(Honest) Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art Review (2024)

Stunning paintings of the Everglades. Colorful works of art by local Florida artists. One of the grandest staircases you’ll ever see.

The Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art is located in Daytona Beach, Florida and acts as the home of the largest collection of Florida art in the entire world.

Whether you’re local to Florida or visiting from out-of-state, this art museum really captures the Florida spirit, from the tropical weather to the Florida wildlife to Florida’s first inhabitants.

Things to Know Before You Go to the Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art

Before you head out, there are a few practical things you should know about your visit.

• The Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art is located at 352 S Nova Rd, Daytona Beach, FL 32114
• The museum is an extension of the Museum of Arts and Sciences, which is located on the same complex just a few minute drive away
• Plan to spend 1-2 hours at the Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art. It isn’t the largest museum you’ll find, but it’s packed with some awesome galleries and beautiful paintings.
• Admission ranges from $4.95 per child to $10.95 for adults, or $9.95 to $16.95 if you want to include the Museum of Arts and Sciences.
• The museum is open every day of the week, except some holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas.
• If you are unable to make it up the main staircase, there is a guest elevator to get to the second floor.

Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum History

Cici and Hyatt Brown, a Florida couple, began collecting paintings of Florida in 1997.

The paintings were part of touring exhibits for many years, but in 2015 they helped fund the creation of the Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art to have a permanent place for their stunning collection.

Over the years, the philanthropic couple have helped build and support the arts community in Volusia County, as well as informing and inspiring the galleries and works on display at the museum each year.

Atmosphere and Experience

When you first step into the museum, “grand” is the first world that comes to mind.

It’s both airy, but atmospheric, with the lighting just the right levels to appreciate and focus on the art.

While many of the galleries contain single paintings, the focal point of the mezzanine area is a panorama called the Everglades Panorama by James Hutchinson.

To each side of the grand staircase, there are both permanent and temporary galleries (more on that later), and the rustic feel of the wooden beams above your head combined with the dazzling lights hung from the high ceiling give the museum a rustic, but elegant feel.

And in many ways, this combination perfectly encapsulates the mood behind the collection.

This isn’t an international art museum, with art from far-flung destinations.

This is purposefully all Florida, a place where the rustic meets the swampland meets the stunning beauty of the herons and the picture perfect sunsets.

During our visit on a weekday, the museum was wonderfully quiet and still, with just a few other people roaming around.

In general, there is plenty of space and you won’t feel cramped into a certain gallery or area.

There is a lot of room to move, to view paintings from different angles, and to sit down and view from afar.

Artwork and Galleries

There are both permanent and temporary exhibits within the museum.

Some of the exhibits, like Florida Weather, focus on the incredible weather and storms that are a staple of life in this state.

Others, like the Volusia exhibit, focus just on life in this county throughout Florida’s past, and then you have fun topics like “Gone Fishin,” celebrating the Florida fisherman and the fish that live in Florida’s waters.

One of the most stunning thing about the collection is the range of color.

This is a bright, vibrant collection that really showcases the beautiful hues that can be found through the state of Florida both in nature and in the home.

And notably, the first settlers in Florida and the rich history of Native American tribes in the area is not forgotten with displays like the Seminoles.

Many of the galleries have detailed information about the theme of the collection and what types of paintings you’ll find there.

You’ll also find some information about the artist, next to each painting, as well as one of my favorite touches: a map of Florida with a star next to where the piece of art depicts.

Other Amenities

Within the museum, there are a couple of other places to stop by besides the galleries.

Firstly, you’ve got the giftshop, which contains everything from Florida-themed ornaments to books about the art in the museum and Volusia-specific keepsakes.

There is also a Honey Baked Ham café (closed during our visit), which usually serves soups, salads, and sandwiches in case you want a mid-day snack during your visit to MOAS and the Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum.

If the weather is nice, there is also an outdoor area where you can catch some rays or enjoy your lunch outside.

There are also some restrooms, as well as an Education Center and space for events.