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A Guide to Houston Museums

21st century Houston is a thriving art nexus, the home of world-class museums, acclaimed art galleries and a huge community of talented artists. At the heart of it all: the Houston Museum District, whose 20 museums and 50-acre zoological park--all within walking distance of one another and accessible by METRORail--from one of the largest cultural districts in the country, with more than half a million square feet of exhibition space and six million annual visitors.

Where to begin your tour? Follow our guide through these must-see art spaces that help define Houston. And don't miss exclusive savings on unique Houston experiences.

MFAH People and Paintings
Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Photo By:Bertuzzi Photography

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

Start your art trek at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH), pivotally sited at Bissonnet and Main Street. Founded in 1900, the MFAH is the oldest museum in Texas as well as the most prominent.

Known for:

Being a dynamic cultural complex in the heart of the Houston Museum District, featuring two gallery buildings, a film theater designed by Bauhaus architect Mies van der Rohe and a serene sculpture garden to inspire visitors of all ages.

Don't miss:

The underground Wilson Tunnel, which features James Turrell's The Light Inside, a color-changing light installation that makes walking between the two main museum buildings a one-of-a-kind experience.

Insider tip:

Come for the art but stay for the gallery talks, lectures, guided tours and sketching in the galleries (all free with general admission).

Eat + Drink

Monarch: Located just steps from the museum, Hotel ZaZa's fine dining restaurant has a hip, see-and-be-seen bar.
Raven Grill: Less than a mile from the museum, this cozy neighborhood spot serves up casual, southwestern-focused fare.

Contemporary Arts Museum Houston

Diagonally across from the MFAH, the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston (CAMH) is the next stop. You can't miss its gleaming metal structure or neighboring palm tree sprouting from a pyramid (actually a sculpture by internationally noted Houston-born protagonist Mel Chin).

Known for:

Award-winning exhibitions showcased in an iconic all steel parallelogram building.

Don't miss:

The treasure-filled Museum Shop located downstairs which sells artist-designed jewelry and unique gifts for the whole family.

Insider tip:

Admission is always free.

Eat + Drink

Nippon Japanese Restaurant: About half a mile from CAMH, Nippon Japanese Restaurant is as close to authentic Japanese food as you can get and is known for serving the best Ramen in Houston.

Jung Center of Houston

Next door, The Jung Center of Houston houses one of the Southwest's finest collections of work in psychology, spirituality and comparative mythology.

Known for:

Continuing education for the human spirit.

Don't miss:

"One of Houston's quirkiest bookstores," according to Texas Monthly.

Insider tip:

The art gallery, always free, features different artists every month.

Eat + Drink

Grand Prize Bar: This dive bar, four blocks from the Jung Center, serves up longnecks and innovative cocktails.

Wall of Tears at Holocaust Museum Houston, Photo By: Lance Childers

Holocaust Museum Houston

Three blocks away, the Holocaust Museum Houston (HMH) is one of the largest and most important institutions in the country dedicated to remembering the significance of the Holocaust.

Known for:

Educating students and the public about the dangers of prejudice and hatred in society.

Don't miss:

The award-winning permanent exhibit focused on the lives of Houston-area Survivors of the Holocaust: Bearing Witness: A Community Remembers.

Insider tip:

Visit on weekends at 12:30, 1:30, 2:30 or 3:30 for a free guided tour (allow two hours).

Eat + Drink

Bodegas Taco Shop: This custom taco shop, two blocks from the Holocaust Museum, serves more than 10 flavors of salsa.

Houston Museum of Natural Science

Blocks from the Holocaust Museum Houston, the art of nature takes center stage at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, whose family friendly programming attracts all ages.

Known for:

One of the largest collections of gems and minerals in the world--more than 750 beautifully crystallized specimens.

Don't miss:

The new Paleontology Hall--two stories tall and the size of a football field--which houses hundreds of fossils and fossil casts.

Insider tip:

The museums permanent exhibit halls are free every Thursday from 2pm until closing time.

Eat + Drink

McDonald's: Located on the first floor of the museum

Children's Museum of Houston

Within easy walking distance, the Children's Museum of Houston (CMH) is a hands-on educational and entertaining family-oriented destination.

Known for:

Being named America's No. 1 Children's Museum in 2011 by Parentsmagazine.

Don't miss:

Kidtropolis, USA--You get to use a debit card with money!

Insider tip:

Come early or come late to avoid the crowds.

Eat + Drink

Kid's Cafe: Order fresh, healthy and affordable salads, sandwiches and vegetarian options at the cafe inside the museum.
Lucille's: Located two blocks from the museum, Southern cuisine reigns supreme at this quaint restaurant, with specialties such as braised oxtails, oyster sliders, fried green tomatoes and Lucille's famous chili biscuits.

The Health Museum

On the next block, the whole family can learn about health, wellness and the marvels of the human anatomy at The Health Museum, the most visited health museum in the country.

Known for:

The Texas-sized human body with ribs as tall as the ceiling and a brain bigger than your car. Visitors can walk through the interactive exhibit and learn about how each organ functions.

Don't miss:

Planet You 3D, A 3D film that takes a microscopic look into the creepy crawlies that live on your skin.

Insider tip:

The museum is free to all guests on Thursdays, 2 - 5 p.m.

Houston Zoo

An exciting live animal adventure set in a 55-acre tropical landscape, the Houston Zoo adds adventure and animal magnetism to the Museum District.

Known for:

The African Forest, a 6.5 acre exhibit that recreates the wilderness habitats of some of the continent's most majestic animals.

Don't miss:

Giraffe feeding opportunities at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. each day.

Insider tip:

Download the Zoo's smart phone app and get some great tools to make your Zoo visit even more enjoyable.

Eat + Drink

Inside the Zoo: Enjoy a chicken tender basket or a fresh salad at the air-conditioned Macaw Cafe. Cypress Circle features pizzas, burgers, hot dogs, po-boys, gumbo and more. Twiga Terrace inside the African Forest offers burgers, hot dogs, quesadillas, grilled cheese and more.
Pinewood Cafe: Inside Hermann Park, this cafe serves up picnic-friendly foods (customizable picnic baskets are available), full sit-down meals and even a build-your-own-grilled-cheese bar.

Buffalo Soldiers National Museum

The Buffalo Soldiers National Museum preserves and promotes the history, tradition and outstanding contributions of the Buffalo Soldiers.

Known for:

The largest collection of African American military memorabilia in the U.S.

Don't miss:

Re-enactments of historical characters (Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass and others) that happen every Saturday.

Insider tip:

On Saturdays, Buffalo Soldier Corporal Tyrell D. Biggs performs a 45-minute one-act play tracing his life from the plantation through the Civil and Indian Wars.

Eat + Drink

Reggae Hut: Four blocks from the Buffalo Soldiers Museum, Reggae Hut serves up Jamaican and Caribbean cuisine.

Asia Society Texas Center

The 38,000-square-foot Asia Society Texas Center, designed by Yoshio Taniguchi, features an art gallery, a 273-set theater, reception spaces, a cafe and more.

Known for:

Innovative Asia-themed programming in arts and culture, business and policy, and education.

Don't miss:

Exhibitions of traditional and contemporary Asian art in the Louisa Stude Sarofim Gallery.

Insider tip:

Admission to the architecturally stunning Center is free. Non-member admission to the Sarofim Gallery is $5.

Houston Center for Contemporary Craft

Along the Main Street Corridor, the stunning Houston Center for Contemporary Craft(HCC) celebrates the red-hot medium of contemporary craft.

Known for:

Contemporary craft (objects made from ceramics, fiber, glass, metal, wood and recycled materials) and artist studios that are open to the public.

Don't miss:

Asher Gallery (gift shop) for one-of-a-kind gifts, jewelry and home decor made by local and national craft artists.

Insider tip:

Stop by on First Saturdays for "Hands-On Houston" to enjoy free craft activities. Also, bring your lunch and sit outside in the Craft Garden.

Lawndale Art Center

Known for:

Rotating exhibitions of contemporary works by local artists in 4 galleries.Steps from the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, in a handsome 1930s Art Deco structure on Main Street, is one of the most dynamic nonprofit art spaces in Texas--Lawndale Art Center.

Don't miss:

Annual events including Día de los Muertos each fall, Design Fair each spring and an annual juried exhibition of artists living within 100 miles of Houston, The Big Show, each summer.

Insider tip:

It's one of the only art spaces open on Mondays.

The Menil Collection

A jewel among Houston's museums is The Menil Collection, a five-minute drive from the MFAH and CAMH. Considered to be one of the most important private art collections in the world, the perpetually graceful Menil sits at the heart of a 23-acre green oasis in the Montrose area.

Known for:

Free admission to a world of art housed in a masterpiece of modern architecture.

Don't miss:

Surrealism galleries--room after room of "Dreamscapes."

Insider tip:

There is an invisible "sound sculpture" (by Max Neuhaus) you hear as you approach the museum's main entrance.

Rothko Chapel

The Rothko Chapel on the Menil campus, has become a pilgrimage stop for thousands of visitors who are drawn by its importance both as an artistic masterpiece and as an ecumenical gathering place for people of all religious beliefs.

Known for:

;Fourteen monumental paintings by Mark Rothko in a serene chapel setting.

Don't miss:

Barnett Newman's commanding Broken Obelisk sculpture on the Rothko Chapel's Plaza.

Insider tip:

Check the website, rothkochapel.org, for outstanding programs held in the Chapel free of charge.

Eat + Drink

Anvil Bar and Refuge: Located seven blocks from the Menil, Anvil is considered one of the top cocktail bars in the country.
Hugo's: Expect authentic regional Mexican cuisine in a stunningly earthy, Latin-inspired setting at Hugo's, a block from Anvil.
Vinoteca Poscol: Across the street from Hugo's, this casual wine bar serves small plates and pastas, cheeses and house-cured salami.

Czech Center Museum Houston

Celebrating the culture of Bohemia, Moravia, Slovakia and Silesia the Czech Center Museum Houston features both permanent exhibits and events. Beyond that, Czech Center also offers classes, archives, genealogy resources, event facilities, a library and an ecumenical chapel.

Known for:

A 1,200-piece collection of Czechoslovakian porcelain, pottery and glass, produced only for a 20-year period between the World Wars. The factories which made these pieces were either destroyed by the Nazis or made into munitions factories. These pieces were never made again.

Don't miss:

The fabulous gift shop inside the center offers treasures of all kinds from Eastern Europe.

Insider tip:

With an upstairs ballroom that can comfortably fit 200 people (plus a dance floor) the center is also a great place for weddings and other events.

Eat + Drink

Danton's Gulf Coast Seafood Kitchen: A seafood house reminiscent of days gone by where seasoned cook Danton Nix creates flavorful Gulf Coast fare.

Rice University Art Gallery

On the campus of Rice University the Rice Gallery is the only such museum in the United States devoted to site-specific installation art. Five times a year, the Gallery invites contemporary artists to create new installations on-site.

Known for:

Original art specific to the space it's housed in.

Don't miss:

Exhibits are always changing here, but regardless of what's on view catch a free guided tour for a more immersive experience.

Insider tip:

Rice University is pretty big and it can sometimes be difficult to find specific buildings on campus. Luckily the gallery is right off of Main Street. Click here for a map.

Eat + Drink

Benjy's in the Village: This upscale casual favorite in the Rice Village is known for innovative new American cuisine, a stylish lounge and weekend brunch scene.
Hungry's: Despite its art-deco facade and chic decor, Hungry's is cozy and welcomes a varied clientele. Since 1975, everyone from business lunchers to Rice students have come for the Mediterranean-centric menu.
Little Woodrow's-Rice Village: rustic Village favorite lures Rice undergrads with a big patio and big beer selection.

Houston Center for Photography

Nearby, the Houston Center for Photography (HCP) deepens the understanding of the photographic arts.

Known for:

Hands-on workshops and classes allow all levels of photographers to develop a closer relationship with the camera and learn new tips and tricks about photography.

Don't miss:

One-of-a-kind outreach programming and volunteer events that strive to excite and educate the community about photography as an artistic medium and a tool for cultural investigation.

Insider tip:

Becoming a member with HCP allows you to be a part of a whole new world of photography enthusiasts.

Eat + Drink

The Chocolate Bar: This Montrose dessert shop--four blocks from HCP--is a chocolate lover's dream.

DiverseWorks

DiverseWorks is a non-profit art center dedicated to presenting new visual, performing, and literary art.

Known for:

Groundbreaking artistic education programs.

Don't miss:

This ever-changing exhibit and performance space offers outside-the-box programming. And you never know what to expect, from international contemporary theater troupes to commissioned pieces by sought-after Texas artists.