Museum District, Houston
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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.
Museum District Map
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.
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 giant models of internal organs and hands-on stations, view themselves aged by 30 years, and visit the The Amazing Body Pavilion - a larger-than-life walking tour through the human body.General admission also includes Planet You 3D, a 20 minute, 3D film all about the creepy, crawly things that live on your skin.
Contemporary Arts Museum
The Contemporary Arts Museum presents regional, national and international art. It was started in 1948 by a group of seven private citizens, designed to present the art of their time and its role in modern life through exhibitions, lectures and other activities. The museum does not collect pieces or maintain a permanent collection. It presents between eight and ten exhibits each year in two galleries. Artists presented range from emerging talents to well known contemporary artists.
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 an excellently equipped Planetarium, the Miller Outdoor Theater, the Houston Zoo, Japanese Garden, and the Pioneer Memorial Log House Museum.Visitors can take a paddle boat out on McGovern Lake, enjoy the walking and jogging trails, or simply enjoy the lovely green surroundings of this urban park.
Houston Zoo
The Houston Zoo is a 50 acre zoo featuring more than 4,500 exotic and indigenous animals. The zoo also contains an education center and children's zoo. This is a popular attraction with families and most enjoyable outside of the summer season when temperatures are more moderate.
Houston Museum of Natural Science
The exhibits at the Houston Museum of Natural Science allow the visitor to experience science and nature from the time of the dinosaurs to space age exploration. In addition to the extensive collection the center features a range of sights and activities, with changing exhibits, an IMAX theater, a Planetarium, and a Butterfly Center. Check the museum's calendar to see what is showing and being featured.
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.
Museum of Fine Arts
The Museum of Fine Arts in Houston contains a vast collection of American, European, African, and Far East art. The large complex includes two galleries, two museums, the Lillie and Hugh Roy Cullen Sculpture Garden, a movie theater, and other facilities that include a library, research facility, and cafe.
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 modern and contemporary art. Exhbits change throughout the year.
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.
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.
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