NEARBY ATTRACTIONS
The Cultural Plaza is adjacent to the UF Natural Area Teaching Laboratory (NATL), a 60-acre area with a picnic pavilion and trails through three upland ecosystems characteristic of north peninsular Florida: hammock, upland pine and old-field succession. Kiosks throughout the area provide information on the three ecosystems.
The University Gallery is an essential component of the teaching, research and service mission of the UF School of Art and Art History. Located on the east end of the Fine Arts Campus Complex, the University Gallery's six yearly exhibitions bring current ideas in contemporary art to our students and community.
Kanapaha Botanical Gardens is a 62-acre facility developed and operated by the North Florida Botanical Society, a non-profit educational organization. Kanapaha Botanical Gardens is comprised of 14 major collections visually accessible from a 1 ½ mile paved walkway. These include the state's largest public display of bamboos and the largest herb garden in the Southeast.
The Hippodrome was designated a State Theatre of Florida in 1981. The theater enjoys recognition as one of the leading regional theaters in the country, with the primary goal of providing the best season of theater for audiences throughout the state. The Hippodrome has become a major cultural resource to the community and the State of Florida, staging mainstage productions for more than 60,000 people annually.
Permanent and temporary exhibitions tell the story of Alachua County. Permanent exhibits offer a brief look at area history from the Timucuan Indians to the Spanish occupation of the area to William Bartram's travels and more.
The Thomas Center is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and contains art galleries, 1920's period rooms, local history exhibits, performance space, banquet rooms, and meeting rooms. The Thomas Center is surrounded by the lovely Thomas Center Gardens and the Grace and Sidney Knight Children's Theatre. The center is the site of a variety of art exhibits and musical programs.