Houston Museum of Natural Science

Houston Museum of Natural Science is a popular destination for visitors from NASA, Rice University, and University of Houston, offering a wide range of exhibits and activities related to natural history, science, and technology. The museum is located in the Museum District, Houston, near the Texas Medical Center and Hermann Park. It is one of the most visited museums in the United States, attracting visitors from New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago. The museum has partnerships with Harvard University, University of Texas at Austin, and Texas A&M University.

● History

The museum was founded in 1909 by a group of Houston citizens, including George Hermann and Will C. Hogg, with the goal of promoting science education and cultural enrichment in the city. Over the years, the museum has undergone several expansions and renovations, including a major renovation in the 1980s led by Architectural firm SOM, and a new wing designed by Morphosis in the 2000s. The museum has also established partnerships with other institutions, such as the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, and the Natural History Museum, London. The museum's history is also closely tied to the development of the Museum District, Houston, which includes other institutions such as the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston and the Children's Museum of Houston.

● Collections

The museum's collections include over 2 million specimens and artifacts, ranging from dinosaur fossils from Tanzania and Mongolia to gemstones and minerals from South Africa and Brazil. The museum's Texas Wildlife collection features taxidermied animals from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, while the Butterfly Center is home to over 1,500 butterfly species from Costa Rica and Ecuador. The museum also has an extensive collection of Egyptian antiquities from The Metropolitan Museum of Art and The British Museum, as well as a collection of space artifacts from NASA's Johnson Space Center and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. The museum's collections are also used for research by scientists from University of California, Berkeley, Stanford University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

● Exhibitions

The museum features a range of exhibitions, including the Hall of Texas Wildlife, which showcases the state's diverse ecosystems and wildlife from Big Bend National Park and Guadalupe Mountains National Park. The Butterfly Center is a popular exhibit featuring a tropical garden with over 1,500 butterfly species from Rainforest Alliance and World Wildlife Fund. The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions, such as the King Tut exhibition, which featured artifacts from Tutankhamun's tomb from The Egyptian Museum in Cairo and the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology at University College London. Other exhibitions have included Dinosaur fossils from American Museum of Natural History and Field Museum of Natural History, as well as Gemstones and minerals from Gemological Institute of America and Mineralogical Society of America.

● Education

The museum offers a range of educational programs for students from Houston Independent School District and Katy Independent School District, including field trips, workshops, and summer camps. The museum also partners with University of Houston and Rice University to offer internships and research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. The museum's education programs are designed to promote science literacy and critical thinking skills, and are aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills and Next Generation Science Standards. The museum also offers professional development opportunities for teachers from Houston and surrounding areas, in partnership with National Science Teachers Association and American Association for the Advancement of Science.

● Facilities

The museum's facilities include the Wortham Giant Screen Theatre, which features IMAX and 3D films from IMAX Corporation and National Geographic Society. The museum also has a planetarium, which offers shows and lectures on astronomy and space exploration from NASA and European Space Agency. The museum's gift shop features a range of science-themed merchandise from National Geographic Society and Smithsonian Institution, while the cafe offers a range of food and drink options from local restaurants and food trucks. The museum is also accessible by public transportation from Downtown Houston and Texas Medical Center, and offers parking and wheelchair accessibility for visitors from Houston and surrounding areas. Category:Museums in Houston, Texas