Unique Museums in Houston, Texas: Don’t Miss ‘Em!

Houston is a modern American city, filled with forward thinkers and groundbreaking artists. Take advantage of the modern amenities with a visit to two of the most unique museums the city has to offer. One will have you shooting through space, while the other will have you cruising down the highway in a shoe-shaped car!

Space Center Houston
Blast off with an interactive tour at Space Center Houston, the official visitor center at Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center. This cutting-edge facility will have your imagination running at the speed of light by immersing you in the wonders of space technology. Hands-on exhibits put you right inside of a replica of the International Space Station, and you can even make reservations to have lunch with an actual astronaut, prepared by an award winning catering staff. After lunch, feast your eyes on a full-scale replica of an authentic space shuttle. This innovative museum is every kid's dream!

Art Car Museum
Houston's Art Car Museum, also known as the "Garage Mahal," is a unique art museum dedicated to car-related contemporary art. Here, you'll find sculptures that include a car shaped like a high heel, covered bumper to bumper in delicately placed seashells. There are no limits to the ways in which each car has been transformed into artistic masterpieces. Check the calendar for special events, or stop by during gallery hours for this modern display of art on wheels.

Houston Center for Photography: Snap

Houston Center for Photography is a must for anyone interested in viewing the world through the lens of an artist’s camera. Their exhibitions have included the work of renowned photographers of the 20th and 21st centuries, as well as emerging photographers. A changing array of exhibits is featured at the museum, which is just a hop-skip from the Menil Collection, a must for any lover of art. Past exhibitions included PictureThis!, featuring works from a collaboration with Texas Children’s Cancer Center in which HCP instructors work with young patients and their families, allowing them a photographic perspective on their surroundings. Upcoming shows include the 31st Annual Juried Membership Exhibition.

Open Wednesday through Sunday. Admission is free.

Houston Center for Photography
1441 West Alabama Street
Houston, TX 77006
(713) 529-4755
http://www.yelp.com/biz/houston-center-for-photography-houston

Station Museum of Contemporary Art: Around the Art World

The Station Museum of Contemporary Art is a small venue showcasing local, national and international artists, with a particular focus on the cultural diversity of Houston's varied neighborhoods. Past international exhibitions have included artists from Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Mexico, South Africa, Congo, Czech Republic, Austria, Palestine, Iraq, India, Afghanistan, and Russia. Solo exhibitions by Texas artists showcased the work of Mel Chin, James Drake, Dick Wray, Jesse Lott and George Smith. The museum also hosts film screenings, concerts, lectures, and fundraisers for social causes. Open Wednesday through Sunday. Admission is free.

Station Museum of Contemporary Art
1502 Alabama
Houston, TX 77004
(713) 529-6900
http://www.yelp.com/biz/station-museum-of-contemporary-art-houston

Burke Baker Planetarium: To The Stars

Have an interstellar experience at the Burke Baker Planetarium, located in the Museum of Natural Science. High-resolution video technology projects images of planets, stars, meteors, solar systems and galaxies on the domed surface of the theatre. Their computerized SkySkan DigitalSky Starfield projector is the most advanced in the world, providing stunning simulations of stars, planets, comets and nebulous objects. It lets you play astronaut with jaw dropping three-dimensional simulated flights through space. A state-of-the-art digital stereo sound system enhances the Dome Theatre experience with a variety of music and sound effects. Films like Stars of the Pharaohs take you back 6,000 years to ancient Egypt to see how astronomers aligned their temples and pyramids with the stars.

Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors and students.

Burke Baker Planetarium
1 Hermann Circle Drive
Houston, TX 77030
(713) 639-4629
http://www.yelp.com/biz/burke-baker-planetarium-houston

1940 Air Terminal Museum: Houston Past

Housed in the historic art deco former Houston Municipal Airport, the 1940 Air Terminal Museum showcases the rich heritage of civil aviation, including the nation’s airlines, general aviation and business aviation. The story of Houston's place in aviation history is also included in the exhibits. Interesting exhibits showcase the airlines that once flew in and out of the terminal, with flight attendant outfits, pilot uniforms, photos and videos. Special events include Wings and Wheels on the third Saturday of each month where you can get up close to real airplanes like Piper Cubs and talk to pilots. Open Tuesday through Sunday. Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for children.

1940 Air Terminal Museum
8325 Travelair Road
Houston, TX 77061
(713) 454-1940
http://www.yelp.com/biz/1940-air-terminal-museum-houston

Art Car Museum: Creativity on Wheels

Automobiles are functional, but style is important. The Art Car Museum builds on that style, as artists use many materials to not just decorate, but turn the automobile into a real work of art. Located across from Spotts Park, the Art Car Museum might be one of the most unique museums that you will ever see. You’ll have a good time just walking around and seeing how an artist’s vision can transform a station wagon or classic car into something so much more. But that’s not all – you’ll also see interesting paintings, sculptures that use re-purposed materials and featured artist that use all sorts of media. The Art Car Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Art Car Museum
140 Heights Boulevard
Houston, TX 77007
(713) 861-5526
http://www.yelp.com/biz/art-car-museum-houston

Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens: Uniquely American Art

The Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston is proof that American art and craftsmanship are second to none. Located in the former home and grounds of local scion Ima Hogg, take a guided tour and you get to see many of the rooms on both floors, especially the main rooms used to entertain. You’ll also see some of the rarest artifacts in the collection, especially many objects native to the Texas region. You’ll also learn about Mrs. Hogg and how her singular devotion has resulted in one of the best collections of uniquely American art and antiques. You can also give yourself a self-guided tour of the home and the beautiful surrounding grounds. The Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens
1 Westcott Street
Houston, TX 77007
(713) 639-7750
http://www.yelp.com/biz/bayou-bend-collection-and-gardens-houston

Houston Museum of Natural Science: A Place of Fun & Learning

Enjoy and learn about the beauty of the natural world at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Located in the Museum District directly across from the Mary Gibbs and Jesse H. Jones Reflecting Pool, the Museum of Natural Science is for kid, adults and families. The main goal of the museum is to educate everyone about the natural sciences, be it through the exhibits of dinosaurs in the Morian Hall of Paleontology, the beautiful specimens in the Cullen Hall of Gems and Minerals, or other amazing exhibits. Come to Energy Hall and learn about fossil fuels. Check out examples of African wildlife and go to the Farish Hall to learn even more about the wildlife of Texas. There’s so much to see and learn about, that you’ll just have to come back!

Houston Museum of Natural Science 
5555 Hermann Park Dr
Houston, TX 77030
(713) 639-4629
http://www.yelp.com/biz/houston-museum-of-natural-science-houston

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