Museums are the cultural hubs of Austin. Whether you’re looking to learn something new about the Capital City or plotting a way to spend your Saturday afternoon, here are 23 museums to visit in ATX.
Note: All ticket pricing reflects a standard adult ticket.
Arts
Blanton Museum of Art, 200 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. | $15 or free on Tuesdays
Check out the mesmerizing Moody Patio at this newly renovated art museum on the UT campus. Make sure to stop inside Ellsworth Kelly’s “Austin” art installation while you’re there.
The Contemporary Austin, 700 Congress Ave. + 3809 W. 35th St. | $10 or free on Thursdays
There’s so much art to see at this museum, they had to open a second location. The museum’s downtown Jones Center shows a rotating exhibit, while its Laguna Gloria location boasts an expansive outdoor sculpture park.
Mexic-Arte Museum, 419 Congress Ave. | $7 or free on Sundays
This museum dedicated to Mexican, Latino, and Latin American art is currently showing prints by Sergio Sánchez Santamariá, Irene Aguilar, and Juan Orta Castillo.
Elisabet Ney Museum, 304 E. 44th St. | Free
After training as the first woman admitted to Munich’s Academy of Fine Arts, sculptor Elisabet Ney moved to Austin in 1882. Today, her home still houses a substantial collection of her works and ephemera and is landscaped according to how Ney would have kept it.
UMLAUF Sculpture Garden + Museum, 605 Azie Morton Rd. | $7
Almost 90 years ago, artists Charles and Angeline Umlauf purchased this Barton Springs property to become their home and studio. In 1985, the couple gifted the land and 168 sculptures to the city to become a sculpture garden and gallery.
History
Jourdan-Bachman Pioneer Farms, 10621 Pioneer Farms Dr. | $8
Exploring 19th century villages, homesteads, and farms is cool enough, but you might want to check out this spot’s events calendar, too. Pioneer Farms is known for offering unique classes on skills like archery, basic weaving, blacksmithing, and natural dying, in addition to hosting regular events.
French Legation State Historic Site, 802 San Marcos St. | $7
The French Legation — the 1840s-era former home of a French liaison to the Republic of Texas — is Austin’s only state historic site.
Bullock Texas State History Museum, 1800 Congress Ave. | $13
Look for the enormous metal star out front, and you’ve found your destination. The Bullock Museum contains artifacts, first-person stories about Texas history, a reconstructed shipwreck, a special effects theater, and is known for hosting regular events.
LBJ Presidential Library, 2313 Red River St. | $13 or half-price on Tuesdays
Explore 45 million pages of historical documents, listen to recordings of former President Lyndon B. Johnson’s political career, and walk through a replica of the president’s Oval Office.
Texas Military Forces Museum, 3038 W. 35th St. | Free
The 45,000-sqft museum features uniforms, equipment, weapons, and personal items from multiple versions of Texas militia.
Neill-Cochran House Museum, 2310 San Gabriel St. | $10
At 167 years old, this historic home is one of the city’s oldest residences and connects to Austin’s only intact slave quarters.
Harry Ransom Center, 300 W. 21st St. | Free
This internationally renowned UT research center contains an extensive collection of artifacts and relics related to literature, photography, film, and the performing arts. Highlights include Edgar Allan Poe’s writing desk, a 500-year-old Gutenberg Bible, and the entire archive of Robert De Niro’s film career. Pro tip: Call before you arrive to see what’s currently viewable to the public.
Science and nature
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, 4801 La Crosse Ave. | $15
This center, named for the former first lady, is the official Botanic Garden and Arboretum of Texas. It’s also a hot spot for events, exhibitions, and installations.
Thinkery, 1830 Simond Ave. | $18
Although technically a children’s museum, this Mueller center for all things science and exploration is anything but rudimentary. Kids can explore STEAM-based, interactive exhibits like the Innovator’s Workshop and light lab.
Austin Nature & Science Center, 2389 Stratford Dr. | Free
This 80-acre center has been teaching visitors about local nature since 1960 and offers special programs for preschoolers, kids, and families. Don’t miss the Birds of Prey or Mammal enclosures.
Interactive
Museum of Ice Cream, 11506 Century Oaks Terrace, #128 | Prices vary by time
It’s all pretty in pink at this Domain museum filled to the brim with interactive installations that are perfect for your next Instagram selfie.
Wonderspaces Austin, 1205 Sheldon Cove, #2A, | $24
Dive into 17 art installations paired with signature cocktails in this surreal north Austin space. Experiences include being sketched by a robot and making a digital painting out of body movement.
Texas Toy Museum, 312 Congress Ave. | $17
Tap into your inner tween at this hub featuring retro arcade games and hands-on exhibits of vintage toys.
Museum of Illusions, 11010 Domain Dr. #100 | $25
This newly opened museum will boggle your mind and senses with visual and interactive illusions.
Culture
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican-American Cultural Center, 600 River St. | Free
Although currently closed for a renovation expected to nearly double the space in size, when it reopens, this center will resume its role as a hub for the preservation and promotion of Mexican American and Latino arts.
George Washington Carver Museum & Genealogy Center, 1165 Angelina St. | Free
Learn about the contributions of Black Austinites and Americans at this center, which is also a community hub for events, performances, and learning. Kids can learn about African American scientists and inventors, while adults can research their family history in the genealogy center.
Museum of the Weird, 412 E. 6th St. | $12.99
We like it weird in Austin. Check out shrunken heads, Fiji mermaids, and items related to Bigfoot and UFOs at this downtown spot.
Texas Music Museum, 1009 E. 11th St. |
This museum is celebrating 29 years of operation, and features interviews, artifacts, and photographs of Texas artists, some of which were taken by museum volunteers themselves.
