The Best Museums In Austin For Every Interest And Age Group

Mar 30, 2024

Last Updated on: Nov 10, 2025

Travel Blog

What is an art museum? Have you ever visited an art museum? Have you been planning to visit museums in Austin recently? Here, I am making a list of museums in Austin, Texas, so that you can plan your itinerary according to your preferences. 

Museums are a treasure of history, so when you walk into museums, you will feel as if you are walking back into history. The pace inside the museums feels like it has slowed down as you get to learn so much about the exhibits. 

Informative and interesting museum exhibits ensure that all the artifacts are preserved. You can find literary manuscripts, objects, photographs, and rare books in these museums, which are several years old. This is why it is important to visit museums to learn about history and acquire inspiration from it! 

The Best Museums in Austin for Every Interest and Age Group! 

What museums are open in Austin? So, what’s the largest museum in Austin? It is, of course, the Blanton Museum, and I will be sharing with you the little details related to it.  There are other museums of course which you should be visiting when in Austin. 

Blanton Museum Of Art 

This museum is one of the largest and most significantly comprehensive art collections in Central Texas, Austin! There are more than 21,000 pieces in permanent collections in the museum. The museum authorities organize special events regularly and regulate exhibits. 

If you are planning to go, why don’t you try to visit on Tuesdays? This museum offers free admission on Tuesdays. 

Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum 

The museum has been named after the 38th lieutenant governor of the state! When you visit this museum, you will learn a lot of information. Therefore, it offers educational and meaningful experiences on the history of Texas. 

They organize culturally enriching exhibits and provoke your thoughts regarding historical events. You can visit the museum from Monday to Sunday between 10 am to 5 pm, while the admission prices range from $9 to $13. 

The Contemporary Austin 

To check out contemporary and modern art, you must visit The Contemporary Austin. This museum has two locations: Jones Center in Downtown Austin and Laguna Gloria in Lake Austin. 

If you want to visit this museum with your family, this is the perfect place because they organize seasonal exhibits and educational events. You must see it from Wednesday to Sunday from 9 am to 3 pm.  

On Thursday evenings, you can visit from 6 pm to 9 pm! You must pay $10 for adults, while for senior citizens and students, you must pay $5; for the military, it is free. 

George Washington Carver Museum & Genealogy Center 

The museum is in East Austin, and it celebrates the global contributions of black people. When you visit the museum, you will be bound to feel emotional because it preserves the history and culture of African American culture. The museum reflects a beautiful aesthetic expression! 

In this museum, admission is completely free. So how do you know when to visit? You must visit the website to learn about the current times you can see the museum. So, you must visit Monday to Wednesday from 10 am to 6 pm. 

You can visit the museum on Thursday from 10 am to 9 pm; on Friday, you must see it from 10 am to 6 pm. 

Elisabet Ney Museum 

When you visit this museum, you will have a fun and unique experience with the photo ops. I recommend you visit this museum because it is highly recommendable and offers you a diverse view of art and exhibits. 

The museum is historic because it is the home and studio of Elisabet Ney! She is known as a wildly iconoclastic German sculptor who moved to Austin in 1882. 

There are self-guided tours that you can take when you visit this museum. You can visit the museum from Wednesday to Sunday as the duration is from 12 pm to 5 pm. For further information, you can visit their website. 

Neill-Cochran House Museum 

The museum is quite magnetic as it is inside a huge, beautiful mansion with an interesting history. A self-guided tour is available, and friendly staff will help you check out different aspects of this museum. 

The museum authorities organize educational exhibits. When attending, you will feel like you have stepped back in time. Why don’t you check the website for more details to see if it is included in your itinerary? 

The museum is open from 11 am to 4 pm, Wednesday to Sunday. On Thursday and Friday, visits are from 11 am to 4 pm. 

The Contemporary Austin  – Laguna Gloria

It was an estate that has now been turned into a museum venue and an outdoor garden. You will be tremendously happy and attracted once you visit this museum, as the beautiful sculptures are in the park. 

These outdoor sculptures are perfect for exploring and enjoying the Colorado River’s view. The museum is closed on Monday and Tuesday and open from Wednesday to Friday from 9 am to 3 pm. 

Texas Memorial Museum 

In Austin, if you want to visit a museum that will excite your children, you must visit the Texas Memorial Museum. This museum’s dinosaur fossils and other exhibits are impressive, so what are you waiting for? 

Take your kids or your partner, friends, or family who are dino lovers. The exhibit features a t-rex skull, flying pterosaur, and complete mosasaur. Why don’t you check out their website to learn about the exhibits and the time of visit? 

From Tuesdays to Saturdays, the museum is open from 10 am to 5 pm; on Sundays, it is open from 1 pm to 5 pm. It is mostly closed on all major holidays and Mondays! 

Old Bakery & Emporium

This museum is one place where you can buy art and crafts as they offer beautiful crafts and handmade items. Some friendly volunteers will help you understand the beauty of the exhibits. 

If you want to buy unique gifts, this is the perfect place to shop. This museum is near the capital and is easily accessible. It is through a website where you can check out many details.  

The museum is open from 10 am to 6 pm from Wednesday to Friday, but on Saturdays, you can visit the museum between 12 pm and 5 pm. 

Mexic-Arte Museum 

The museum is a collection of contemporary Mexican art that mainly focuses on the works of artists who work with contemporary Mexican art. There are texts available to understand the art in bilingual texts, such as Spanish and English. 

You can visit the museum if you want to buy something to give someone because there is a gift shop attached there. This museum is open from Monday to Thursday from 10 am to 6 pm, while on Fridays and Saturdays, it is open from 10 am to 5 pm. 

On Sundays, the museum is open from Noon to 5 pm. So why don’t you visit this place? 

Finishing Off… 

To sum it up, all these museums offer diverse art, their representation, and artists interpret beauty. I am sure you will love all the museums’ exhibits and art that talks so much about the history of the places and the people. 

If you can relate to the culture and want to know more about ancestors of old times, go ahead and check out one of these museums. It will be a perfect activity to entertain you and your kids for a long time. 

Comment on which museum you plan to visit in Austin and tell us why! 

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Sagnika Sinha is a content writer who is passionate about writing travel vlogs, entertainment and celebrity articles and literature-based pieces. With a 4 years experience in teaching, she loves reading books. A procrastinator by nature, she loves travelling, listening to music, planting and gardening.

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BY  Sibashree Sep 30, 2024

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You just need to keep your eyes glued to the telescope to explore celestial bodies, such as the Milky Way, star clusters, planets, satellites, and nebulae.  The table below gives a quick excerpt of the stargazing and night sky viewing experience at Badlands National Park.  Stargazing And Night Sky Viewings At Badlands National Park LocationCedar Pass AmphitheaterSpecialtyMore than 7500 stars are exposed to each visitor. They especially enjoy the clarity of the Milky Way. Add-onsFly-overs by the International Space Station and many satellitesTelescopes Provided By Celestron and Badlands Natural History AssociationBest Season for StargazingSpring, Summer, and Fall In summer, the Night Sky Viewing Program starts after the evening star gazing session every day. The park rangers conduct this program. Further, its timing keeps changing based on the sunset hours.  Best Places For Stargazing At Badlands National Park  https://www.instagram.com/p/Cc1WjJfoGBB/ Badlands National Park has earned a name in astrotourism thanks to its pristine nature. With fewer pull-outs and roads, the north unit of the park especially has many amazing stargazing destinations. Let’s explore them! The Space Tourism Guide features the Badlands National Park and the Badlands National Park Observatory as some of the best places for stargazing in South Dakota. Badlands Observatory became accessible to visitors in May 2021. It is a privately owned facility in the Badlands National Park. Also, it works for astronomical education and research.  Cedar Pass Campground Amphitheater Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the Cedar Pass Campground Amphitheater has a Night Sky Viewing event every day. This experience is about gathering more information by stargazing in a structured setup.  You must visit the Ben Reifel Visitor Center every day to learn about the program.     Badlands Loop Road Like many other parts of the Badlands National Park, the Badlands Loop Road also allows you to find your spot for stargazing. However, two of the best spots along the loop are: Burns Basin Overlook Yellow Munds Overlook These locations are especially great for taking photographs and indulging in tranquility.  Sage Creek Rim Road The Sage Creek Rim Road is one of the least crowded spaces in the park. You will also get to see very few cars passing through the area.  The Sage Creek Basin Overlook and Hay Butte Overlook are some of the best spots for stargazing on Sage Creek Rim Road. However, as very few people visit this area, you can find a stargazing spot of your own.  Big Badlands Overlook Big Badlands Overlook may appear last on my list of places to stargaze in Badlands National Park. However, it is the first overlook for someone accessing the park from the Northeast Entrance or the Sioux Falls.  Take a short walk and reach the best stargazing point in the Big Badlands Overlook. From here, enjoy a 360-degree view.  The Backcountry  The open backcountry of the Badlands National Park is a wonderland for camping and stargazing. So, just set your camp and enjoy stargazing for the entire night.  Watching Sunrise And Sunset At Badlands National Park The magic hours of Sunrise and Sunset paint the Badlands National Park with the most vibrant shade of red. The table below shows the best points for watching the sunrise and sunset and the accessibility points. ActivityBest Spots In The ParkAccessibility Points with Boardwalks and for Visitors with Wheelchairs SunriseDoor TrailNorbeck Pass AreaDillon Pass AreaBig Badlands OverlookPanorama PointCastle Trail WestBig Badlands OverlookDoor Trail Panorama PointSunsetPinnacles OverlookCastle Trail EastNorbeck Pass AreaBigfoot Pass Picnic AreaConata Basin OverlookPinnacles Overlook Conata Basin OverlookBigfoot Pass Picnic Area  As the Sun rises, its warm golden and red lights spread over the pinnacles that face the east. Further, the drama of light and shadow makes every frame mesmerizing. So, many photographers flock to Badlands National Park’s sunrise and sunset points for the best captures.  Stargazing At Badlands National Park: Plan Your Trip Well  There are two easy ways to reach the remoteness of the Badlands National Park.  Reach the Rapid City Regional Airport and ride for an hour to Badlands National Park.  Further, you can reach the Sioux Falls Regional Airport and take a road trip to Badlands National Park. This trip through South Dakota will take you around 4 hours. If you want to have the best stargazing experience at Badlands, you need to stay there overnight. You can reserve a room at the Cedar Pass Lodge in advance or stay at the Sage Creek Campground or Cedar Pass Campground.  However, if you are an adventurous soul and want the most immersive experience, put a camp in the backcountry or the north and south units of the park. 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