While there’s nothing wrong with kicking back and enjoying Netflix on your weekends, getting some culture is always a valuable way to spend your time. By educating yourself about the world around you, you develop tolerance, respect, and appreciation for others around you. Whether you love art, history, science, or something else, Houston has a museum that will help you become a more well-rounded and refined individual.
Museum of Fine Arts
Known officially as the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, this art establishment houses one of the largest art collections in the country, totaling 64,000 works across 300,000 square feet in seven separate buildings. The works span back over 6,000 years, with specific emphasis on French Impressionism, Italian Renaissance paintings, photography, and post-World War II paintings and sculptures. Throughout the year, the museum also hosts temporary or traveling exhibits, such as modern art and design, ancient Indian relics, and more.
The museum is open Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday (free!) from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from 12:15 to 7 p.m. Admission is $15 for adults (19-64), $10 for seniors (65+) and military personnel, $7.50 for college students and youth (13-18), and free for children 12 and under.
Houston Museum of Natural Science
Founded in 1909, the Houston Museum of Natural Science is one of the oldest and most popular museums in the city. In terms of attendance, it ranks fourth in the country among non-Smithsonian-affiliated museums. The museum has typical natural history attractions, such as fossils, gems, minerals, chemistry exhibits, and interactive science exhibits. But it’s the extras that make this museum a true experience.
The main entrance is filled with gigantic dinosaur skeletons, while the Butterfly House and Insect Zoo are ideal for getting up close and personal with creepy crawlers. The Burke Baker Planetarium is an amazing place for visitors to learn about the solar system thanks to state-of-the-art Digistar 6 software, which is the world’s premium digital planetarium software and projection system. The final touch is an IMAX theater that shows educational films in stunning 4K quality.
The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Tickets are $25 for adults (12-61), $15 for youths (3-11), seniors (62+), and college students with a valid ID, and $8 for military personnel. Children 2 and under are free.
Holocaust Museum Houston
Opened in 1996, the Holocaust Museum Houston is the country’s fourth-largest Holocaust-related museum. The museum’s mission is to bring an everlasting reminder of the horrors of genocide through an understanding of cultures, remembrance of the Holocaust, and further education. Although the museum is a somber reminder of the atrocities of the past, it’s an excellent way to learn about history through the eyes of those who lived it.
The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday (free). Admission is $12 for adults and $8 for children.
Although Houston may not have the tourist-friendly attractions you find in Dallas, San Antonio, or Austin, it’s not short on awesome museums. Take advantage of all that H-Town has to offer by planning your trip today.
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