If you’re looking for a day
trip to a place that can take
you from the beginning
of time to the moon and
the stars, The Bishop in
Bradenton might be just the
place you’re looking for.
Just a little over an hour’s
drive from Gasparilla
Island you can fi nd some
of the most sophisticated,
educational entertainment
to be found in South Florida
that includes a museum
of science and nature, a
planetarium and a manatee
rehabilitation facility.
Many people might
have heard of the Bishop
Planetarium, but not as many
knew that was only a portion
of the experience. According
to Remi Gonzalez, director of
communications and brand
for The Bishop, they have
been working to change that.
“We used to refer to the
planetarium as Bishop
Planetarium,” she said, “but
in April of 2019 we changed
the name. We used to be
called the South Florida
Museum, but we have
elevated the Bishop name,
so now it’s the name of the
entire museum. We call it,
simply, ‘The Bishop,’ or by
its full name, The Bishop
Museum of Science and
Nature. The planetarium is
just a part of that.”
The Bishop is the largest
museum on the Gulf Coast
and contains some of the
state’s most engaging
exhibits and educational
programs. The location is
also home to the Parker
Aquarium, a manatee
rehabilitation site.
March/April • 2021 • GASPARILLA MAGAZINE 45