The Houston Museum of Natural Science
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Closest available address
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5555 Hermann Park Drive Houston, Texas 77030
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General museum hours are 9-5, all week. Some exhibits open fewer hours.
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713-639-4629
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1 day
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December 2012
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All year
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$10-29
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Houston
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Texas
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Website
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Educational
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General Museums
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First review
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The Houston Museum of Natural Science is one of the leading natural science museums in the country and also one of the most popular. It has extensive collections on paleontology, gems and minerals, wildlife, insects, American Indian cultures and history, chemistry, energy and more. In addition to the main facility, the museum has additional exhibits at an expansion facility in Sugarland, Texas, and an observatory at the nearby Brazos Bend State Park.
The museum opened in 1909 and moved to its current location in 1969. There have been several expansions and modernizations over the years and additional upgrades are planned for the future. There are 4 main floors and a basement at the main museum for exhibits and plenty of unused space. The museum is located next to Hermann Park which also has a variety of attractions including a children’s train, gardens and an assortment of busts/statutes of historic figures.
The museum has diverse exhibits, with primary themes pertaining to science, biology and geology. In order of interest the attractions include: an insect display/butterfly garden, paleontology hall, hands-on exhibits of energy sources and chemistry elements, several large screen and/or 3D movies, African and Texas fauna, mollusk and shell displays and a huge collection of gems and minerals. There is enough information and enrichment here to keep a curious person and inquisitive mind engaged for a day. Kids will find a variety of fun and educational attractions as well. Note that the museum can get packed on weekends, holidays and some school days, so factor that into your plans if you prefer to avoid crowds. There is free 3 hour parking in public lots nearby or a parking garage is available all day for a fee. If you enjoy learning about the natural world, this museum will be highly interesting and is definitely worth a visit, but bring your wallet as museum fees are on the higher side.
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