School’s out but learning doesn’t stop, and fun can always be had while learning. Enter museums and now is as good a time as ever for a refresher on Houston’s FREE Tuesday and Thursday museum days. With the intense heat, this list certainly offers nice air-conditioned options to keep the kids entertained. Hopefully you’ll get some free time to join your kid(s) on one of these free family outings too. And bonus, lots of these museums are within walking distance of one another!
I’ll take it easy on your Summer budget and start with this list of museums that are always FREE in the city.
FREE EVERYDAY
🎨 The Contemporary Arts Museum Houston 5216 Montrose Blvd
The evolution of art and its significance in contemporary society through immersive exhibitions showcasing groundbreaking works, illuminating lectures that foster dialogue, original publications that document emerging perspectives, and a multifaceted array of educational initiatives and cultural happenings.
➡️ Walking distance to The Jung Center and Museum of Fine Arts Houston
✂️ Houston Center for Contemporary Craft 4848 Main St
A nonprofit arts organization dedicated to advancing education about the process, product, and history of craft.
➡️ Walking distance to Asia Society Texas, Holocaust Museum Houston and Houston Museum of African American Culture
⭐️ The Houston Museum of African American Culture 4807 Caroline St
The museum aims to captivate visitors from diverse backgrounds, fostering an inclusive environment that celebrates and safeguards the rich tapestry of African American heritage.
➡️ Walking distance to Asia Texas Society, Holocaust Museum Houston and Houston Center for Contemporary Craft
🖼️ The Menil Collection 1533 Sul Ross St.
A contemporary and unique choice for Teens in my opinion. It’s a break from the kiddie groups at Museums. There’s events and activities offered for 13+. A museum and neighborhood of diverse art with a mission based on the belief that art is essential to human experience.
➡️ Walking distance to Rothko Chapel
🖌️ Moody Center for the Arts Rice University 6100 Main Street, MS-480
A place to be encouraged creatively in thinking and original expression. A space for curricular innovation, and to promote cross-campus and community collaboration through transformative encounters with the arts.
➡️ Walking distance to Children’s Museum Houston, Houston Museum of Natural Science, Houston Zoo and The Health Museum
TUESDAYS
🦋 The Houston Museum of Natural Science 5555 Hermann Park Dr
Including Burke Baker Planetarium, Cockrell Butterfly Center, and more than a dozen permanent exhibit areas that explore astronomy, space, science, energy, chemistry, Texas wildlife, and much more.
FREE 5-8pm
➡️ Walking distance to Children’s Museum Houston, Houston Zoo, Moody Center for the Arts and The Health Museum
FREE General Admission only, does not include special exhibitions unless specified |
THURSDAYS
🏮 Asia Society Texas 1370 Southmore Blvd
As an educational institution, advancing cultural exchange by celebrating the vibrant diversity of Asia.
FREE exhibition admission 12-7pm
➡️ Walking distance to Holocaust Museum Houston, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft and Houston Museum of African American Culture
 Children's Museum Houston |
🖍️ Children’s Museum Houston 1500 Binz St
The #1 children’s museum in America is right in our backyard and is the perfect Summer choice featuring FlowWorks, where kids 5 and up can dive into the forces and properties of water through fluid dynamics. An interactive play and learn experience that’s refreshing and sure to be fun for your little one. Not to mention, an event calendar full of activities and and special celebrations.
FREE Family Night 5-8pm
➡️ Walking distance to Houston Museum of Natural Science, Houston Zoo, Moody Center for the Arts and The Health Museum
 The Health Museum |
🫀 The Health Museum 1515 Hermann Dr
If you go for nothing else, let it be the Amazing Body Pavillion where kids can have a great time exploring and literally walking through some larger than extra large sized organs and how they look, sound and work.
FREE Family admission 2-7 pm
➡️ Walking distance to Children’s Museum Houston, Houston Museum of Natural Science, Houston Zoo and Moody Center for the Arts
✡️ Holocaust Museum Houston 5401 Caroline St
Raising awareness about the perils of intolerance and hate within our communities and educating the people of Houston and beyond about the Holocaust.
FREE 2-5 pm / FREE on select holidays
➡️ Walking distance to Asia Society Texas, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft and Houston Museum of African American Culture
 The Museum of Fine Arts Houston |
🖼️ The Museum of Fine Arts Houston 1001 Bissonnet
Fun fact, the first Museum I took my son to was this one. We spent a lovely Mother’s Day afternoon strolling this huge Museum, specifically for a couple of exhibits I wanted to experience. What I didn’t know then was this is one of 10 largest art museums in the United States featuring 65,000 works of art, two cafes, picturesque outdoor grounds, cinema and much more.
FREE admission all day
➡️ Walking distance to Contemporary Arts Museum Houston and The Jung Center
 Houston Zoo |
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
🐘 Houston Zoo 6200 Hermann Park Dr
The catch with FREE Tuesdays is you have to request tickets online in advance on a designated day. From experience, there is usually (at least) an hour long wait online before you can request tickets. Please note, tickets will not be available at the gate, so you can only get them online in advance and they go quick! The request limit is 5 admission tickets per order.
Why it's worth is because admission averages about $30 per adult and at the point of paying General Admission, it’s worth the upgrade to Value Pass for about $5 more to include unlimited carousel rides, souvenir bracelet and specified exhibits.
FREE first Tuesday of each month
➡️ Walking distance to Children’s Museum Houston, Houston Museum of Natural Science, Moody Center for the Arts and The Health Museum
For Moms, Dads and Caregivers:
💫 The Jung Center 5200 Montrose Blvd
This one's for you parents. I can't forget about you all! I personally would like to dedicate some time specifically to visit this place if I can breakaway from Mama duties.
Here’s the plus, if you can’t make it into the center anytime soon, there’s a lot of online programs available to register for. At the Jung Center, you can discover endless opportunities for personal growth and enrichment through an incredible selection of over 200 thought-provoking classes per year. Delve into intimate relationships, grapple with profound ethical dilemmas, engage in religious scholarship, unleash your artistic talents, hone your writing skills, or find inner peace through meditation - the choice is yours!
ALWAYS FREE
➡️ Walking distance to Contemporary Arts Museum Houston and The Museum of Fine Arts Houston
☮️ The Rothko Chapel 3900 Yupon St
Founded by Houston philanthropists, the chapel is a tranquil meditative environment. Simply put, it’s a sacred place open to all people, every day. How wonderful it is that this sanctuary in the city exists! You can experience prayer, meditation, religious services, lectures, concerts, or just sit in silence. We could all use more of that to break up our routines in a positive, self-love kind of way!
ALWAYS FREE
➡️ Walking distance to The Menil Collection
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