The Houston Museum of Natural Science is another popular Houston attraction located in Hermann Park. You can head here before a show at Miller Outdoor Theater across the street, or just spend a day exploring the museum’s exhibits and galleries. The exhibit halls at the museum feature several dinosaur skeletons, the world’s finest collection of gems and minerals, and other exhibits that tell the story of nature, geology and science throughout the ages. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a return visitor, you’ll find a wealth of things to do and experience during your trip to the Houston Museum of Natural Science.

Permanent Exhibits at the Houston Museum of Natural Science

The Houston Museum of Natural Science houses a diverse array of permanent exhibits, and some include hands-on activities. Permanent exhibits include:

• Paleontology Hal
• Wiess Energy Hall
• Welch Chemistry Hal
• Cullen Hall of Gems & Minerals
• Strake Hall of Malacology
• African Safari Exhibit
• The Americas
• Chemistry
• Earth Forum
• Space Science
• The Pendulum
• Egypt

Whether you want to learn about past rulers of the planet, see crystallized minerals, see the works of indigenous peoples of the Americas, or learn about NASA and space station operations, you’ll find something unique and interesting at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.

Things to See and Do at the Houston Museum of Natural Science

Visitors of all ages can find a wealth of things to see and do at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. The state-of-the-art venue is home to an IMAX theater, the Challenger Learning Center and the Cockrell Butterfly Center. Take a trip to the George Observatory to see the stars using the Gueymard Research Telescope, and visit the Challenger Learning Center for a simulated space mission.

The Planetarium hosts a number of shows about dinosaurs, astronomy and the life in the universe. Each show is about twenty minutes long and show times vary by season and day of the week.