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Houston Museum Of Natural Science Cost

Visitors Guide: Houston Museum Of Natural Science In The Museum District

Sneak peek: Houston Museum of Natural Science’s Ramses Exhibition

Peer into the ancient past and explore how the world works at the Houston Museum of Natural Science in the Museum District.

Standing at the edge of the Hermann Park roundabout, the Houston Museum of Natural Science has invited millions of annual visitors over the last century to connect with the world around them.

In the meantime, expansion into four floors of sprawling exhibit halls, a tropical butterfly center, a planetarium, a giant screen theater, and the stunning and all-encompassing Hall of Paleontology has elevated the museum to one of the most popular in the country.

Visiting a museum of this scale isnt quite apt for an afternoon drop-in, so grab your walking shoes and get ready for a full day of discovery, or break your explorations into multiple days.

Houston Museum Of Natural Science

The Houston Museum of Natural Science houses the Burke Baker Planetarium, Wortham Giant Screen Theatre, Cockrell Butterfly Center, and over a dozen permanent exhibit areas that examine astronomy, space, science, Native Americans, paleontology, energy, chemistry, gems and minerals, seashells, Texas wildlife, and more. In addition, the museum frequently presents traveling exhibitions on a variety of topics.

The Museum also maintains two satellite facilities: The George Observatory in Fort Bend County which houses one of the largest telescopes in the country that is available for public viewing and The Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land which has exhibits on dinosaurs, mineralogy, exotic live insects, and more.

The Houston Museum Of Natural Science: Hours Address The Houston Museum Of Natural Science Reviews: 45/5

When is The Houston Museum of Natural Science open?
The Houston Museum of Natural Science is open:

  • Sun – Sat 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Buy tickets in advance on Tripadvisor. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund.

How much do The Houston Museum of Natural Science tickets cost in 2022?
The Houston Museum of Natural Science admission prices can vary. Entrance tickets currently cost C$13.78, while a popular guided tour starts around C$7.73 per person. See all 13 The Houston Museum of Natural Science tickets and tours on Tripadvisor
Do you need to book The Houston Museum of Natural Science tickets in advance?
The Houston Museum of Natural Science can be crowded, so we recommend booking e-tickets ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund. See all 13 The Houston Museum of Natural Science tickets and tours on Tripadvisor
What’s the best way to see The Houston Museum of Natural Science?
According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience The Houston Museum of Natural Science:

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About The Houston Museum Of Natural Science

The Houston Museum of Natural Science was founded all the way back in 1909, and for more than 110 years, the museum has been delivering on its mission to enhance in individuals the knowledge and delight in natural science and related objects.

What makes the Houston Museum of Natural Science so great is just how much it offers for all visitors. The acclaimed museum is home to the Burke Baker Planetarium, Cockrell Butterfly Center, Wortham Giant Screen Theatre, and an array of permanent and rotating exhibits that explore everything from space science to gems and menerals to Texas wildlife and so much more.

With such a huge array of exhibits and attractions, you can easily spend a full day or more exploring the museum, and every time you visit, theres more to see.

World War Ii To The Late 20th Century

Houston Museum of Natural Science

When started, tonnage levels at the port decreased and shipping activities were suspended however, the war did provide economic benefits for the city. Petrochemical refineries and manufacturing plants were constructed along the ship channel because of the demand for petroleum and synthetic rubber products by the defense industry during the war., initially built during , was revitalized as an advanced training center for bombardiers and navigators. The was founded in 1942 to build ships for the during World War II. Due to the boom in defense jobs, thousands of new workers migrated to the city, both blacks, and whites competing for the higher-paying jobs. President Roosevelt had established a policy of for defense contractors, and blacks gained some opportunities, especially in shipbuilding, although not without resistance from whites and increasing social tensions that erupted into occasional violence. Economic gains of blacks who entered defense industries continued in the postwar years.

The increased production of the expanded shipbuilding industry during World War II spurred Houston’s growth, as did the establishment in 1961 of NASA’s “Manned Spacecraft Center” . This was the stimulus for the development of the city’s aerospace industry. The , nicknamed the “”, opened in 1965 as the world’s first indoor domed sports stadium.

In 1997, Houstonians elected as the city’s first African American mayor.

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How Much Are The Hmns Tickets

You can purchase a general admission ticket online or upon arrival at the HMNS box office. The list below comprises all the prices for admission to the permanent exhibit halls.

Adult
Member Free

To avoid charges, take advantage of Free Thursday, and visit the museums permanent exhibits on a Thursday between 2 PM and 5 PM. The natural history museum, comprising the Burke Baker Planetarium, Cockrell Butterfly Center, and Wortham Giant Screen Theatre, is open from 9 AM to 5 PM.

Houston Museum Of Natural Science Travel Tips

  • Planetarium and Butterfly center both have separate entrance fees.
  • Wheelchairs, elevators, stroller accessibility, accessible parking, and accessible parking are available for the physically challenged.
  • Access HMNS App, visual vocabulary, sensory guide, HMNS exploration planner, sensory backpacks, and sensory friendly events are available for people with sensory sensitives and autism spectrum disorders.
  • The Wortham Giant Screen Theatre is equipped with facilities that provides aid for hearing-impaired movie audiences
  • Certain exhibits do not allow photography.
  • Only the Grand Hall and the rainforest of the Cockrell Butterfly Centre allow flash photography.
  • Selfie sticks, tripods and camera stands are not allowed at HMNS, HMNS Sugar Land and the George Observatory.

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Tips For Visiting The Houston Museum Of Natural Science

What’s included in my Houston Museum of Natural Science tickets?

General admission tickets for the Houston Museum of Natural Science get you access to all the permanent exhibits.

This includes the Cabinet of Curiosities, the Hall of Paleontology, the Hall of African Wildlife, the Hall of Gems and Minerals, the Hall of Ancient Egypt, the Hall of The Americas, the Welch Hall of Chemistry, the Energy Hall, and more.

Also on-site are the Cockrell Butterfly Center and the Burke Baker Planetarium. If you’ve got a full day, these are wonderful additions to your museum trip, and tickets for these attractions can be purchased in addition to your basic entry ticket .

Can I take a guided tour of the museum?

Special behind-the-scenes tours of the permanent exhibits are available directly with the Houston Museum of Natural Science. If you’ve already made the most of your basic entry ticket, then a special tour with an expert could be the icing on the cake!

These themed, expertly led tours include the Hall of Paleontology, the Hall of Ancient Egypt, and more. Check out the official calendar for more info.

How long does it take to visit the Houston Museum of Natural Science?

It’s recommended that you take at least 2-3 hours for an express look around the museum, but with so much to explore, you could stay all day. If you can, plan to spend half a day inside and take your time.

When is entry to the Houston Museum of Natural Science free?

Frequently Asked Questions About Houston Museum Of Natural Science

Houston Museum of Natural Science reopening after COVID-19 closure

What time does the Houston Museum of Natural Science close?

The Museum opens at 9:00 a.m. Closing hours vary throughout the year. Please see the calendar above for the Museum’s current hours when selecting your tickets. Hours are subject to change. Please note, the last entry is 30 minutes prior to closing.

Is the Houston Museum of Natural Science free on Thursdays?

Yes, the Museum is free from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursdays. The last entry is at 7:30 p.m.

Where is the Houston Museum of Natural Science located?

It is located at 5555 Hermann Park Drive, Houston Texas. They are also serviceable via public transportation. Please visit the Metro Trip Planner’s website if you would like to help plan your trip to HMNS .

What can I see at the Houston Museum of Natural Science?

When you visit the Houston Museum of Natural Science, you’re not just going to one place. You’re exploring tropical rainforests and worlds galaxies away. You’re going back in time to when dinosaurs walked the Earth and blasting forward to the future of renewable energy. With five floors of permanent halls and a steady rotation of traveling special exhibits, this Houston attraction will take you beyond its walls to experience the wonder and delight of science.

When is the best time to visit the Houston Museum of Natural Science?

Is this Museum wheelchair/stroller accessible?

What are their other accessibility offerings?

Can I bring my pet?

Can I bring my camera?

Is parking available?

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Explore The Civilizations Of Humanity On The Third Level

Rising to the third floor of the Houston Museum of Natural Science brings visitors back into the aboriginal past. The John P. McGovern Hall of the Americas tours guests through societies across the Western Hemisphere that have risen and fallen. From Aztecs and Mayans, to the Inuit and Native populations of North America, this wide-ranging exhibit provides a fascinating look into a bygone time.

The nearby Hall of Ancient Egypt explores the many facets of Egyptian society such as writing, religion, and mummification. Filled with artifacts and trinkets, the exhibit also offers a very up close and personal look into several sarcophagi and the mummified remains of its previous inhabitants.

Dinosaurs Of Antarctica 3d

Dinosaurs of Antarctica tells the story of a changing environment at the bottom of the world where dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures once roamed freely in a lush landscape. As the climate changes again today, melting Antarctic ice is allowing discovery of the continent’s history-including the fossils of new dinosaurs.

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Cullen Grand Entry Hall At Hmns

The bustling entry hall to the Houston Museum of Natural Science has more than a little in common with some of the worlds great train stations. Ticket booths line the walls, selling memberships, day passes, and tickets to special, limited engagement exhibitions, film screenings, and more.

From here, you have the option of heading into the permanent exhibits or adding to your default ticket with any of the a la carte options located in the same entry hall.

Recently upgraded to become one of the only 8K-resolution experiences, the Burke Baker Planetarium offers an assortment of full-dome shows from exploring black holes, zooming around the universe, or, yes, even taking in a Pink Floyd sight and sound show. Tickets run $9 for adults and $8 for children.

The Wortham Giant Screen Theatre next door offers 3D shows digitally projected onto a massive 60 x 80 screen. Immerse yourself in films that bring you up close and personal with the worlds predators and ancient dinosaurs. At $12 for adults and $10 for children, you can grab a seat, even if youll only need the edge.

At the end of the hall, the Cockrell Butterfly Center provides a unique museum experience, leading guests down pathways in a tropical habitat thats filled with seemingly thousands of butterflies that flutter around and over your head.

Elements Molecules & Matter On The Lower Level

Houston Museum of Natural Science

Here, youll find the Welch Hall of Chemistry, an interactive KHOU meteorology exhibit, and the planet-probing Earth Forum .

Highlighting the Hall of Chemistry is the wall-sized periodic table containing real samples of each element. Time your stop in the lower level and find the nearby Conoco Phillips Hands-On Demonstration Lab where scientists are performing experiments.

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Take Public Transit To The Hmns

Taking public transportation instead of driving is easy and more cost-effective. The Houston Museum District Station on the METRO Red Line is within a 5-minute walk of the HMNS, and its the sole METRORail station with both northbound and southbound platforms located on opposite streets. The single-ride fare is only $1.25. for more info about Day Passes, METRO Q Fare Card, and other prices.

Early Settlement To The 20th Century

The Allen brothers and explored town sites on Buffalo Bayou and . According to historian David McComb, “he brothers, on August 26, 1836, bought from Elizabeth E. Parrott, wife of T.F.L. Parrott and widow of John Austin, the south half of the lower league granted to her by her late husband. They paid $5,000 total, but only $1,000 of this in cash notes made up the remainder.”

The Allen brothers ran their first advertisement for Houston just four days later in the Telegraph and Texas Register, naming the notional town in honor of President Sam Houston. They successfully lobbied the to designate Houston as the temporary capital, agreeing to provide the new government with a state capitol building. About a dozen persons resided in the town at the beginning of 1837, but that number grew to about 1,500 by the time the Texas Congress convened in Houston for the first time that May. The Republic of Texas granted Houston incorporation on June 5, 1837, as became its first mayor. In the same year, Houston became the county seat of Harrisburg County .

In 1840, the community established a chamber of commerce, in part to promote shipping and navigation at the newly created port on Buffalo Bayou.

President opened the deep-water Port of Houston in 1914, seven years after digging began. By 1930, Houston had become Texas’s most populous city and Harris County the most populous county. In 1940, the reported Houston’s population as 77.5% White and 22.4% Black.

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Group Programs & Special Events At Hmns

The Houston Museum of Natural Science also offers robust group-tailored programming, including annual summer camps, school tours, scout programs, and classroom education via the dozens of classrooms located on the lower level. For more information on these programs and reservations, contact .

In addition, the Houston Museum of Natural Science is known for hosting popular night-out events like its annual Spirits & Skeletons Halloween party and seasonal Mixers & Elixers social cocktail bash.

Body Worlds & The Cycle Of Life

Victoria the T. rex at Houston Museum of Natural Science

BODY WORLDS & The Cycle of Life delivers a breathtaking encounter with the inner workings of the human body and shows the effects of poor health, good health and lifestyle choices. In addition to showcasing the wonders of human development, the 100+ preserved human specimens including whole-body plastinates demonstrate the complexity, resilience and vulnerability of the human body in distress, disease and optimal health.

In the exhibition, designed by BODY WORLDS’ creative and conceptual designer, Dr. Angelina Whalley, visitors will follow the human body through the span of time and learn about the latest findings in anatomy, longevity and health.

All specimens presented are preserved through Plastination, an advanced scientific technique invented by pioneering anatomist Dr. Gunther von Hagens, which allows specimens to be preserved indefinitely for educational purposes in teaching institutions as well as exhibitions. Dr. von Hagens’ BODY WORLDS exhibitions stem from a body donation program established in the early 1980s that is managed by the Institute for Plastination.

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Houston Museum Of Natural Science Parking Options

If youre wondering where to find parking for the Houston Museum of Natural Science, you have plenty of options! The HMNS Garage is adjacent to the museum and provides several levels of convenient, covered parking spaces. In addition to the garage, free 3-hour parking is offered by the following lots:

See the map of the HMNS and its garage below, or for the Hermann Park parking map to see the location of Houston Zoo parking and other lots.

Do You Have To Wear A Mask At Houston Museum Of Natural Science

Face masks will be required for all employees with public appearances workstations will be configured to allow the staff to distance themselves from the social environment support staff can remain with us from home rather than working with the public. In order to minimize any distractions, we highly recommend buying online and before purchasing. Check out the following information on advanced ticket purchasing.

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Additional Parking Near The Hmns

If searching for alternative parking near the Houston Museum of Natural Science, you have an array of options. In addition to metered parking around the Museum Medical Tower, paid parking is available at the following locations.

  • The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston offers short-term parking in the vicinity, and the cost for visitors is $10 for up to 4 hours.
  • The Childrens Museum parking garage is also nearby, and the fee for over 3 hours of parking is $10.

We also suggest that you check out offers on SpotHerowe discovered two PMC-operated parking lots available for only $5:

  • 1220 Calumet St. Lot

Both parking areas are within short walking distance of the main entrance.

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