cannot be suppressed. Go, support. It is good for the soul. The earth without art ya know is just "eh"

Excellent museum on the American West and Native Americans in downtown st Pete. The museum Makes up the art collection of the James family. What I found particularly interesting is that the art considers the west from multiple perspectives. I loved some of the more contemporary portraits. There is a Large selection of art and it is a beautifully designed museum. Tuesdays is $10 entry.

I had the pleasure of attending a gathering at The James Museum in Downtown St. Pete, and I must say, it was a truly mesmerizing experience! The soiree took place in their sophisticated Mesa Ballroom, Cannon and Arroyo event spaces while I also had the chance to wander through the museum and delve into its artistic treasures. With the ballroom located on the street level, it makes the ambiance of the downtown location chic and exciting. The exhibits boasted an exquisite selection of artwork, creating an engaging and thought-provoking ambiance. The museum's milieu exuded charm and allure, making it a superb setting for any festivity. Don't miss the opportunity to visit or organize an event at The James Museum - it's a top-notch venue with a remarkable assortment of art on display. Prepare to be dazzled!

Beautiful works - fantastic presentation - perfect lighting, this is a must see From paintings to prints to sculptures to jewelry the high level of artistry is on display from room to room. The collection has been put together from what appealed to Mr & Mrs James and they both have a discriminating eye. They were captivated by the art, landscape and wildlife of the American West and have put together an over the top collection.

Very impressed with this museum! We have gone in the downstairs section a few times but never had time to go into the actual museum. I was shocked at how large the museum actually is. The museum is a little difficult to navigate- if you are like me and want to make sure you see everything. Make sure you give yourself a couple of hours to go through everything. We took about 2.5 hours but had to pick up the pace for a dinner reservation. The artwork is breath taking and unique. There are so many different types of art. They had a special exhibit that had to do with animals, which was pretty cool. The staff was friendly and helpful. Great experience.

What brought me here back in the fall of 2021 was a traveling Andy Warhol exhibit entitled Warhol's West. I never knew he had such an affinity for the West. Never did I think I would leave so amazed and awe struck by this museum itself . It is filled with western art, life sized sculptures of Native Americans, wildlife and Indian jewelry . The building is architecturally stunning. The atmosphere is like an oasis of calm and quietude . This is a must see museum.

Beautiful pieces of artwork that embrace the west. From life sized bronzed sculptures to beautiful paintings depicting indigenous life and that of the cowboy. There are some beautiful pieces of jewelry and hand crafted baskets. Everything is well labeled identifying the artist and description about the piece. There is even an old bar from 1905, gorgeous mahogany wood and still standing the passage of time! The gift shop has a great selection of items to take home as a keepsake or to give as gifts. There is a discounted rate of $10 on Tuesdays and numerous events and even live music.

This place was pretty nice! I didn't expect that they would have music playing like they did. They also offer a good spread at times. I enjoyed going and seeing the exhibits. The manager of the place was very nice and knowledgeable. They have a pretty decent bar as well right at the front which I thought was a nice touch for a museum.

Checklist: Culture SENSE-ATION Artwork Conversation pieces Full bar + bites Discounted Admission Tuesdays = $10 Excellent location - if you want to grab something to eat/drink before you go there are so many places to choose from. Check this museum out! Be ready for an immersive experience of fine art, pop art and (depending on the exhibition) native art. Pleasantly surprised I enjoyed my experience. Can't wait to return for $10 Tuesday for a tour and live music. May even invite a companion to show off my multi-faceted personality. Adult approved

The James Museum is a wonderful place for an event! We hosted a business dinner & reception for 50 people and it was perfect! Valeria and her staff were so helpful with every detail. I planned everything via email without ever seeing the Museum in person. Trust Valeria and she will take great care of your event!

This museum exceeded my expectations in terms of range and feel. I thought they had great variety in the pieces and secret displays were statements that made you pause and take them in. Recommended for both the general public and art lovers. I think both can find plenty to enjoy here.

The James Museum was a blast! It's fairly small and it won't take up a ton of your day by visiting but the artwork inside is tremendous. From statues to life-like paintings to a whole room dedicated to Native American jewelry get dressed up and go spend an hour here!

This museum is about a mile from my home and I didn't know it existed. And once I was there, I honestly, was completely blown away with the entire exhibit. Things to know: 1. Regular Admission is $20 2. No beverages in the galleries 3. Masks at this time are required in the entire museum Typically when I'm at a museum I kind of zoom around and am done. While I enjoy art, I don't necessarily take the time to take it in, but here at the James Museum, I really did and absolutely found every piece stunning. The James features collection of pieces focusing on western culture and wildlife animals, both of which I really enjoyed. So many paintings were so good they looked like actual photographs. This is a personal collection of the owners of the museum of artists they enjoy. I believe the museum is about 400 piece of a 3000 piece collection. Everything about the museum felt really captivating. Possibly because we know the story of Native Americans and seeing their stories being told through art/painting really is meaningful and adds a layer of depth. There is also an Andy Warhol temporary exhibit which was a lot cooler and larger than I expected. I really thought they curated a nice exhibit of pieces and was captivated by it as well. Being there made me want to get a membership, for sure. I felt a sense of peace here. I really loved this museum and can't wait to bring others here and just can't wait to come back in general.

I'm a fan of museums and of western art in general. I liked the cowboy bar in the gift shop. I could imagine it being a cool place for a fund raiser but there wasn't anyone manning it when I was there. The gift shop was small, but the entry fee wasn't terrible. One thing I found difficult was navigation. All the exhibits are upstairs but you weave around without much direction. We had a hard time finding all the rooms and then finding our way out. I liked that they focused on living artists and they had newer western art. There are a few artists I'd suggest, but I'm no curator, what do I know? The last thing I'll leave you with is that it is hot outside and cold inside. Be prepared.

On our first visit to the James Museum, we were very impressed. It's located in downtown St. Pete. There's a parking garage located in the same block. If you park on the 4th or 5th floor, the first hour is free. The architecture of the museum is something to see. It's very modern and angular. The artwork is located on the second floor. We were there for the Andy Warhol exhibit but we toured the entire collection of western and wildlife art. The collection is quite impressive. Audio tours are include with the price of admission. I can definitely recommend a morning or afternoon browsing the James Museum. It's well worth the parking and entrance fee. It's also located in the heart of the myriad of restaurants in downtown St. Pete.

Went on $10 Tuesdays and it was such a fun way to spend an afternoon. Beautiful collection of art and sculptures. We easily spent about 2 hours just browsing the different galleries in the museum. I had no idea it was such a huge collection. Loved the placards next to the art pieces with the info and history of it. The bronze sculptures have so much detail, it was so cool to see them all up close. Easy metered parking right out front on a Tuesday. Museum staff were friendly.

Awesome display of art and history, place is clean and well lit, parking is available

This museum in St. Petersburg, FL is amazing. Lots of statues and amazing pieces of art. Centered on a western theme, lovers of western, wildlife and cowboys and Indians reign supreme. The art is truly amazing. My favorite display was of Ansel Adams, lots of black and white photos of famous landmarks many from California. We went through by ourselves, but we did see one very knowledgeable lady giving a self guided tour. They say 1-2 hours, but you can view at your own pace.

Excellent display of Western art, in all media. I loved the dramatic sculptures and paintings. The artisan jewelry and other silver, gold and copper ornaments were so beautifully crafted. They lovingly captured the essence of Native American cultures throughout the Americas. Well worth a trip.

This is a great space! You can tell how new and well funded it is. Spacious, water feature. And an amazing array of art with historical context. The people working there were super helpful. And it wasn't too crowded.

This was our first indoor activity since Covid, as we are both higher risk. We paid for tickets on line and printed them to take with us. Parking above the museum is a bargain at just $1/hr. The entry protocol was reassuring and on This Saturday morning it was not very busy. Staff walk through the exhibit halls and all the patrons were good at social distancing. We'd visited about a year ago and this time there were definitely new pieces. The collection is huge so pieces are indeed rotated. Many of the works are by contemporary artists. The carving, bead work, paintings and sculptures are truly beautifully done. Even if you aren't especially fond western, wildlife and cowboy focus you'd be hard pressed not to learn something new or admire the skill of the artists. If you've never been, don't miss the orientation video. If you like gold, silver, turquoise DO be sure to check out "The Jewel Box". Photography is allowed, except for in the current special exhibition on the Gay Rodeo, quite poignant. We stayed about 2 hours, sitting periodically to rest and gaze. This place is a treasure! Thank you Mr. & Mrs. James for sharing your inspired collection.

What can I say, it's a museum with an antique full liquor bar. What more can you ask for?

The James Museum... is one of the best art museums that I have ever visited (and I have been to maaany art museums around the world). The building itself is a work of art. The introductory gallery is breathtaking. I REALLY appreciated the various perspectives of the introductory gallery from the second floor. The highlight for me was "The Jewel Box," the Museum's collection of Native-made jewelry. While the admission price is a liiittle high - $23 - for a niche museum (and also considering that its founder, Tom James, former CEO of Raymond James Financial, is worth over $2B), it is one of the finest museums of western art in the United States. It may be THE finest one.

I have to say, I enjoyed this museum more than I expected! I am not a big fan of cowboys, and the main theme of art in this museum is native American and cowboy culture but boy is it well done! We visited the James on the weekend because I had reciprocal admission through my Dali membership and it was an activity we could do in AC and socially distanced from other people. I've seen their sculptures in the lobby before because I attended an event on the lower level but the sculptures are only a taste of what awaits you upstairs. There are paintings of various styles and mediums, some so real they look like photos! Many of the talented artists do an amazing job at capturing the light and life in their subjects. In addition to paintings and sculptures, there is also a room full of amazing native American jewelry! SO BEAUTIFUL! There is also a gallery dedicated to wildlife art. Downstairs in the gift shop there is also a really cool old west bar to check out. Parking is onsite and is accessed from 1st Ave South. It is free for the first hour and $1 for each additional hour. Do yourself a favor and check out this hidden gem of a museum.

Nice little museum downtown St Pete. I went to see the Ansel Adams photos but I really enjoyed the western exhibition. Has a great cafe also

Beautiful facility. Highly recommend. I really enjoyed the guest exhibition on race. Very well done. greatly curated.

We only stopped in for the gift shop but will return to tour the museum. Very nice and the security guard today 10-5-2019 was so cool and nice! One thing to is the bar! Very nice and old fashioned. Worth a visit just to check that out!

free on the first level, but for the second floor , pay 10$ every Tuesday and the rest of the day is 20+$. it's a great museum and nice staff.

Mary & Tom James collected 3,000 + art and treasures from the west that are displayed in this spectacular new museum that opened in 2018. They live in St Petersburg but were fascinated with cowboys, Indians & the west. We started with an eight minute video and moved through the old west, the early west, native life, the frontier, wildlife, new west and ended in the special exhibit. We saw many statues, paintings & artifacts. The jewel box was filled with Native American turquoise jewelry that is truly spectacular. The art is colorful, striking & very memorable. Loved the native artists & jewel box, amazed that this was a private collection & i'm so glad it's shared with us. The art rotates, and the special exhibit was Helen Harden's etchings. There was a short video about her life and early untimely death. Interesting Museum is open from 10 until 5 daily. Admission was $20 but there were many discounts and both of us were $28. Love it, the spectacular gift shop, restrooms and Cafe which all follow the Wild West theme, just beautiful! There was parking across the street for $2 for 4 hours. Central avenue was filled with restaurants, shops & it connects most ofthe cities attraction.

The museum has great space and very interesting pieces from paintings to sculptures, jewelry and mixed media. I went here for an event or else I probably would never come here as I am not into that cowboy and Indian culture or time period of wild west American history. That being said the art was interesting, from classic Western scenery and portraits to modern interpretations of the Western American culture. There were some really cool pieces there but again not my cup of tea. If you like Western/Southwestern culture and history then you will definitely like this museum. This gift shop also has interesting things to buy, but nothing that I would purchase. They do have a full bar so I did enjoy that. By the way you can bring drinks onto the museum floor.

There are not enough superlatives to describe how wonderful this museum is. Every attention to detail has been made with a creative flair, which is evident the moment you first walk up and see the wood lines of the exterior of the building, as well as the amazing eagle sculpture. Entrance fee is $20 per person, although they do offer military/veteran discounts. In the 1st floor lobby, there are multiple Native American sculptures by John Coleman, who is a favorite of the James' - the couple who owns the entire collection. After payment and handbag search, you head up the stairs for all the exhibits. There is an 8-minute movie running on repeat that I recommend watching when you first get to the second level - it was very interesting to hear from both the James' and John Coleman. The exhibits range in themes from Early West to Native Life to Wild Life. There was also a special room displaying some gorgeous Native American jewelry. I thought there was an excellent representation of many different styles of art, and careful planning had obviously been put into displaying items to the best of their advantage. Currently a special exhibit is running called Art and the Animal, and it was cool because many of those pieces are actually for sale. A price list was provided, and it was fun to try and guess what a piece was going for. Parking can be had in the pay garage that is right next door to the museum. The museum has a tiny gift shop for souvenirs. There is also a small bar/restaurant on the ground level, that was doing a pretty steady business the Sunday we were there. Final tip - check out the restrooms!

Definitely a must see place if you're in downtown St. Pete. They have rotating galleries as well as specializing in western art. You can't go to St. Pete without checking out the James Museum!!

We were lucky to take a docent tour of the museum led by Kathie Parker. Her infectious love for the museum made it into an unexpected discovery. Would have missed a lot without her. My personal favorite are brilliant works of modern native American artists including Dan Namingha and Kathie connects the dots weaving in history, artists' personal lives, and anecdotes binding it all together and creating an unforgettable experience. She masterfully senses the audience and the tour was tailored to the interests and questions of the group, making it a personalized and engaging for everyone. Felt like a personal gift. Thank you, Kathie! Highly recommend.

The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art in St Petersburg is exactly what you might expect. Located right on Central Ave., this big wooden building full of sculptures, paintings, drawings, jewelry, and so much more. The price is a little steep, but don't let that discourage you, as you will enjoy the history that this museum holds. The moment you enter the museum, you feel welcomed, with staff in every room that adds commentary and other facts that are not included on the placards. As you meander around looking and taking pictures (no flash), they are there if you need them. Very friendly and surprisingly the younger staff seemed just as excited as the patrons did when answering questions. I have to say that the jewelry exhibit was my favorite. The many arrays of tribal stones and necklaces, bracelets, and rings....beautifully set in Silver. But the display from an Indians point of view was very interesting. My 1 disappointment was that there was ONLY 1 Remington in the whole place. Wasn't he Western? (that's why the 4 star) This is a great family outing, my grandchildren loved it and asked many questions! Very educational! Hey, The Chihuly museum isn't far...make a day and visit them both!

One of my favorite museums of all time. The layout is open and that is a major plus especially when you are visiting during the pandemic for social distancing purposes. This museum features known artists and other local artists that depict Native Americans. There is a beautiful cafe through the giftshop and you can even grab a bite to eat there as well. The gallery that showcases the Native jewelry was stunning to see up close with perfect lighting allowing you to see the intricate details. I went with my family and one of the eldest family members enjoyed the fact that there were benches throughout the museum allowing him to take little sit down breaks throughout our self guided tour. I will definitely consider becoming a member of the James Museum for the added benefits they give to annual members.

I came to visit the museum for a Yelp event and I have to say, the museum is a nice, pretty place. It has a lot of Wildlife and Indian culture in paintings and sculptures, which I like. Though it's a 2 story building, but you can get around the building which much ease. It has a nice view and the restaurant venues are stylish. Staff were friendly and polite as well.

Fascinating collection of Western, Native American and wildlife art in a architecturally spectacular setting. The acquisitions of financier and philanthropist Raymond James has a new home allowing the public to enjoy massive bronzes, jewelry and paintings. Well worth a visit.

This place demands that you sign a digital COVID waiver to enter. This is not standard practice at any other business I've been to downtown. My problems with this are twofold: 1. They admittedly store the data off-site but are unable to describe their data security or encryption standards. 2. The waiver absolves them of negligence. This probably wouldn't hold up in court, but if they're following safe CDC guidelines then they shouldn't have to worry about negligent conduct of their own staff. If they're not then why would someone release them from liability for that? It's too bad too because their gift shop looks like it has neat stuff and I was ready to do some Christmas shopping. But hey, they can run their museum however they want. I just won't patronize it.

My favorite area in this museum is the section containing art made by Native Americans. That section is like other art museums in its diversity of forms and expressions of art. The other rooms are more just studies of Native Americans. Some paintings try to be historically accurate while most of them aren't. However, I appreciate that the placards acknowledge that and aren't just hanging those pieces like they are an accurate representation of Native people. I loved the statues, and the physical building's structure itself. And the jewelry!!

Beautiful museum and worth the trip to St Petersburg. A wonderful way to spend the day with beautiful sculptures and paintings. What a treasure this museum is!!

This Museum takes you back into years of the wild west ..It is as if you are stepping back in time. Amazing !

I am a museum buff. I usually go to one museum a week, and have just visited the Museum of Western Art in Scottdale, AZ. So, I wondered what I'd think of this collection. THIS MUSEUM IS PHENOMENAL. Right from the beginning, the architecture of the entrance draws you in. The tile on the walls is reminiscent of desert sand. The price is great - $20 full price, $15 for teachers. There are plenty of attendants and docents to help direct you through the museum. The collection is diverse and expansive. Tom and Mary James support local artists, which I love, they provide and amazing platform to (their collection) to provide exposure for them. There are amazingly realistic paintings of animals and bronze sculptures. Also just an amazing collection of current Southwestern Art. I went today to see the special exhibition for JamesMichael's, a fantastic local pop artist, and was SO thrilled with the exhibit. I will be back to spend a lot of time and thoroughly explore the rest of the museum. Please support this museum with your visit, it is an amazing addition to St. Pete!

We thoroughly enjoyed this. Amazing paintings, bronzes and other items related to Old West. Would return any time we are in the area of St Petersburg.

The collection of a lifetime (two lifetimes) Tom and Mary James started collecting while stil in college. Over the years the James honed in to Southwest, Native American and Wildlife art in many forms. Paintings, sculptures, mixed media, jewelry, and glass. The collection represents the best of a much larger collection housed at the home office for Raymond James Financial, a Fortune 500 company based in St. Petersburg, FL. You can't go wrong with a nice stroll in downtown St. Petersburg and a few hours wandering the "old west" at this brilliant museum. Keep an eye on their calender for a variety of events.

Very nice place. I love the different Artwork. Had so much fun! Great for date night.

What a wonderful museum! Has a great mix of paintings and sculptures of all sizes. I was really pleased to see that it wasn't just "cowboys and Indians". Great Native American and Western art. What makes it all sweeter is most of the artists are "lesser" know living artist so it provides a great platform to see new or less known works. Recommend it and would go back.

Our day the The JAmes Museum was a day of learning and enjoyment. Our family enjoyed the variety of art and the wonderful information share by each painting. The team assisted in sharing their knowledge. A true asset to St Pete and to Florida.

I feel like this museum is underrated. It had a good variety of content and was bigger than expected. We really enjoyed it and the special exhibit they had.

Worth the visit for contemporary western art. Know that the work is not necessarily sympathetic to the plight of the American Indians. There is no discussion or presentation of that. The sandstone on the exterior of the building that represents the American landscape is mined from India. Shipped here from India to represent the American landscape. I gave it a 3 star because of the support of the artists.