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Heritage Village Largo – Turn back the clock to simpler times! This fascinating FREE Museum is a hidden gem in Pinellas County.
Museum History – Pinellas County Heritage Village Largo
Pinellas County Heritage Village was created to inspire and preserve local history. At this open-aired museum you will see antique vehicles, charming houses and equipment from another era. I love that it is authentic to the area and donated from residents of the Pinellas County Florida.
This is the perfect family outing with lots of fun and educational kids things to do. An added perk is the FREE admission for everyone to enjoy!
Many thanks to the Pinellas County Historical Society and the Pin-MAR Antique Car Club for their ongoing contributions and sponsorship. However, donations are always welcome and help support the continuing efforts of Heritage Village operations.
While it is largely considered an outdoor museum, most of the historic structures are air conditioned or have fans. You will be able to stay cool in Florida even during the summertime.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Heritage Village Open?
Heritage Village Largo is FREE and open weekly from Wednesday to Saturday 10am – 4pm, and Sunday 1pm – 4pm. The museum is closed on all major holidays and observed county holidays.
- Address: 11909 125th Street North, Largo, FL 33774
- Phone: (727) 582-2123
- Website: Heritage Village
How Long Does it Take to Visit Heritage Village Largo?
We would recommend about 2-3 hours to tour, explore the historic structures, tour the interior museum, and don’t miss the gift shop.
Does Pinellas County Heritage Village have an App?
Yes, Heritage Village has an App. Learn about the structures, and lay out your day beforehand by downloading the app in advance.
While it does provide some additional information, I found the app not to be updated to what is currently on exhibit. If you don’t mind that, it does have some useful information including a map.
If you prefer the paper version, Heritage Village does have a free Visitors Guide & Map.
Is it ADA accessible for wheelchairs?
Yes, Heritage Village is ADA accessible with paved walking paths and an indoor museum and gift shop. Several of the old structures are also wheelchair accessible with ramps.
The following sites you are ADA accessible: Circle of the Senses, Harris School, H.C. Smith Store, House of Seven Gables, McKay Creek Boat Shop, Safety Harbor Church, Safford Pavilion, and Sponge Warehouse.
Are dogs allowed at Heritage Village in Largo?
Heritage Village allows dogs provided that they are on a leash and owners pick up after them. Only service dogs are allowed in the historic structures and museum.
What to See at Heritage Village
Check out the Numerous Historic Structures & Tour the Buildings
To experience Pinellas County history, explore 33 historic buildings at Heritage Village. The museum provides interactive and hand-on things to do on its 21-acres.
Here are a few of the highlights:
- Discover the history of America’s railroads at the Sulphur Springs Depot built in 1924.
- Check out old Florida living with the Heritage Vegetable Garden, Water Tower, and Windmill.
- H. C. Smith Store (1915) will have pricing on goods and services you haven’t seen in decades.
- See the oldest continuously lived in house in Pinellas County, McMullen-Coachman Log Cabin (circa 1853)
During our visit, several of the exhibits were under repair and closed. This will give us reason to come visit again!
My favorite historic structures at Heritage Village Largo:
Sulphur Springs Depot
The train depot is a lot of fun for kids. I had a hard time getting my son to move on to the next attraction. Here you can check out the inside of the depot, check out an old caboose, and see some of the old equipment used back in 1924.
H.C. Smith Store
Not sure if it was the store itself or the fabulous tour guide that made this stop so interesting to us. This store was originally located in downtown St Petersburg where Tropicana Field now stands. It was rescued before it was demolished, and now proudly still sells refreshments today.
Sponge Warehouse
This old Tarpon Springs warehouse was a place divers brought sponges to prepare for market.
I found it interesting that most of the need for natural sponges ceased after World War II, when less expensive synthetic sponges became available.
Walsingham House
This physician’s home and office is a fun place to tour. Here they have a fully decorated home with an authentic x-ray machine, birthing table, pharmacy, and more! The physician’s old library is still intact too. This was one of our favorite guided tours. Being a mom, I really felt for the women that had to use the birthing table (totally, looks like a miserable experience)!
5 Key Tips to Know When Visiting Heritage Village
1. It is connected to the Florida Botanical Gardens.
If you are looking for the perfect all-day experience, you must come to Heritage Village. Here you can tour the village in a couple hours, bring a picnic, and then head to the Botanical Gardens.
Parking is FREE for both parks. There is a gate and walking path between locations, which provides easy access by foot.
Keep in mind, the hours of operation are different between locations. Florida Botanical Gardens is open 7 days a week, while the Heritage Museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
2. Kids love seeing Santa at Heritage Village Christmas Events.
Heritage Village Largo provides one of the best Santa experiences in Pinellas County. On the first three Saturdays before Christmas Santa comes to Heritage Village (December 3, 10, & 17).
Parents and kids have a great time with all the things to do, and of course, stand in line to see the big man himself! Afterwards, you won’t want to miss the Christmas lights at the Botanical Gardens.
Another popular kids things to do is the pumpkin carving event. The park volunteers stated that the event is tentatively planned for October 22 & 23 for 2022.
Always reconfirm dates with the Heritage Village’s online calendar of events as dates or details are subject to change.
3. Heritage Village is run by volunteers.
Yes, that’s right! I was impressed by the number of dedicated volunteers that run the gift shop and provide tours of the historic structures. They were kind and friendly, and truly helped make the experience all the more interesting.
Speaking of the gift shop, I was shocked at how reasonable the prices are! They have a nice selection of other locally-made and hand-crafted items including honey, blankets, ornaments, and more.
I collect Christmas ornaments from my favorite places. I couldn’t leave without purchasing a memento Christmas ornament. It was literally $5!
4. Don’t skip the indoor museum before you leave.
I literally almost skipped the indoor museum since we were tired after touring the historic structures. The indoor museum is small and won’t take long. Inside they have some beautiful displays that are totally worth checking out including this Old Florida farm equipment.
5. Bring lunch, they don’t offer meals at Heritage Village.
You may bring bottled water and pack food. This is a great place to bring lunch, since they provide plenty of picnic benches and places to eat.
Heritage Village does sell drinks and some food related items like candy and honey. There are public restroom facilities available to use near the gift shop.
Hungry? Best Restaurants Near Heritage Village in Largo FL
The best restaurants near Heritage Village Largo are the Savory Restaurant and Cafe Largo.
If you don’t mind driving a bit further, VIP Mexican American Cuisine has the best Mexican food in the area and not too far from Largo FL. Often there is a wait unless you come early and avoid the crowds.
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If so, I would love to hear about your Florida travel adventures! You can follow me on Instagram, and tag your images to @erinstraveltips and hashtag #erinstraveltips. I look forward to seeing you there!
I love outdoor museums like Heritage Village. I would be like your son and not want to leave the train lol. My parents were snow birds and had a place in Largo. I loved it there.
This sounds like it would be lovely at Christmas time. I moved to central Florida last year so it’s not that far from me. I will have to check it out sometime soon!
So educational and great for families! I love that gator mouth, haha