The Houston Museum of Natural Science is a wonderful museum with a host of permanent and impressive traveling exhibits. It is one of the most heavily attended museums in the United States, and one of the most attended venues in Houston. The Museum houses the Burke Baker Planetarium, Wortham GIANT Screen Theatre, Cockrell Butterfly Center and a fascinating variety of permanent exhibit areas that examine astronomy, space science, Native American culture, paleontology, energy, chemistry, gems and minerals, seashells, Texas wildlife and much more. In addition, the museum frequently presents traveling exhibitions on a variety of topics.
- Don’t miss the Cockerel Butterfly Exhibit where hundreds of exotic species flutter around you in a tropical rainforest in a three-story glass structure with a 50-foot waterfall.
- Of course the IMAX theater is always a winner.
- Cullen Hall of Gem & Minerals has a collection of some of the most rare and stunning specimens on Earth.
- Hall of Ancient Egypt houses a wonderful collection of the ancient Egyptian civilization that never fails to fascinate the Western world.
This museum can get very crowded. Avoid weekends for obvious reasons & early mornings when school groups tend to visit. Best times are mid to late afternoons on the weekdays.
The museum shop is worth visiting as well. It carries unique objects ranging from an agate coaster set with 18KT gold rim to children’s fun science kits. The shop also carries designer jewelry like Alexis Bittar, whose pieces can be found at Saks and Bloomingdales.
Walk to the ZAZA Hotel for cocktails after your museum visit. Dinosaur skeletons and cocktails, now that’s a Wildcatter experience!