ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) \u2014 The Penny Lane Beatles Museum is getting ready to open a new chapter in downtown St. Petersburg.<\/p>\n
After nearly a decade in Dunedin, the museum is relocating to\u00a0146 and 2nd St. N., where leaders say the larger space will help attract more visitors and become part of the city\u2019s growing museum district.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re so excited to be moving to the big city,\u201d said Executive Director Craig Bauchner. \u201cWith our 13 museums here in downtown St. Petersburg, we\u2019re very excited to be part of that.\u201d<\/p>\n
The new location is nearly four times larger than the museum\u2019s previous home. Bauchner said the expansion was made possible by a generous donor, Dr. Robert, whose memorabilia collection helped build the museum and who has funded its operations for nearly nine years.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe paid the rent and the employees and the light bill, donated all of his memorabilia, and he paid for this expansion into this facility,\u201d Bauchner said.<\/p>\n
The museum features Beatles memorabilia ranging from signed instruments to personal items once owned by the Fab Four.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have sunglasses that were worn by John Lennon,\u201d said museum representative Harlan Brown. \u201cWe have a lot of instruments that were signed by the musicians themselves or actually played by them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bauchner said the museum is already the largest dedicated Beatles museum in the United States.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are the largest dedicated Beatles museum in the United States. That\u2019s our claim to fame in the United States,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Museum leaders are targeting an\u00a0Aug. 6\u00a0opening, pending final city inspections. Visit Penny Lane Beatles Museum<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.<\/p>\n