Houston - Museum District
In the south-western part of the city, between downtown Houston and the Rice University, are three fine art museums: the Contemporary Arts Museum (Montrose Bvld. and Bissonet St.), with periodic special exhibitions of modern art and films; the Museum of Fine Arts (1001 Bissonet St.), largely designed by Mies van der Rohe, with works of art from many countries, including the Kress Collection of Renaissance art and Indian art of the south-west; and the Menil Museum (1515 Sul Ross St.), housed in a building designed by Renzo Piano, which has an excellent collection of art of all periods and styles.
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Must-see attractions nearby:
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Related Attractions
Byzantine Fresco Chapel Museum
The Byzantine Fresco Chapel Museum is home to the only intact Byzantine frescoes in the western hemisphere. Stolen from a Turkish chapel, the 13th century frescoes were later discovered and rescued by the Menil Foundation. With the permission of the Church of Cyprus, the foundation spent two years restoring the paintings. The Church of Cyprus has extended a long term loan of the frescoes, which are stored in this building designed by Francois de Menil, for the specific purpose of housing the frescoes.
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | Closed | 11:00 | 11:00 | 11:00 | 11:00 | 11:00 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
Children's Museum of Houston
The Children's Museum of Houston has hands-on exhibits in the areas of science and technology, history and culture, health and human development, and the arts. Build robots in Invention Convention; anchor the news; run a business; get elected as mayor in Kidtropolis, USA; or take a wet, wild adventure in FlowWorks.
All values are in United States Dollars
Hours
May 30 to September 5
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 12:00 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 20:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
September 6 to May 29
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 12:00 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 20:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
Always opened on:
Martin Luther King's Birthday - USA (3rd Monday, January )
Memorial Day - USA (last Monday, May )
Labor Day - USA (1st Monday, September)
Memorial Day - USA (last Monday, May )
Labor Day - USA (1st Monday, September)
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November )
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Easter - Christian (Apr 08)
Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November )
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Easter - Christian (Apr 08)
| Admission Cost | $ 8.00 |
| Military discount | $ 7.00 |
| Senior over 65 | $ 7.00 |
| Child 1 & under | FREE |
Discounts on
Thursday
Contemporary Arts Museum
The museum presents regional, national and international art. The Contemporary Arts Museum began in 1948 by a group of seven private citizens to present the art of their time and its role in modern life through exhibitions, lectures and other activities.
Contemporary Arts Museum
5216 Montrose Boulevard
Houston, TX 77006-6598
United States
5216 Montrose Boulevard
Houston, TX 77006-6598
United States
Phone 1 (713) 284-8250
Fax 1 (713) 284-8275
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | Closed | 11:00 | 11:00 | 11:00 | 11:00 | 11:00 |
| Close | 19:00 | 21:00 | 19:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November )
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November )
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Disabled
Full facilities for persons with disabilities.
Facilities
Gift shop
Hermann Park
To the south of the Museum of Fine Arts, round the Grand Basin, is Hermann Park, in which are the large Houston Museum of Natural Science, with the excellently equipped Burke Baker Planetarium, the Miller Outdoor Theater, the Houston Zoological Gardens and the Kipp Aquarium.
Hermann Park Conservancy
6201-A Hermann Park Drive
Houston, TX 77030
United States
6201-A Hermann Park Drive
Houston, TX 77030
United States
Phone 1 (713) 524-5876
Fax 1 (713) 524-5887
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 6:00 | 6:00 | 6:00 | 6:00 | 6:00 | 6:00 | 6:00 |
| Close | 23:00 | 23:00 | 23:00 | 23:00 | 23:00 | 23:00 | 23:00 |
Holocaust Museum Houston
The emphasis of the Holocaust Museum Houston is the Holocaust survivors and their stories. Exhibits highlight the dangers of prejudice and hatred in society.
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November )
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Easter - Christian (Apr 08)
Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November )
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Easter - Christian (Apr 08)
The museum is not suggested for children under age 10.
Open the first Thursday of each month until 8pm.
Disabled
Full facilities for persons with disabilities.
Facilities
Wheelchair loan or rental
Houston Museum of Natural Science
The exhibits at Houston Museum of Natural Science allow the visitor to experience science and nature from dinosaur displays to space exploration.
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 20:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Always closed on:
Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November )
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Disabled
Full facilities for persons with disabilities.
Facilities
Gift shop
Restaurant or food service
Restaurant or food service
Houston Zoological Gardens
The Houston Zoological Gardens is a 50 acre zoo featuring more than 4,500 animals. The zoo also contains an education center and children's zoo.
All values are in United States Dollars
Hours
March 14 to November 6
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 |
| Close | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 |
November 7 to March 13
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
Always closed on:
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
| Adult | $ 12.00 |
| Child 11 & under | $ 8.00 |
| Senior over 65 | $ 6.50 |
| Child 1 & under | FREE |
Menil Collection
The Menil collection houses the collection of John and Dominique de Menil. The art includes antiquities, Byzantine art, the arts of tribal cultures, and twentieth-century art.
Menil Collection
1515 Sul Ross
Houston, TX 77006
United States
1515 Sul Ross
Houston, TX 77006
United States
Phone 1 (713) 525-9400
Fax 1 (713) 525-9444
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | Closed | 11:00 | 11:00 | 11:00 | 11:00 | 11:00 |
| Close | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 |
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November )
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November )
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Disabled
Full facilities for persons with disabilities.
Museum of Fine Arts
The galleries contain over 40,000 American, European, African and Far East art.
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 12:15 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 21:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 |
Always closed on:
Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November )
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Rothko Chapel
East of the Menil Museum, is the Rothko Chapel, designed by Philip Johnson, with tapestries by the Russian-American artist Mark Rothko.
This is a non-denominational chapel where all religions are welcome.
This is a non-denominational chapel where all religions are welcome.
Rothko Chapel
1409 Sul Ross
Houston, TX 77006
United States
1409 Sul Ross
Houston, TX 77006
United States
Phone 1 (713) 524-9839
Fax 1 (713) 524-7461
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
Disabled
Full facilities for persons with disabilities.
The Health Museum (formerly Museum of Health & Medical Science)
The Health Museum has interactive exhibits to learn about the human body and how to stay healthy. The museum offers video theaters, live hands-on science classes and demonstrations, traveling exhibitions, summer camps, and other programs. Visitors can explore internal organs, view themselves aged by 30 years, and visit the The Amazing Body Pavilion - a larger-than-life walking tour through the human body.
All values are in United States Dollars
Hours
June 1 to August 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 12:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
September 1 to May 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 12:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Always closed on:
Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November )
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
| Adult | $ 8.00 |
| Child 12 & under | $ 6.00 |
| Senior over 65 | $ 6.00 |
| Child 2 & under | FREE |
