Houston is home to a variety of museums that offer a fascinating look into art, history, science and more. From fine arts to space travel, these attractions are the perfect way to spend a day exploring the city.
The Museum of Fine Arts is one of the largest art museums in the world and features a massive collection of modern and ancient art. Plus, it has a steady schedule of acclaimed traveling exhibitions.
Museum of Fine Arts
Houston is a city famous for its business center and oil industry, but it also offers visitors a number of spectacular art spaces. One of the most popular is the Museum of Fine Arts, which houses a large collection of works that embrace art from antiquity to contemporary.
The museum is known for its encyclopedic collections and extensive programming, including a Mellon Undergraduate Curatorial Fellowship Program. In addition to its permanent collection, the MFAH hosts several acclaimed traveling exhibitions each year.
The museum has two main gallery buildings and a sculpture garden, which make it a dynamic cultural complex in the heart of Houston’s Museum District. It’s a must-visit for anyone who loves the arts.
Houston Museum of Natural Science
Houston is home to a wide range of museums, some of which are dedicated to nature, art, science, history, and more. In fact, the Houston Museum District is a cultural hub filled with 19 top-notch museums and is one of the largest museum districts in the country.
The Houston Museum of Natural Science, a premier scientific learning center, is an engaging destination for families. The museum’s 16 permanent exhibits showcase topics like dinosaurs, chemistry, Texas wildlife, and more.
HMNS also offers a variety of exciting programs and events for the entire family, including a planetarium and a butterfly habitat. Group discounts are available for larger groups.
The museum’s annual Eye on Houston exhibition documents and celebrates the diverse neighborhoods of Houston and surrounding communities through a collaboration with high schools that qualify for Title I funding and support. Students document their surroundings using photography and other art forms. The exhibitions provide a meaningful experience for students while highlighting the vital role that museums play in education and cultural diversity.
Houston Museum of African American History
The Houston Museum of African American History is an educational hub that celebrates Black culture throughout the state of Texas, the southwest and the larger African Diaspora. Its socially engaging exhibitions are designed to bring relevant conversations around African American history and politics to the forefront, with a focus on the city of Houston and its specific Black heritage.
Located in the Historic Third Ward, this museum is a pillar of Houston’s Black community and one that will leave you feeling like you’re living in a piece of history. It houses a curated collection of artifacts and details the life of Reverend Jack Yates, who was a freed enslaved individual who helped bolster the city’s Black population.
This museum is well curated and offers many permanent galleries and exhibitions, as well as other venues such as the Burke Baker Planetarium, the Cockrell Butterfly Center, and the Wortham Giant Screen Theatre (formerly known as the Wortham IMAX Theatre). The museum also has a youth and contemporary art gallery.
Houston Museum of Asian American History
Houston is one of the most diverse cities in America, and the city’s museums reflect that diversity. Whether it’s exploring the cultural legacy of Asian Americans through the art of modern-day Asian artists or learning about the Civil Rights Movement at the Lorraine Motel, these museums are sure to engage you and your family.
Previously known as the Houston African American Museum, this education-driven institution encourages you to explore the rich history of Africans and African Americans in Texas and across the African Diaspora. Its mission is to encourage discovery-driven learning and inspire current and future generations of children, youth and adults through art, artifacts, cultural objects, stories and exhibits.
While the museum’s collection includes ancient works such as lacquerware and elaborate jade sculptures, it also highlights contemporary creations by local Texas-based Asian women artists. You can also enjoy yoga and tai chi workshops while you’re there. In addition, the museum sponsors outreach programs into local school systems that bring its history to the classroom.