Are you thinking of taking your children out but can’t decide where you should go? Why not start with the Houston Museum of Natural Science, where your kids can simultaneously learn and enjoy?
Located on the northern border of Hermann Park in Houston, this is a science museum known for its popularity (the largest after the Smithsonian) and its widespread and stunning guest exhibits, not to mention the dinosaurs!
Read on to know more about the museum and what you can do there.
Location:
The Houston Museum of Natural Sciences is located at 5555 Hermann Park Dr, Houston, TX 77030. It is centrally located in a well-known area of the city. It can be easily accessed by car and public transport such as buses and light rail.
Hours:
The Houston Museum of Natural Science is open from 9 am to 5 pm on regular days and from 9 am to 6 pm during the summer and the holidays. Hours for various exhibits may vary. For more information, please visit the website.
Admission:
The price of tickets at the Houston Museum of Natural Science depends on the section one wants to visit and the visitor’s age and status. Here is the price list according to each section:
Pricing for permanent exhibits: Entry is accessible all year round for members and children under two and everyone on Thursdays between 2 pm and 5 pm. Tickets for non-member adults (aged 12 and above) and children (ages 3 to 11) are priced at $25 and $15 per person, respectively. In contrast, those for senior citizens (aged 62 and above) are priced at $15, respectively. College students can also gain entry for $15, provided they have a valid ID that proves their status. Those from the military can visit the permanent exhibits for $8 per person, provided they can show a valid ID that proves their status. Groups too can avail of the discount, with standard groups getting entry at $8 per person and school groups (i.e., Pre-K to 12th Grade) at $3.50 per person.
Pricing for special exhibitions:
Knights: Members can enter this exhibit at $8 per person. Tickets for non-member adults (aged 12 and above) and children (ages 3 to 11) are priced at $30 and $20 per person, respectively. In contrast, those for senior citizens (aged 62 and above) are priced at $20, respectively. College students can also gain entry for $20, provided they have a valid ID that proves their status. Those from the military can visit the permanent exhibits for $15 per person, provided they can show a valid ID that proves their status.
Reality Check: Members can enter this exhibit at $8 per person. Tickets for non-member adults (aged 12 and above), children (old 3 to 11), and senior citizens (aged 62 and above) are priced at $12 per person. College students and military personnel can also gain entry for $12, provided they have a valid ID proofing their status. Not that reality check tickets do not allow access into permanent exhibit halls.
Pricing for planetarium: Tickets for members are priced at $4 per person, while those for non-member adults (aged 12 and above), non-member children (aged 3 to 11), non-member senior citizens (aged 62 and above), and College Students (who show a valid ID) are priced at $8 per person. Military members can visit the planetarium for $6 per person, provided they can offer a valid ID that proves their status. Groups too can avail of the discount, with regular groups getting entry at $6 per person and school groups (i.e., Pre-K to 12th Grade) at $3.50 per person.
Pricing for Butterfly Center: Tickets for members are priced at $4 per person, while those for non-member adults (aged 12 and above) are priced at $9 per person. Tickets for non-member children (aged 3 to 11), non-member senior citizens (aged 62 and above), and College Students (who show a valid ID) are priced at $8 per person. Military members can visit the planetarium for $6 per person, provided they can offer a valid ID that proves their status. Groups too can avail of the discount, with regular groups getting entry at $6 per person and school groups (i.e., Pre-K to 12th Grade) at $3.50 per person.
Pricing for Giant Screen Theatre: Tickets for members are priced at $6 per person, while those for non-member adults (aged 12 and above) are priced at $12 per person. Non-member children (aged 3 to 11), non-member senior citizens (aged 62 and above), and College Students (who show a valid ID) can buy tickets at $10 per person. Military members can visit the planetarium for $8 per person, provided they can offer a valid ID that proves their status. Groups too can avail of the discount, with regular groups getting entry at $8 per person and school groups (i.e., Pre-K to 12th Grade) at $5 per person.
Parking:
Free Parking at the museum is limited and can be availed when you arrive early. That said, paid Parking is not very expensive, with charges for members (for the whole day) being $5 per vehicle and non-members (also for the entire day) being $20 per vehicle.
Permanent Exhibits at the Houston Museum of Natural Science:
Cockrell Butterfly Center: This is a stunning exhibit consisting of thousands of exotic butterflies and tropical plants in a rainforest background encased in a central conservatory shaped like a 3-story glass cone. Butterflies from all over the world populate this exhibit.
Moran Paleontology Hall: This exhibit offers a glimpse into the history of the Earth’s ecosystem and showcases over 450 fossils and fossil replicas. It is housed in a 30,000-square-foot hall with extra exhibit space and classrooms.
Farish Hall of Texas Wildlife: Reopened in Autumn 2014 after undergoing a significant renovation, this exhibit displays the specimens of the rich Texas wildlife. Illustrations included are from the past as well as from the present day.
Weiss Energy Hall 3.0: Sprawled across 30000 sq. ft., the recently-renovated Weiss Energy Hall showcases old and new progress in the energy world.
Welch Chemistry Hall: This interactive exhibit explains the most complicated of scientific concepts in the form of holograms, displays, installations, and live experiments.
Foucault Pendulum: Named after the French physicist Jean Foucault, the Foucault Pendulum was initially exhibited in 1851 at the World’s Fair in Paris and offered a visual demonstration of the Earth’s rotation.
