Texas is renowned not only for its tremendous size, but also for its magnificent museums, significant arts influences and momentous history. Texas is proud to celebrate all these things at various attractions throughout the state. Whether in the heart of one of Texas’ dynamic cities or in a quaint, authentic country or coastal town, visitors will be able to visit world-class exhibits, explore the soul of Texas and observe the footprint of history wherever their trip takes them.
Museums in the DFW Area
The Dallas Arts District is the largest urban cultural district in the country and is well-known as a catalyst for creative vitality in the region. The District is home to a collection of innovative and significant architectural sites designed by four Pritzker Prize award-winning architects. The district is home to The Dallas Museum of Art, known as one of the nation’s leading arts institutes and for its impressive collection of more than 24,000 works of art; the Nasher Sculpture Center, devoted to the exhibition and study of modern sculpture; and the Crow Collection of Asian Art.
Thirty minutes away, Fort Worth’s Cultural District is considered the “Museum Capital of the Southwest,” and is home to five museums. The Amon Carter Museum of American Art houses a preeminent collection of nineteenth and twentieth-century works of art in addition to being one of the nation’s major repositories of American photography. The Kimbell Museum of Art, regarded as one of the most outstanding architectural achievements of the modern era, is internationally known for its range of collections. Nearby is the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, mentioned in Travel + Leisure Magazine's “World’s Most Beautiful Museums" list. Additionally, the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame and the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History offer a variety of educational fun for children and adults.
Just south of Fort Worth, the Texas Rangers, the oldest law enforcement agency in North America, are honored at the Texas Ranger Museum and Hall of Fame in Waco. Nearby, the Dr. Pepper Museum educates visitors on the history of the soft drink native to Texas. Located close by on Baylor University’s campus, the Mayborn Museum features a natural science and cultural history museum focusing on Central Texas with walk-in dioramas.
Museums in the Houston Area
Houston’s Museum District houses 17 institutions including the Children’s Museum of Houston, The Houston Museum of Natural Science, The Holocaust Museum, and the Houston Museum of Fine Arts, one of the largest art museums in the country and housing over 63,000 impressive works of art. Close by, the Menil Collection is considered to be one of the most important private art collections in the world. Situated in an acclaimed Renzi Piano structure, approximately 17,000 paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings and photographs are part of this prized collection.
Just east of Houston, Beaumont is home to the extensive Texas Energy Museum, the Edison Museum and the Fire Museum of Texas. To the south, the Museum of the Gulf Coast in Port Arthur displays a wide range of exhibits which interpret the heritage of the Gulf Coast including cultural history, natural history, fine and decorative art and popular culture. And in Corpus Christi, the Museum of Science and History, the Art Museum of South Texas and the World War II era aircraft carrier, the USS Lexington, are significant sites not to be missed.
Museums in San Antonio
In San Antonio, the Museo Alameda presents extraordinary exhibitions, performances, and educational programs that provide a forum for the exploration of Latino art, history, and culture, via a partnership with The Smithsonian Institution. The Witte Museum is San Antonio's premier museum of South Texas history, culture, and natural science. The San Antonio Museum of Art exhibits collections of Latin American and Asian art, as well as folk and contemporary pieces. And the McNay Art Museum opened in 1945 as the region’s first museum of art, featuring everything from Diego Rivera and Pablo Picasso works to manuscripts and sculpture gardens.
Add one of the many museums you'll find in Texas to your bucket list and spend an afternoon or two admiring the world-class exhibits the state has to offer.
