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6 Must-see Museums in Houston Texas

6 Must-see Museums in Houston Texas Homepage

Our Criteria

Variety of Display – Most museums display specific collections to create a curated experience for any viewers and visitors. That said, if the museum has an impressive yet varied display, it promises a better experience.
Learning Opportunities – What we love most about museums is that they are a place of exploration and learning. So, we consider it a plus if they allow guests to roam on their own, or offer tours for anyone interested.
Innovation and Tech for Convenience – Whatever a museum may contain, it is best if the facility has enough technology to make the visit easy and convenient. That means having virtual maps, interactive areas, well-lighted signages, and vibrant displays.
Accommodation and Community Involvement – Another thing that keeps people coming back again and again is how well their staff accommodates the needs of their guests and visitors. In addition to this, it helps if the museum organization is involved in activities that are in service to the environment and the community.
Cost of Entry – The upkeep and maintenance of these institutions mainly come from the income they generate from visits. However, we also considered that the rates should not be too expensive, and also comes with occasional promos to allow access for more people.

1. Houston Museum of Natural Science

Houston Museum of Natural Science Homepage

Website: https://www.hmns.org/

Location: 5555 Hermann Park Dr, Houston, TX 77030, United States

Contact Details: +1 713-639-4629

Operating Hours: 

Weekdays: 9:00AM to 5:00PM

Weekends: 9:00AM to 5:00PM

Google Reviews Score4.8/5
Viator Reviews Score4.5/5
Facebook Reviews Score4.7/5
Total Reviews4.7/5
Score Consistency4.7/5
Variety of Display5/5
Learning Opportunities5/5
Innovation and Tech for Convenience4.8/5
Accommodation and Community Involvement4.7/5
Cost of Entry4.6/5

Pros

  • One of the best museums in the state
  • Open every day
  • Spacious areas with various exhibitions
  • 12 months free admission for members
  • Offers summer camp and classes for kids
  • Offers free access to all permanent exhibitions during Thursdays
  • High quality production for observatories, planetariums and permanent exhibits

Cons

  • Slightly expensive ticket rates
  • Only members get free admission
  • Parking is not free

One of the top highlights when travelling around Houston, the Houston Museum of Natural Science is a hit for both children and adults.

The facility features planetariums, observatories, screen theaters, and exhibitions that display various periods of life on earth. The place is packed and incredible, that you may need at least two full hours to take it all in.

The Houston Museum of Natural Science houses permanent exhibitions of interesting artifacts like Faberge, gems, minerals, and even a cabinet of curiosities. They also display themes of African wildlife, Ancient Egypt, Texan Ecology, Energy, and Palaeontology.

One thing we love about the organisation is they offer membership packages that allow unlimited admission for up to 12 months. Your membership benefits also include discounts and educational opportunities for kids – making it a great place for family bonding time.

However, we do note that the tickets for admission are quite expensive, with adult rates at $25.00, while children below 12 and seniors cost $16.00.  The parking rates are also a bit pricey, with $10.00 for members, and $20.00 for the rest.

Children under the age of 2 are given free access. Other groups with discounts include students, military personnel, and groups of over 10 people.

That being said, if you’re a lover of natural science, this is definitely a place you should head to.

2. Space Centre Houston

Space Centre Houston Homepage

Website: https://spacecenter.org/

Location: 1601 E NASA Pkwy, Houston, TX 77058, United States

Contact Details: +1 281-244-2100

Operating Hours: 

Weekdays: 10:00AM to 5:00PM

Weekends: 10:00AM to 6:00PM

Google Reviews Score4.6/5
Facebook Reviews Score4.5/5
Total Reviews4.55/5
Score Consistency4.5/5
Variety of Display5/5
Learning Opportunities5/5
Innovation and Tech for Convenience4.7/5
Accommodation and Community Involvement4.7/5
Cost of Entry4.5/5

Pros

  • Open every day
  • Great place for learning about space travel and exploration
  • Interactive and expansive collections on display
  • Admission is free for all during Thursdays

Cons

  • Reservations are required for free Thursday admission
  • Tickets for admission are quite costly
  • Food served in the facility are expensive

The famous Space Center Houston is part of a complex owned and developed by an educational foundation. This is one of the most innovative ways to introduce space travel and exploration to both local and international visitors, so this is truly a must-see.

In fact, it is one of the most expansive interactive museums you can visit in the state. Given their extensive collections on display, galleries, exhibitions, and presentations, guests take from 2 up to 5 hours of exploring the museum.

However, we do note that you should not make your visit while hungry, since the food served can be quite pricey. But, if you do like to shop for souvenirs, their gift shop has a lot of cool trinkets you can take home with you.

Another thing to consider are the tickets, which are more expensive than the rest of the museums in Houston. While kids aged 3 and younger can get in for free, adult tickets cost $29.95, seniors tickets for $27.95, and kids at $24.95.

Still, we believe that heading over to the Space Center Houston at least once in your life can truly help you rediscover the majesty of our universe. That said, look out for their free admissions on Thursdays by having a reservation by Monday.

Don’t forget to avail of a museum tour to make the most out of the experience.

3. Museum of Fine Art

Museum of Fine Art Homepage

Website: https://www.mfah.org/

Location: 1001 Bissonnet St, Houston, TX 77005, United States

Contact Details: +1 713-639-7300

Operating Hours: 

Mondays and Tuesdays: CLOSED

Wednesdays: 11:00AM – 5:00PM

Thursdays: 11:00AM – 5:00PM

Fridays and Saturdays: 11:00AM – 6:00PM

Sundays: 12:30PM – 6:00PM

Google Reviews Score4.7/5
Facebook Reviews Score4.8/5
Total Reviews4.75/5
Score Consistency4.75/5
Variety of Display4.7/5
Learning Opportunities5/5
Innovation and Tech for Convenience4.7/5
Accommodation and Community Involvement4.5/5
Cost of Entry5/5

Pros

  • Free admission on Thursdays
  • Free parking in the facility
  • Free admission for students and children below 12
  • Offers access to virtual exhibitions and learning resources online

Cons

  • Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays
  • Displays are not as interactive

Standing as the second largest art museum in Houston, the Museum of Fine Arts was designed by renowned architect, Mies van der Rohe, and contains more than 65,000 art works in total.

What we love most about this museum, aside from its spectacular portraits and displays, is that the cost of your visit is economical. In fact, students and children below the age of 12 can get in for free, for as long as they show identification.

Given the displays that span different cultures and time periods, the MFAH organisation offers opportunities for learning to families. That said, if you have a child with a flair for creativity, you can have them try out some of their online art activities at home.

Another thing to love about visiting this museum is it offers free admission on Thursdays. This is due to the courtesy of Shell Oil company’s initiative to make art more accessible to the community.

Moreover, the facility offers free parking for their visitors. In addition to all this, they also offer learning resources, as well as wellness programs for anyone interested.

While you can mostly cover the entire space in an hour long tour, we do recommend you check out their different activities for the day. These events don’t require extra cost, whether you’ve paid for admission or not – so that’s definitely a bonus.

4. Contemporary Arts Museum Houston

Contemporary Arts Museum Houston Homepage

Website: https://camh.org/

Location: 5216 Montrose Blvd, Houston, TX 77006, United States

Contact Details: +1 713-284-8250

Operating Hours: 

Mondays and Tuesdays: CLOSED

Wednesdays: 11:00AM – 6:00PM

Thursdays: 11:00AM – 9:00PM

Fridays and Saturdays: 11:00AM – 6:00PM

Sundays: 12:30PM – 6:00PM

Google Reviews Score4.4/5
Facebook Reviews Score4.6/5
Total Reviews4.5/5
Score Consistency4.5/5
Variety of Display5/5
Learning Opportunities4.7/5
Innovation and Tech for Convenience4.7/5
Accommodation and Community Involvement4.7/5
Cost of Entry5/5

Pros

  • Impressive and immersive displays and exhibitions
  • Interactive and diversified works that reflect modern life
  • Free admission to all
  • Members get exclusive perks and discounts on art subscriptions
  • Online access for museum-goers

Cons

  • Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays
  • More of a gallery than a museum

Another top pick in the Houston Museum District is the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, an expansive display of modern art and life.

If you’re looking for an immersive and interactive museum experience with a diversity of displays from film, digital media, and performance, then this is the place to be. You can also look forward to more innovations as their exhibitions reflect the changes of the times.

While some regard it as more of a gallery than a museum, we recommend that everyone give this place a visit. This is a great way to renew your perspective on art, as well as on self expression.

Visitors may need a few hours to fully enjoy the experience, and here’s the best part – the admission is always free. However, we do note that the facility is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, as well as on national holidays.

Their fundraising efforts, donors, and members make it possible for the museum to stay operational without requiring a penny from visitors. This also means that members get discounts on subscriptions and exclusive invitations to all events in the CAMH.

Lastly, artists, students, teachers, seniors, veterans and active military personnel are given discounts for individual memberships.

5. The Children’s Museum of Houston

The Children's Museum of Houston Homepage

Website: https://www.cmhouston.org/

Location: 1500 Binz St, Houston, TX 77004, United States

Contact Details: +1 713-522-1138

Operating Hours: 

Sundays and Mondays: CLOSED

Tuesdays to Wednesdays: 10:00AM – 6:00PM

Thursdays: 10:00AM – 8:00PM

Fridays to Saturdays: 10:00AM – 6:00PM

Google Reviews Score4.6/5
CityPASS Reviews Score4.6/5
Facebook Reviews Score4.7/5
Total Reviews4.65/5
Score Consistency4.65/5
Variety of Display5/5
Learning Opportunities4.7/5
Innovation and Tech for Convenience4.7/5
Accommodation and Community Involvement4.7/5
Cost of Entry4.7/5

Pros

  • Impressive architecture and interactive exhibitions
  • Reasonably priced ticket rates
  • Access to the  public library parent resource database is for free
  • A leading museum for children and youth education

Cons

  • Closed on Sundays and Mondays
  • No discounts for kids above a year old
  • Website may need updating

Revisited for its bustling and vibrant atmosphere, the Children’s Museum Houston is one of the best postmodernist architectural works and is a hit with both kids and adults.

What we love most about visiting this museum is it reminds us how much art can influence our lives, ever since our childhood. Especially designed as a playground for the mind, this museum offers workshops. 3D field trips, and amazing interactive exhibitions.

While they are closed on Sundays and Mondays, this 90,000 sq.ft. of space requires a few hours of roaming around to make the most out of the experience. 

You may also need to note that their ticket rates are relatively cheap, with adults and children costing only $15. Senior citizens and military personnel get discounts as well.

Another plus is the museum’s partnership with the HPL or Houston Public Library, which allows parents to access a database of resources for learning. This not only helps promote better literacy amongst children, but also encourages education that’s free of charge.

Furthermore, we love how the organisation reaches out to Houston communities as a four-star charity. The best thing about their initiatives is that they make sure that everything is recorded and accounted for, thus ensuring optimal positive impact.

6. Holocaust Museum Houston

Holocaust Museum Houston Homepage

Website: https://hmh.org/

Location: 5401 Caroline St, Houston, TX 77004, United States

Contact Details: +1 713-942-8000

Operating Hours: 

Mondays: CLOSED

Tuesdays to Saturdays: 10:00AM – 5:00PM

Sundays: 12:00PM – 5:00PM

Google Reviews Score4.6/5
Yelp Reviews Score4.6/5
Facebook Reviews Score4.7/5
Total Reviews4.65/5
Score Consistency4.65/5
Variety of Display4.5/5
Learning Opportunities5/5
Innovation and Tech for Convenience4.5/5
Accommodation and Community Involvement5/5
Cost of Entry4.5/5

Pros

  • Advocacy-driven and involved in the community
  • A great venue for continuous learning
  • Offers both on-site and virtual tours
  • Reasonably priced tickets, with free admission for 18 and below guests

Cons

  • Closed on Mondays
  • Not a lot of interactive spaces
  • Not a lot of variety on the displays

At the end of the day, every museum must tell a story, and that is exactly what the Holocaust Museum Houston does. In fact, it stands as the fourth largest museum, hosting a human rights exhibition.

Not only does this museum remind us of the atrocities and wisdom of the past, but it also shows us what we should be careful of in the future. With that, the organisation managing the museum is also very involved in community affairs about equality and human rights.

It may not be open everyday, but their website serves as an available resource of discourse and learning on history and current affairs. Their tickets are also reasonably priced, and they offer various tour options for all kinds of visitors.

Something to look forward to is that visitors aged 18 and below can get in for free. Members are also given free admission, as well as active military personnel and their families.

You can even arrange for a virtual tour and interact during their live events. Their in-person guided tours, on the other hand, are great opportunities for institutions to remind students of history lessons.

That said, many people revisit this museum and roam around for an hour. However, if it’s your first time, you may need up to two hours to fully experience the museum.

FAQs about Museums in Houston

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