🦕Natural History Museum🏠 Homeschool ProgramsPaid admission

Houston Museum of Natural Science

Houston, Texas

About

The Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS) is one of the most visited museums in the United States and a cornerstone of Houston's Hermann Park cultural district. Founded in 1909, it offers four floors of permanent exhibitions covering paleontology, gemology, astronomy, Texas wildlife, ancient Egypt, Mesoamerican cultures, and the Hall of the Americas. The Cockrell Butterfly Center is among the museum's most beloved attractions — a five-story glass conservatory housing hundreds of live tropical butterflies, exotic plants, and a working waterfall. Visitors can walk among free-flying butterflies from around the world in an immersive rainforest environment. The Burke Baker Planetarium offers state-of-the-art full-dome shows on astronomy and space exploration, while the Wortham Giant Screen Theatre presents large-format documentary films year-round. The museum also houses one of the largest collections of gems and minerals in the country, including an extraordinary collection of cut gemstones and meteorites. HMNS offers extensive programming for school groups, families, and homeschoolers including camp programs, sleepovers, Xploration Station maker activities, and themed evening events. Tuesday evenings from 5–8pm offer free general admission, making regular visits accessible for local families. The museum's HMNS at Sugar Land location provides additional programming in the greater Houston area, extending its reach beyond the urban core.

🏠 Homeschool Programs

This institution offers dedicated programming for homeschooling families. Visit the website for details.

Subject Areas

🔬 Science🦴 Natural History🌌 Space & Astronomy🐾 Animals & Wildlife🪨 Earth & Geology

Best For

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 All Ages👨‍👩‍👧 Families🏫 School Groups🎒 Elementary (6–10)🧑 Tweens & Teens (11–17)

Visit Website

Hours of Operation

Daily 9am–5pm (summer 9am–6pm). Free Tuesdays 5–8pm.

Hours change seasonally — verify before visiting.

Admission

Paid admission

Adults from $25, children from $16. Butterfly Center and Planetarium may require additional tickets. Free Tuesdays 5–8pm.

✓ Membership available

ASTC

ASTC Travel Passport Program

Members of the Association of Science and Technology Centers' Travel Passport Program offer free or discounted admission to members of other participating institutions. Over 300 science centers worldwide participate.

Learn more →

47 other places in our directory accept this membership: