UPDATED 9/15/19 6:19 p.m.

Tampa Bay is filled with museums showcasing art, history and so much more. In a lot of ways, we’ve got it all. Still, we’re willing to bet that you haven’t taken the time to explore them. Don’t let the admission fee hold you back; National Free Museum Day is coming up on September 21, and you don’t have to be an art fanatic to enjoy the deal. Before you plot your route, head to the Smithsonian website and register by entering your email address. From there you will receive a downloadable ticket, good for two people, for the museum requested which is good for two people.

Have more than one friend? Lucky you.

Make the rest of your gang register to cash in and take full advantage of National Free Museum Day. Here are five participating Bay area museums that you should definitely check out.

The Florida Holocaust Museum

The updated exhibit, “Beaches, Benches, and Boycotts” opened September 7 and runs through March.

“When first formulating the basis of this exhibit in 2015, Blankenship worked closely with members of local African American communities,” CL contributor Erin Hughes wrote in a preview of the works, which include photographs, artifacts, and filmed interviews with firsthand accounts of the local Civil Rights fight. “The updated exhibit adds muscle and vitality to the skeleton first created.”

This would be a great opportunity to learn about the Civil Rights history of the Tampa Bay area, as well as view other important exhibits already featured at the museum. 55 5th St. S., St. Petersburg. flholocaustmuseum.org

The Museum of Fine Arts

Origami is dope, and it’s now part of a new exhibit at the MFA in St. Petersburg. "Above the Fold: New Expressions in Origami" is truly a sight to behold, and the show even inspired Bay area baker and social media influencer Alicia McCall — aka @thegirlwiththewhisktattoo, who was featured on MTV and Netflix — to hold a baking class at the MFA. Admission is usually $20 ($15 for students) so you’re getting a serious steal. Take your time and grab a bite at the cafe, drink in the beautiful views of the water and do a little people watching, too. 255 Beach Dr. NE, St. Petersburg. mfastpete.org.

Ringling Museum of Art

A student ID already lets some folks bust into the Ringling for free on the regular, but non-students and those on a budget are in luck if they want in on one of the most beautiful museums around. Check out one of the most exquisite collections in Tampa Bay (Natasha Mazurka’s “Order Systems,” which includes a body of paintings, embossings and site-specific installations made with textured layers of colored vinyl), and pop over to the Circus Museum where you can walk a real tightrope that’s just a few inches off the ground. Shit, even if you just go to drink beer during a walk around Mable Ringlings’ Rose Garden (which also houses a playground for kids), the Ringling is still a solid option to burn some time and view some art. 5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota. ringling.org

Tampa Bay History Center

The Bay area is rich in history when it comes to brews, and for that we are thankful. Visit "History by the Pint: Beer and Brewing in Tampa Bay" to trace the history of beer-brewing throughout Tampa Bay and then join the other beer nerds checking out artifacts on view from Florida’s first commercial brewery, Florida Brewing Company. A music-themed kids crafts, a rock and roll documentary is also on the bill. If that isn’t enough motivation for a visit, there’s also the Columbia Cafe where visitors can grab a Cuban or cafe con leche while posting up on the balcony. 801 Water St, Tampa. tampabayhistorycenter.org

Tampa Museum of Art

"Tableau and Transformation: Photography from the Permanent Collection" takes up two galleries, which means plenty for your viewing pleasure. The exhibition organizes photography focused on the artists’ own transformation within the genre of the tableau, which is the staged arrangement of props, backdrops, and other accouterments that are then photographed. Be prepared to go on a ride featuring dolls, dogs in highchairs and an explosion of colors. Don’t leave before heading out onto the balcony to explore various sculpture work and take some shots of the downtown Tampa skyline. 120 W. Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa. tampamuseum.org.

Additional Museums Participating