10 Must-Visit Museums in Texas

Texas preserves its past in ways that reflect the scale and complexity of the state itself. From the borderlands to the Gulf, and from the Hill Country to the Panhandle, its history includes Indigenous nations, Spanish colonization, independence from Mexico, statehood, war, industry, migration, and innovation. That history is not only recorded in textbooks. It is carefully documented, interpreted, and made accessible through museums across the state.

These institutions house court records from the Republic, early ranching tools, civil rights archives, and mid-century art shaped by Texas landscapes and politics. They reflect the state’s diversity and contradictions, its regional pride, and its global impact. Whether focused on art, science, or history, these must-visit museums allow you to engage seriously with the forces that have shaped the Lone Star State. For anyone seeking to understand Texas in full, this is where the work begins.

Founded in 1900, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH) stands as Texas’ oldest art museum and ranks among the largest in the United States. Its expansive collection encompasses nearly 80,000 works spanning over 5,000 years and six continents, offering a comprehensive journey through global art history.

The museum’s campus features architecturally significant buildings, including the Caroline Wiess Law Building, the Audrey Jones Beck Building, and the Nancy and Rich Kinder Building, which opened in 2020 to showcase 20th- and 21st-century art. Visitors can explore a diverse range of art forms, from Renaissance masterpieces and Impressionist paintings to contemporary installations. Notable works include Vincent van Gogh’s The Rocks, Claude Monet’s Water Lilies, and Yayoi Kusama’s immersive Aftermath of Obliteration of Eternity.

Beyond its galleries, MFAH offers unique experiences like the Lillie and Hugh Roy Cullen Sculpture Garden, designed by Isamu Noguchi, featuring works by artists such as Alexander Calder and Louise Bourgeois. The museum also hosts dynamic exhibitions, educational programs, and film screenings, making it a vibrant cultural hub in Houston’s Museum District.

2. The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, Dallas

Located in Dallas, the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza presents an in-depth look at the life, presidency, and assassination of John F. Kennedy. Set inside the former Texas School Book Depository, the museum marks the spot from where Lee Harvey Oswald is said to have fired the shots that killed the president on November 22, 1963.

Opened on Presidents Day in 1989, the museum’s main exhibit, John F. Kennedy and the Memory of a Nation, is housed on the sixth floor of the building. This exhibit provides a comprehensive narrative through photographs, artifacts, and multimedia displays, detailing the events leading up to and following the assassination. Notable features include a restored sniper’s perch and a scale model of Dealey Plaza used by the Warren Commission during its investigation.

The seventh floor hosts rotating special exhibits and public programs that delve deeper into the cultural and historical context of the 1960s. Visitors can also engage with an interactive guide to Dealey Plaza, enhancing their understanding of the site’s significance.

The Bullock Texas State History Museum, located in downtown Austin, is a premier institution dedicated to preserving and presenting the complex story of Texas. Opened in 2001 and named after former Lieutenant Governor Bob Bullock, the museum explores over 16,000 years of Texas history through permanent and rotating exhibitions.

The museum’s three floors trace the state’s journey, from early Indigenous cultures and European colonization to the fight for independence, statehood, and modern-day contributions to industry, technology, and culture. A centerpiece is the recovered 17th-century French shipwreck La Belle, suspended in the first-floor gallery. Visitors can also experience immersive media in the Texas Spirit Theater and rotating IMAX documentaries.

Designed for all ages, the museum integrates multimedia, artifacts, and educational programming to offer an engaging and authoritative perspective on Texas’ past. It’s a key cultural institution for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the state’s identity and impact.

4. The Perot Museum of Nature and Science, Dallas

The Perot Museum of Nature and Science is a premier educational and scientific institution located in the heart of Dallas. Opened in 2012, the museum was designed by architect Thom Mayne and is noted for its distinctive cube-shaped structure and sustainable design elements.

The museum houses 11 permanent exhibit halls across five floors, covering a wide range of disciplines including paleontology, geology, biology, physics, engineering, and space science. Signature exhibits include a towering Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton, an extensive collection of gems and minerals, and interactive engineering labs. The museum also includes a modern 3D theater and a dedicated children’s area designed to introduce early STEM concepts through interactive learning.

With a focus on interactive and inquiry-based learning, the Perot Museum serves as a leading resource for science education in the region. It offers public programming, rotating exhibitions, and school outreach initiatives, attracting over one million visitors annually. It is an essential destination for students, educators, and science enthusiasts alike.

The Blanton Museum of Art, situated on the University of Texas at Austin campus, is a premier institution in Central Texas, renowned for its extensive and diverse art collections. Established in 1963, the museum houses over 21,000 works, encompassing European paintings, modern and contemporary American and Latin American art, as well as an encyclopedic collection of prints and drawings.

A highlight of the museum is “Austin” by Ellsworth Kelly, a 2,715-square-foot stone building featuring vibrant stained glass windows, a redwood totem, and black-and-white marble panels. Completed posthumously in 2018, it stands as Kelly’s only freestanding building and serves as a testament to his artistic legacy.

The Blanton’s commitment to education and community engagement is evident through its dynamic exhibitions and programs. Events like Blanton All Day and Blanton Live: Conversations for Now offer visitors immersive experiences that connect art with contemporary issues.

6. Space Center Houston, Houston

Serving as the official visitor center for NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Space Center Houston offers an immersive introduction to the history and future of the U.S. human spaceflight program. Since opening in 1992, it has served as a leading science and space exploration learning center, attracting over one million visitors annually.

The 250,000-square-foot facility features more than 400 space artifacts, including flown spacecraft, full-scale replicas, and one-of-a-kind training equipment. Key highlights include the Apollo 17 command module, the SpaceX Falcon 9 booster, and the international landmark Independence Plaza, where guests can explore a full shuttle replica mounted atop the original NASA 905 shuttle carrier aircraft.

Visitors can also take a behind-the-scenes tram tour of NASA Johnson Space Center, including access to historic Mission Control and astronaut training areas. With hands-on STEM activities, rotating exhibitions, and astronaut meet-and-greets, Space Center Houston offers an immersive, educational experience that connects the public with the past, present, and future of space exploration.

Founded in 1954, the McNay Art Museum was born from the vision of Marion Koogler McNay, a painter and heiress who believed art should be accessible to all. She transformed her 1920s Spanish Colonial Revival mansion into Texas’ first modern art museum, an institution rooted in generosity and cultural enrichment.

Today, the museum holds a collection of more than 20,000 pieces, highlighting European and American art from the 19th and 20th centuries. Visitors encounter pieces by Cézanne, Gauguin, Picasso, Hopper, O’Keeffe, and many others. The Tobin Collection of Theatre Arts is a standout, encompassing rare stage designs, costumes, and works on paper.

Set on a 23-acre campus, the McNay blends art and environment, with manicured gardens, outdoor sculptures, and tranquil water features enhancing the visitor experience.

The 2008 addition of the Stieren Center expanded the museum’s capacity for exhibitions, while preserving its residential charm. The McNay remains a space where history, architecture, and modern creativity coexist.

8. National Museum of the Pacific War, Fredericksburg

The National Museum of the Pacific War, located in Fredericksburg, is a world-class institution dedicated to preserving and interpreting the history of World War II in the Pacific.

Founded in honor of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, who was born in Fredericksburg, the museum spans six acres and is recognized for its immersive storytelling and extensive artifact collection.

Visitors are guided through the conflict’s timeline, from the roots of war to the surrender of Japan, with exhibits featuring original aircraft, weaponry, personal letters, and interactive media.

Highlights include a Japanese midget submarine used at Pearl Harbor, a restored TBM Avenger, and the serene Japanese Garden of Peace, gifted by the people of Japan as a symbol of reconciliation. The museum also features the outdoor Pacific Combat Zone, where live reenactments are staged periodically. Offering a profound and respectful experience, the museum stands as one of the nation’s most comprehensive centers for understanding the Pacific Theater of World War II.

The Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth stands as a paragon of architectural brilliance and curatorial excellence. Established in 1972, the museum was the vision of Kay and Velma Kimbell, who aspired to create a “small museum of the first class.” They entrusted architect Louis I. Kahn with designing a building that would itself be a masterpiece.

Kahn’s design features 16 cycloid barrel vaults, each ingeniously incorporating natural light through narrow skylights and aluminum reflectors, creating an ethereal ambiance that enhances the viewing experience. Praised as one of the 20th century’s landmark architectural works, the building features a striking combination of concrete, travertine, and white oak.

The museum’s collection, though modest in size with approximately 350 works, is renowned for its exceptional quality. It spans a diverse range of cultures and periods, featuring masterpieces by artists such as Michelangelo, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Monet, and Matisse. Notably, the Kimbell houses Michelangelo’s The Torment of Saint Anthony, his earliest known painting.

In 2013, the museum grew with the introduction of the Renzo Piano Pavilion, a standalone structure designed to complement Kahn’s original architecture. This pavilion provides additional space for special exhibitions, educational programs, and public events, while maintaining the museum’s commitment to architectural integrity and artistic excellence.

10. The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Fort Worth

The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, founded in 1892 and reestablished in its current form in 2002, is one of the oldest art institutions in Texas and a leader in post-World War II art. Located in Fort Worth’s Cultural District, the museum is housed in a striking Tadao Ando-designed building composed of five glass pavilions set on a reflecting pond, an architectural statement that is both serene and monumental.

The museum’s permanent collection features over 3,000 works of international significance, focusing on paintings, sculptures, videos, and installations created since 1945. It includes iconic pieces by Mark Rothko, Gerhard Richter, Cindy Sherman, and Richard Serra. Beyond the galleries, visitors can enjoy acclaimed temporary exhibitions, a research library, and a theater program that bridges contemporary art and cinema.