Location: Houston
Top Things to do in Houston
Top 10 Specialty Museums in Houston, Texas (TX)
Houston hums with an energy and independent spirit all its own. A leading cultural and culinary destination in the South, the city is home to over 11,000 restaurants featuring cuisine from more than 70 countries. The thriving arts scene includes resident opera, ballet, symphony and theater companies. The Museum District houses 19 museums, all within walking distance. Be sure to visit Space Center Houston, where you can visit NASA’s Historic Mission Control at the Johnson Space Center.
Restaurants in Houston
1. Lone Star Flight Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 89 reviews
Housed in a large aircraft hangar, this world-class aviation museum features restored aircraft and historic photographs.
Reviewed By Chrisinkingwood2 - Houston, United States
We took advantage of the Smithsonial Free Museum Day tickets where you can get free admission for 2 to many museums around the country. I took my 14 year old grandson, I figured he might have an interest and wanted him to know that air battles just don't happen in all those video games he plays! We got there about 10:30 and stayed for 3 hours. The displays are fantastic, so many old planes and jets restored as they were when they were brand new. The panels with photographs and stories were very interesting and they also have several interactive displays that kids can do to learn about the effects of wind and the physics of flight while having fun. At one point we watched them wheel out the big bomber and it took off with guests who had purchased tickets for a flight around the Ellington Field area. My grandson got to try flying in the flight simulators which was really fun, sadly he found out it isn't as easy as a video game and crash landed!
2. Seismique
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
Seismique is a mind-bending, interactive art museum filled with immersive exhibits and stunning displays designed to both entertain and inspire our guests. Visitors will explore over 40,000 square feet of the most creative, inventive and enjoyable art ever collected in one location.
3. The Houston Museum of Natural Science
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,002 reviews
This outstanding science museum has a spectacular collection of mineral specimens, a dinosaur skeleton, space-station models, a planetarium, IMAX theater and a six-story butterfly center in which these beautiful creatures land delicately on outstretched arms.
Reviewed By Agarrino
Another mandatory visit while in Houston, is the Natural History Museum. You will need a complete day (or even more) to really check everything on display, since there are 4 floors full of interesting items: Full body dinosaurs skeletons, phosils of all sort, trilobites, scientist working in labs opened to visitors, an impressive collection of cristal minerals and jewels, sculptures and a great collection of ancient Egypt items, including three real mummys. Also great the butterfly interior garden.
4. National Museum of Funeral History
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 526 reviews
This museum, owned by a funeral company, houses the largest collection of funereal artifacts in the U.S., traces the history of funeral services, displays historic hearses and provides memorabilia from funerals of the famous, such as Dwight Eisenhower, Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy and Elvis Presley.
Reviewed By lauramooki - Bogota, Colombia
This is an absolute must-do in Houston. Fascinating and well put together displays with lots of excellent information. They also have a wonderful haunted house in October and lovely gift shop. The staff are so nice and the day we went (Halloween) there was a volunteer who was so knowledgeable and really genuinely enriched our visit.
5. Houston Museum District
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 698 reviews
Reviewed By ViewChaser - Houston, United States
The Houston Museum of Fine Arts and Museum of Natural Science are very close to one another. The Children's Museum, Holocaust Museum and Medical Museum are also located nearby so everything is quite convenient without traveling from one side of the city to the next.
6. The Printing Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 25 reviews
The Printing Museum explores the intersections of the history, art, and technology of printing and demonstrates its enduring impact through exhibitions, interactive tours, and creative workshops. With over 10,000 items in its permanent collection—including one of the earliest printed documents, fine-art facsimiles such as the Gutenberg Bible, and contemporary limited-edition works on paper—the Museum is an engaging place for kids and adults alike.
Reviewed By ransom007 - Anaheim, United States
The museum has free parking. When I visited (February 2020) the museum was undergoing substantial remodeling and many exhibits were not available. I was still very favorably impressed with the museum. There are pages of newspapers on display going as far back as colonial times in America. There are several printing presses on display. There is a goodly amount of artwork displayed as well. It is a good way to spend a couple of hours. I can only imagine how good it would be if all the exhibits were available. There is a small gift shop.
7. Houston Museum of African American Culture
8. Buffalo Soldiers National Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 135 reviews
"The Buffalo Soldiers National Museum a proud member of the Houston Museum District is the only Museum dedicated primarily to preserving the legacy and honor of the African-American soldier, in the United States of America."
Reviewed By GlendaKHouston_Texas
The day that we visited, we were the only people in this very informative and well organized museum that chronicles the history of the buffalo soldiers and other African Americans who served in the military. I was very impressed with the large amount of memorabilia and artifacts that they had. I loved the pictures and while looking at a group photo often wondered what was the "story" of each of the men pictured. This is a museum well worth the time to visit.
9. Space Center Houston
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 9,336 reviews
Space Center Houston is one of Houston’s top attractions, the Official Visitor Center of NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston’s first Smithsonian Affiliate and a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence awardee. The center features more than 400 space artifacts as well as numerous permanent and traveling exhibits, attractions and theaters related to the exciting future and remarkable past of America’s human space-flight program – all for one admission price. The experience is designed to engage adults and children alike. Known around the world as the home of NASA Mission Control, International Space Station Mission Control and astronaut training, guests are taken behind the scenes to see NASA Johnson Space Center. Space Center Houston is open every day except Christmas day.
Reviewed By Clayton12389 - Cambria, United States
Amazing tour of the original mission control, be prepared to spend a whole day in the museum if you want to visit all tours, Highly recommend the 3 tram tours around the site and the astronauts talk
10. 1940 Air Terminal Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 158 reviews
Where Houston's aviation history comes alive! A visit to the Museum affords a front row vantage point to Hobby Airport's diverse airport operations. Between airline traffic, business aviation and frequent fixed wing and rotary wing general aviation traffic, it's as if the Museum has an air show every day. The entire ground floor of the historic Terminal is occupied by the Museum. The restoration of the upper floors, including the observation decks and the tower cab, is pending. Our campus has expanded to include the restored 1928 Carter Field Airmail Hangar.
Reviewed By 38andrest - Guadalajara Metropolitan Area, Mexico
Great place to visit in Houston area, If you like aviation and travel history you will love this historic place. This Museum is located in the old terminal building dating from 1940. It is a well preserved Art Deco building in the Houston Hoby Airport perimeter. This is one of the few historic airport terminals still standing around the world. Admission is only $5 per person.
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