The Dali Museum

St Petersburg, Florida: When it comes to surrealism art, there is no one more renowned than Salvador Dali.  In the course of his career, Dali created more than 1,500 works of art with some of them being among the most known masterpieces in the art community.  While his works are displayed in art museums across the globe there are two museums dedicated solely to his work, the Dali Theatre-Museum in his hometown of Figueres, Spain and The Dali Museum right here in St Petersburg, Florida.  

 Located in the art district along the St Pete waterfront, the Dali Museum is a work of art in itself.  This iconic waterfront landmark may be the vision of the museum now, the collection was not always displayed here. It got its start in an Ohio family's private collection in the 1940's.

The collection that is now on display in St Pete started when Reynolds and Eleanor Morse attended an art exhibit at the Cleveland Museum of Art which showcased works by Dali. The purchased their first piece of Dali art in 1942 and began a life long passion of collecting his work which led to developing a friendship with the artist.  The couple displayed the works in their home until they decided they needed a larger place to display the over 200 pieces of art they had acquired.  In 1971, they opened the first Dali Museum on Ohio but as the collection continued to grow, they moved it to Florida into a warehouse building 1982 where it would remain until 2010.

But the collection needed a large space and a space that was protected from Florida's tropical weather, so the current day location was the solution.  Designed by HOK, the three story $30 million dollar museum was a work of art itself.  Inspired by Dali's surrealism style the museum features a sweeping glass dome called "The Engima" and gives the museum an iconic look that flows much like many of his famous works of art.

As you visit the museum, your journey begins outside.  A small display to the Fountain of Youth which was believed to be in the St Petersburg area greets you and a walk through the grotto takes you past the living plant wall and into the museum. 

The art galleries are located on the museum's third floor.  You can reach the galleries from an elevator or you can climb the spiral staircase to the top.  The staircase is known as the helical staircase and is designed to resemble the helix of DNA, a fascination of Dali's.  The stair also features a continuous handrail from the bottom to the top paying tribute to his love of science and math.  As you reach the top, the symbolism continues as the open area resembles a boat with rigging and portholes, a tribute to Dali's home along the Mediterranean.

When you get to the top floor, there are two wings.  The largest wing is the Tom and Mary James Family Wing.  This is where you will find the Morse collection of Dali's masterpieces.  The collection has over 96 oil paintings, over 100 watercolors and many more works of art.  It is the second largest collection of Dali's works and the largest collection of masterpieces in the work.  If you wanted to see more of his work in one place, you would have to travel to the museum in his hometown in Spain.  Of the large collection a few of the masterpieces you will find in the collection include Geopoliticus Child Watching the Birth of the New Man, The Discovery of America by Christopher Columbus, The Disintegration of the Persistence of Memory, The Ecumenical Council and The Hallucinogenic Toreador.  Across the hall is the second wing called the Hough Family Wing.  This is where the museum hosts travelling galleries.  When we visit the special exhibit was called "The Woman Who Broke Boundaries: Photographer Lee Miller". 

After browsing the art on the top floor, head back to the ground floor to continue your journey.  The ground floor is home to the cafe, the museum store and the outdoor garden which features a few sculptures and other artwork inspired by Dali.

To enhance your visit, the museum offers an app that tells you the history of the artwork and lets you into the life of Dali and his work. It also features several self-guided tours to further your knowledge if you desire.

The Salvador Dali Museum is located at 1 Dali Boulevard in St Petersburg, Florida.  It is open daily 10-6, with an extended closing at 8 on Thursday's.  Be sure to check out their website before you go as the are closed for special events or have special hours quite frequently.  Admission to the museum is $25 with discounts available.  

Click on the photos above to view the complete gallery of photos from our trip to The Dali Museum.