By Elisabeth Brigham By Elisabeth Brigham | August 15, 2024 | People,
From The Museum of Fine Arts to Space Center Houston, here are the 7 best museums to visit in the city.
Contemporary Arts Museum Houston
Founded in 1948, Contemporary Arts Museum Houston is an epicenter for all things art. Inside its iconic stainless steel building (which is nestled nicely in the heart of the Houston Museum District), guests are welcomed to roam two floors of gallery space. On top of six to eight exhibitions each year, the museum also hosts an array of lectures, educational programs, events and so much more.
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
If you’re planning a museum day, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, has to be on the top of the list. With an oh, so impressive lineup of exhibitions, shows, lectures and more year-round, we promise there will be something for everyone. Did we mention there’s also a happy hour every Friday? That’s right, grab your friends and head to the museum between 5–8 p.m. for a free sneak inside and drink at the bar.
Houston Museum of Natural Science
Sharks, Ancient Egypt, Paleontology, oh my! At the Houston Museum of Natural Science, absolutely nothing is off-limits. On top of an exhilarating rotation of special exhibits and collections, the museum also showcases a standout selection of permanent exhibitions. On the list? The Cullen Hall of Gems and Minerals, Farish Hall of Texas Wildlife, Everyday Fabergé, Hall of Ancient Egypt, Herzstein Foucault Pendulum, Morian Cabinet of Curiosities, Morian Hall of Paleontology and much more.
Children’s Museum Houston
Kiddos, this one is for you. The Children’s Museum Houston welcomes all with a bevy of exhibitions for every age. From the EcoStation, Newton Know-How, Matter Factory, SECRET Spy Game and more, we know everyone will leave the museum with a head full of ideas—and a smile on their face. Looking for more? Group and Field experiences, TEKS-Aligned Experiences and birthday party packages are available for those who just can’t get enough.
Space Center Houston
Houston, we definitely do NOT have a problem! Space Center Houston is the city’s top science and space exploration learning center. Inside the space museum, guests can ooh and ah at more than 400 space artifacts, exhibits, experiences and theaters—which focus on the exciting future and unbelievable past of America’s space-flight program. Our favorite to-do’s? Admire the world’s largest collection of moon rocks and lunar samples, or tour the NASA Johnson Space Center (where you can get a sneak peek at astronaut training, NASA Mission Control, innovative technology and engineering projects).
Holocaust Museum Houston
Established in 1996, Holocaust Museum Houston acts as an education center and memorial that honors those who had perished and the stories of those who survived the Holocaust. In 2019, the museum underwent a well-deserved expansion, doubling its size to 57,000 square feet. It is now ranked as the nation’s fourth-largest Holocaust museum and is home to four permanent galleries, two changing exhibition galleries, classrooms, research library, a café, an indoor theater, an outdoor amphitheater and so much more.
The Menil Collection
The Menil Collection is a tremendous addition to the Houston art scene. This neighborhood art collection covers 30 acres and includes four additional museum buildings including the Menil Drawing Institute, the Cy Twombly Gallery, the Richmond Hall and the Byzantine Fresco Chapel. In addition to the vast variety of art on display, the Menil Collection offers educational programs and events constantly. With free admission, the Menil Collection is accessible to all.
Photography by: Photo by Dannie Jing/Unsplash
