Fall Exhibits and events

The Collection on Palmetto would like to introduce a new exhibit called 

Enchantment: The Golden Age of Mechanical Music. 

 Musical Box Society International members Marty and Marilou VanZanten and The Collection on Palmetto together celebrate the wonders of mechanical workmanship and creative musicality exhibited in the mechanical musical instruments of the 1800s and 1900s. 

A cottage industry that originated in Switzerland, mechanical music boxes were prized for their precise workings, which were akin to fine clock and watch mechanisms popular at the time. From feathered automata to cylinder and disc players with exquisite inlays, automatic instruments such as these were highly regarded for their intricate details and lovely melodies, all delivered live, prior to the advent of recorded music.

Your museum admission includes this temporary exhibit, on display now through January. This is a perfect time to visit the museum with holiday visitors for a musical connection to the past.

November 23rd - Join Marty and Marilou VanZanten for a fascinating presentation on the mechanical music boxes they know and love. 

Marty and Marilou are members of The Musical Box Society International, an organization dedicated to the enjoyment, study and preservation of automatic musical instruments. 

Musical boxes from their personal collection will be on display during their presentation and for the duration of the holiday season. These instruments date from the late 1800s and early 1900s, an enchanting complement to our own collection of Gilded Age artifacts. 

There is no charge for this presentation, making this a perfect opportunity to see our new exhibit, Enchantment: The Golden Age of Mechanical Music and our collection of antique automobiles dating from 1886.

Car Clubs: Get your motor running and meet up at The Collection on Palmetto for a morning or afternoon of engine-revving fun. . . right in bright and beautiful Clearwater, Florida!

Teachers, the Collection on Palmetto is your fun and educational field trip destination! Standards-aligned field trips for all ages and grades. Email laura@collectiononpalmetto.com to schedule your field trip or find out more about what we have to offer.

Experts, advocates and enthusiasts, tell your story here. Listeners, bring your love of learning. After all, "no story lives unless someone wants to listen." - J.K. Rowling

Reserve your pass from your local library and stop on by the Collection on Palmetto. 

Planning a car tour for your local or national club? This can't-miss collection of brass cars should be the first stop on your itinerary.