Museums in Austin TX
A Guide to 40+ Austin Museums
There is no shortage of museums in Austin, Texas. The city is home to the Blanton Museum of Art, the LBJ Presidential Library, the Thinkery, and the Bullock Texas State History Museum, among others. Whether you’re interested in art, history, or science, there’s a museum in Austin that will fit your interests.
Whether you’re a native Texan or a visitor to the Lone Star State, check out some of Austin’s fantastic museums. And, we’re here to make it super easy for you to do just that, as we have a list of more than 40, and an in-depth look at three of the best.
Austin Live Theaters and Theater Groups
A Few of the Best Austin Museums
The Thinkery – Children’s Museum in Austin
It’s known as ‘the premier children’s museum in Austin.’ The Thinkery is a science museum made for fun and educational family days out. With permanent exhibits covering everything from currents, and light, to transport and nutrition, it’s easy to spend a whole day wandering and wondering in this Austin museum.
For little ones, there are many exhibits specially designed for toddlers and under 6s. But older kids will also feel right at home in the innovators’ workshop and sprawling backyard playground.
Hours and Admission
The museum is closed on Mondays, but general admission runs from Tuesday – Thursday, 9 am to 3 pm, 9 am-5 pm on Fridays, and 10 am – 5 pm on weekends. Saturdays offer special admission for ages 0-36 in a designated time slot between 8 am – 10.30 am. There’s even a free community night on Sundays between 3 pm – 5 pm.
Admission is free for children 23 months and under, and for everyone else, tickets are $14 each. Book your tickets in advance online to avoid disappointment, as walk-in opportunities are limited.
The Blanton Museum of Art
The Blanton Museum of Art is a museum in Austin that boasts a permanent collection of more than 21,000 pieces in various art styles. Perhaps you’re a fan of European renaissance and baroque paintings, mind-bending modern art, or works by Latin artists. Or, maybe you simply want to stroll around a gorgeous and diverse collection of pieces, The Blanton Museum in Austin has something for everyone.
One of the crown jewels in the group is by far the highly ‘instagrammable’ Ellsworth Kelly ‘Austin’ building that uses colorful stained glass to create an incredible atmosphere. The Blanton Museum Austin regularly hosts traveling exhibitions. And, as of March 2022, these include ‘New Acquisitions from Contemporary Black Artists’ and Terry Allen’s ‘MemWars,’ amongst many others.
Tickets and Schedule
The Blanton is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. But Wednesday through Saturday, this museum in Austin is open 10 am – 5 pm. On Sundays, opening hours are slightly limited, with the museum open from 1 pm – 5 pm.
Admission is free for children under 12, museum members, and those who hold a Teachers’ or Veterans’ ID. Tickets cost $12 for general admission, $10 for those 65+, and $5 for student admission.
Don’t forget – access to this Austin museum is free for everyone on Thursdays!
Jordan Bachman Pioneer Farms
Austin’s Jordan Bachman Pioneer Farms is a living history museum. It documents the history of Texas as a whole and has activities to satisfy even the most discerning of tastes. With six historic themed areas ranging from an 1841 Tonkawa Encampment to a rural village from 1899, it’s never been easier to take a walk through time.
Nature lovers will feel energized in the 90-acre wooded Austin museum site, while history buffs will love the chance to live like a Texan pioneer. And, children won’t want to leave the Scarborough Barn where you can make friends with all the farm animals. The Pioneer Farm also offers some great classes, including banjo lessons and a chance to test your aim on the archery range.
Groups and Individual Admission
The Pioneer Farm museum in Austin is open 10 am – 5 pm Tuesdays through Sundays for school tours and Thursday through Sunday for general admission.
Tickets are available on-site, and children ages two and under are free. Tickets for adults cost $8, $6 for children ages 3-17 and seniors ages 65+. However, if you’re bringing a group of family and friends, admission for groups of 20 or more is $5 each.
Museums in Austin Texas
Austin Museums | Address | Website |
---|---|---|
African American Cultural & Heritage Facility | 912 E 11th St | https://www.austintexas.gov/aachf |
AMoA - Amarillo Museum of Art | 700 Congress Ave | http://www.amoa-arthouse.org |
Art Science Gallery | 916 Springdale Rd.,Building 2 Ste 102 | http://www.artsciencegallery.com |
Austin Art Space Gallery | 7739 Northcross Dr | https://austinartspace.com |
Austin Nature & Science Center | 2389 Stratford Dr | https://www.austintexas.gov/department/austin-nature-science-center |
Barton Springs Splash! Exhibit | 2201 Barton Springs Rd | https://www.austintexas.gov/department/beverly-s-sheffield-education-center |
Blanton Museum Of Art | 200 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd | https://blantonmuseum.org |
Brush Square Museums Foundation | 409 E 5th St | http://www.brushsquaremuseums.org |
Bullock Texas State History Museum | 1800 Congress Ave | https://www.thestoryoftexas.com |
Center For American History | 1 University Sta Ste D1100 | http://www.cah.utexas.edu |
Center For Mexican American Cultural Arts | PO Box 141725 | http://www.austinmacc.com/eng |
Dimension Gallery | 979 Springdale Rd Ste. 99 | http://dimensiongallery.org |
Dps Historical Museum And Research Center | 5805 N Lamar Blvd | http://www.txdpsmuseum.com/new-page-1 |
Elisabet Ney Museum | 304 E 44th St | http://www.austintexas.gov/elisabetney |
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center | 600 River St | https://www.austintexas.gov/department/emma-s-barrientos-mexican-american-cultural-center |
Folk Art Museum Of Central Texas | 700 Lavaca St | https://www.folkartmuseumcentraltx.org/index.php |
French Legation Museum | 802 San Marcos St | http://www.frenchlegationmuseum.org |
Gallery Of The Republic | 98 San Jacinto Blvd | https://galleryoftherepublic.com |
George Washington Carver Museum And Cultural Center | 1165 Angelina St | https://www.austintexas.gov/department/george-washington-carver-museum-cultural-and-genealogy-center |
Los Milagros De Cristo | 2608 E 4th St | http://www.losmilagrosdecristo.com/whole.htm |
Lyndon Baines Johnson Library And Museum | 2313 Red River St | http://www.lbjlibrary.org |
Mexic-Arte Museum | 419 Congress Ave | https://mexic-artemuseum.org |
Mexican American Cultural Center | 600 River St | https://austintexas.gov/page/macc-get-involved |
Museum Of Natural & Artificial Ephemerata | 1808 Singleton Ave | https://mnaeorg.wordpress.com |
Neill-Cochran House | 2310 San Gabriel St | https://www.nchmuseum.org |
O Henry Museum | 409 E 5th St | http://www.austintexas.gov/department/o-henry-museum |
Pioneer Farms | 10621 Pioneer Farms Dr | https://www.pioneerfarms.org |
Republic Of Texas Museum | 510 E Anderson Ln | http://www.drtinfo.org |
South Austin Museum Of Popular Culture | 1516 S Lamar Blvd | http://southpop.org |
Susanna Dickinson Museum | 411 E 5th St | http://www.austintexas.gov |
Texas Archive-The Moving Image | 3908 Avenue B | https://texasarchive.org |
Texas DPS Museum | 5805 N Lamar Blvd | https://www.txdpscu.org |
Texas Memorial Museum | 2400 Trinity St | https://tmm.utexas.edu |
Texas Military Forces Museum | 2200 W 35th St | https://www.texasmilitaryforcesmuseum.org |
Texas Music Museum | 1009 E 11th St | http://www.texasmusicmuseum.org |
The Art Of Ice Cream Experience | 3208 S Congress Ave | http://the-experience.edan.io |
The Contemporary Austin | 823 Congress Ave | https://thecontemporaryaustin.org |
The People's Gallery | 301 W 2nd St | https://www.austintexas.gov/department/peoples-gallery |
The Stark Center For Physical Culture And Sports | 403 Deloss Dodds Way | https://starkcenter.org |
The Texas Spirit Theater At The Bullock Texas State History Museum | 1800 Congress Ave | http://thestoryoftexas.com |
Thinkery - Children's Museum | 1830 Simond Ave | https://thinkeryaustin.org |
Warren Wildlife Gallery | 1401 Bouldin Ave | https://warrenwildlifegallery.org/contact |
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Frequently Asked Questions
The Blanton is an art museum in Austin, Texas housing more than 21,000 pieces. Visitors will find permanent collections and traveling exhibitions, and the museum is free for everyone on Thursdays.
Yes. The Thinkery is Austin’s premier children’s museum. It’s a science museum with interactive displays for visitors from toddlers to teens. There’s also Pioneer Farms, a living history museum that’s a favorite of school groups.
Many people are familiar with prominent museums, like the Blanton and Bullock Texas State History Museum. However, Austin is also home to dozens of other museums. You’ll find the Austin Nature and Science Center, Texas DPS Museum, AMoA, and the Center for Mexican American Cultural Arts, to name a few. We have a full list on OTL City Guides.