Museums Organization Categories

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The Galveston Historical Foundation is Texas’ oldest historic preservation group and the second largest locally-based historic preservation organization in the nation. It began in 1871 as the Galveston Historical Society, organized to preserve papers and documents that were accumulating as Galveston developed into the ‘Queen City’ of the Gulf during the latter decades of the 19th Century. In 1954, the society incorporated to become the GALVESTON HISTORICAL FOUNDATION and expanded its mission to encompass community redevelopment, public education and historic preservation activities. The foundation now has more than 5,100 members from 38 states and two foreign countries. It operates nine museums and historic properties and works in the community to preserve the historic architecture and the cultural heritage of the island. The work of GHF has earned the foundation recognition by prominent state and national organizations. Among the efforts that earned recognition are the redevelopment of Galveston’s 19th Century commercial district known as ‘The Strand’; the rescue and restoration of the 1877 iron barque ELISSA; the development of historic residential areas in the city; and the conception and development of the Dickens on The Strand festival and the Galveston Historic Homes Tour.

Glassell School, The Museum of Fine Arts

Museums

The Glassell School of Art offers a variety of classes, workshops, and educational opportunities for students diverse in age, interests, experience, and needs. Founded in 1979, the Glassell School serves as the teaching wing of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Today you can pick from nearly 100 classes and workshops in all media – from painting and drawing to jewelry making, photography, and art history. Classes are held at the Studio School for Adults and at the Glassell Junior School. The Junior School is the only museum facility in the country dedicated to art classes for children. The Community Outreach Program touches the lives of more than 8,000 children, seniors, and adults at hospitals and community centers throughout the Houston metropolitan area. Discovery Through Art gives fifth-grade students in the Houston Independent School District and surrounding areas free access to the MFAH and the Junior School to learn about art. The Core Artist-in-Residence Program is a nationally acclaimed postgraduate fellowship. Established in 1982, the program is designed to help artists make the critical transition from their formal art-school training to professional careers.

Goode Company Barbeque - Kirby

Educational ; Museums

Hilton Houston Plaza/Medical Center

Museums

Holocaust Museum Houston

Museums

The mission of Holocaust Museum Houston is to promote awareness of the dangers of prejudice, hatred, and violence against the backdrop of the Holocaust, which claimed the lives of millions of Jews and other innocent victims. By fostering Holocaust remembrance, understanding, and education, the Museum will educate students as well as the general population about the uniqueness of that event and its ongoing lesson: that humankind must learn to live together in peace and harmony.

Houston Aeronautical Heritage Society

Museums

The Houston Aeronautical Heritage Society is a Texas non-profit corporation founded to research, promote and preserve the rich aeronautical heritage of Houston and Southeast Texas. A diverse group of aviation, architecture and history enthusiasts founded the Society in 1998. The central mission for the Houston Aeronautical Heritage Society is its 1940 Air Terminal Museum Project. The Society is restoring the long-vacant Houston Municipal Airport Terminal for the City of Houston. As restoration is completed in phases, the Society will outfit and operate the 1940 Air Terminal as an interactive museum showcasing the role and importance of civil aviation in the Houston area since the dawn of manned flight.While most major cities have razed the beautiful art deco airport terminals of the 1930s and 1940s to make way for modern buildings, jet traffic or the closing of airports, the Houston Municipal Airport Terminal stands on William P. Hobby Airport as a quiet monument to the rich and varied history of aviation in the region.The Terminal and adjacent property is leased to the Houston Aeronautical Heritage Society by the City of Houston. By restoring this unique building, the Houston Aeronautical Heritage Society is preserving an important piece of Houston’s history for future generations. The Museum is the only educational institution in Houston dedicated to promoting our city’s significant civil aviation history.Winter Operating Hours (effective September 1, 2004) The 1940 Air Terminal Museum is open to the public between the hours of: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday The Museum is closed on Mondays. Admission is $2.00 for adults and $1.00 for children. Admission is free for members of the United States military, law enforcement, firefighters, and their families. Museum members receive special benefits such as free admission to the museum, invitations to special events and gift shop discounts.

Houston Baptist University - The Museum of Southern History

Museums

The Museum of Southern History chronicles the history of the South during the mid-1800s. Visitors peruse room settings, cases, and dioramas to view clothing, fine furnishings, uniforms, tools, and weapons that help convey a sense of those who settled in the region and how they rebuilt their lives after the Civil War. Museum Information: The Museum of Southern History is now located with the Museum of American Architecture and Decorative Arts and the Dunham Bible Museum in the Morris Cultural Arts Center on the campus of Houston Baptist University. The Museum requests a nominal admissions fee. Group tours are encouraged and can be scheduled by calling (281) 649-3997. Guided tours take approximately 30-45 minutes. The Museum also offers a gift shop with many pieces relating to Southern history. Museum hours: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday Closed on University holidays and some holiday weekends. Call for details.

Houston Botanic Garden

Educational ; Kids & Families ; Museums ; Nonprofit ; Outdoors & Nature ; Special Events

The Houston Botanic Garden inspires and connects visitors with a curated collection of tropical, sub-tropical, and arid plants from around the world that reflect the city’s rich cultural and ethnic diversity. As a 132-acre urban oasis and living museum with 1,000 taxa, the Garden enriches life through discovery, education, and the conservation of plants and the natural environment.

Houston Climate Justice Museum

Educational ; Environmental ; Museums ; Nonprofit ; Visual Arts/Museum

The Houston Climate Justice Museum & Cultural Center’s mission is to educate and inspire action on climate and environmental issues through art, exhibits, and programs. The Museum is an interdisciplinary space led by a collective of artists, scholars, and social scientists located in Houston’s East End/Greater Second Ward that addresses the climate crisis through arts and culture programming. We focus on the communities most impacted by a warming planet and tell stories to create more equal opportunities for well-being within a world of environmental catastrophe. The museum hosts artist talks, collaborative workshops, social hours, activist gatherings, organization meetings, and living room style discussions for adults and students alike.

Houston Fire Museum

Museums

The history of the Houston Fire Department is rich in history and tradition and would be impossible to relate entirely in one document. As such, we have linked to an extensive historical perspective of the Houston Fire Department maintained by former district chief Max McRae. This companion web site serves as an invaluable collection of information about the significant events that shaped the fire service in Houston and the brave individuals that served and died in serving this community. The site is extensive and growing and should be of interest to fire history enthusiasts. It always will be a work in progress, so come back often.

Houston Maritime Museum

Museums ; Special Events

Founder James L. Manzolillo has had a life-long association with the ocean. A naval architect who has traveled extensively, Manzolillo came to believe that the artifacts acquired as a result his visiting countless countries throughout the world were meant to be shared. He also recognized the need for a maritime museum in Houston. Hence, in November 2000, the Houston Maritime Museum was born. The Houston Maritime Museum is your homeport for discovering the wonder and influence of the maritime world! Our mission is to capture and preserve the wonder and influence of maritime history and the marine industry with focus on the development of Houston, the Texas Gulf Coast, and the State of Texas.

Houston Marriott Medical Center

Museums

Houston Museum District Association

Museums

Dedicated to working collaboratively with 18 museums within a 1.5 mile radius of the Mecom Fountain to promote the Houston Museum District as a destination to maximize the use of artistic, scientific and educational resources of its institutions. Mission Statement The Houston Museum District Association is dedicated to collaborative efforts that maximize use of the artistic, scientific and educational resources of Houston Museum District institutions by all citizens of and visitors to Houston. HMDA History Eleven institutions formed the Houston Museum District Association on January 27, 1997 and received the IRS 501 (c) (3) designation as of August 22, 1997. Five new museums joined the District in June 2002 and two more in April 2007. The District is now comprised of the following 18 museums located within an approximate 1.5 mile radius of the Mecom Fountain in Hermann Park : Buffalo Soldiers National Museum Byzantine Fresco Chapel Museum Children’s Museum of Houston Contemporary Arts Museum Houston Czech Center Museum Houston Holocaust Museum Houston Houston Center for Contemporary Craft Houston Center for Photography Houston Museum of Natural Science Houston Zoo, Inc. The John C. Freeman Weather Museum The Health Museum The Jung Center of Houston Lawndale Art Center The Menil Collection Museum of Fine Arts , Houston Rice University Art Gallery The Rothko Chapel

Houston Museum of African American Culture (HMAAC)

Museums

The mission of HMAAC is to collect, conserve, explore, interpret, and exhibit the material and intellectual culture of Africans and African Americans in Houston, the state of Texas, the southwest and the African Diaspora for current and future generations. In fulfilling its mission, HMAAC seeks to invite and engage visitors of every race and background and to inspire children of all ages through discovery-driven learning. HMAAC is to be a museum for all people. While our focus is the African American experience, our story in Texas informs and includes not only people of color, but people of all colors. As a result, the stories and exhibitions that HMAAC will bring to Texas are about the indisputable fact that while our experience is a unique one, it has been impacted by numerous races, genders and ethnicities. HMAAC’s new home at 4807 Caroline is now open to the public. For more information, visit our website at www.hmaac.org or call us at 713.526.1015.

Houston Museum of Natural Science

Educational ; Kids & Families ; Museums

The Houston Museum of Natural Science was founded in 1909 on the idea that science can enhance everyone’s lives. We continue to pursue our mission in every project, program and exhibition. In fact, over half a million school children visit on field trips every year, including every fourth and seventh grade class in Houston Independent School District. As one of the most heavily attended museums in the United States, and a favorite thing to do in Houston, HMNS at Hermann Park has five floors of permanent exhibits, spanning astronomy, space science, Native American culture, paleontology, energy, chemistry, geology, seashells and Texas wildlife, alongside a slew of rotating special exhibitions. HMNS also houses three other venues: the Burke Baker Planetarium, Wortham Giant Screen Theatre and Cockrell Butterfly Center. The Museum also maintains two satellite facilities: The George Observatory in Fort Bend County, which houses one of the largest public telescopes in the country; and the Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land, which has exhibits on dinosaurs, physics and a newly opened Hall of Technology.

Houston Museum of Natural Science

Museums

Founded in 1909, the purpose of the Houston Museum of Natural Science has always been to “enhance in individuals the knowledge and delight in natural science and related subjects…” To this very day, this purpose is carried out in every project, program and exhibition associated with the museum. As one of the most heavily attended museums in the United States, and one of the most attended venues in Houston, the Museum is in the distinguished company of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C., the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American Museum of Natural History, both in New York City. The Museum is a five-venue complex housing the Burke Baker Dome Theatre, Wortham IMAX Theatre, Cockrell Butterfly Center and four floors of natural science halls and exhibits. Over a dozen permanent exhibit areas cover subjects on astronomy, space science, Native Americans, paleontology, energy, chemistry, gems and minerals, seashells, and Texas wildlife. Rotating special exhibits are a constant occurrence. There is also the huge Fondren Discovery Place on the first floor that is filled with hands-on exhibits that will delight children and adults of all ages. The Museum is also a major science learning center with over a half million school children visiting annually, including every fourth grade and eighth grade class in the Houston Independent School District. Just one of many unique educational opportunities available to these students and others is the Challenger Learning Center, the first in a national network, which allows students to experience the teamwork necessary to complete a variety of space tasks. Modeled after NASA, the two-part center houses Mission Control on the Lower Level, which is linked via monitors, microphones and computers to a space simulator located in the Museum’s penthouse. The Museum has a second Challenger Learning Center at its George Observatory, located 55 miles south of Houston in Brazos Bend State Park.

Houston Police Museum

Museums

The Houston Police Department opened the doors to its HPD Museum and Officers’ Memorial during a grand opening ceremony on Wednesday, May 12, 2010. The museum is located in the lobby of HPD headquarters at 1200 Travis, and features unique displays and a memorial wall honoring the ultimate sacrifice made by those officers that gave their lives in the line of duty. Included among the displays are artifacts from the Honor Guard, SWAT, Mounted Patrol, badges, uniforms and other equipment utilized over the years. There is no charge for the Museum. All proceeds from the sale of the merchandise benefits the Houston Police Foundation which to date has purchased over one-million dollars worth of much needed equipment for the department. Stop in and take in some of HPD’s rich history! For further information please contact the HPD museum at … HPDMuseum@cityofhouston.net.

John C. Freeman Weather Museum

Museums

THE WEATHER MUSEUM WILL TEMPORARILY CLOSE STARTING ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2014 FOR RELOCATION. PLEASE CHECK BACK FOR DETAILS. Weather Research Center was founded in 1987 by Jill F. Hasling and her father, Dr. John C. Freeman, both Certified Consulting Meteorologists and Fellows of the American Meteorological Society. Weather Research Center is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit corporation and was founded to respond to a need to educate the public about weather and weather safety. WRC is the successor organization to the Institute of Storm Research founded in 1966 at the University of St. Thomas. Freeman and Hasling's groundbreaking research in orbital influences on the atmosphere, long range predication, marine and tropical weather forecasting for the community and the corporate clients provides the WRC with the solid experience for its operations. Current Activities Since WRC inception in December 1987, WRC meteorologists have served over 650,000 people in the regional and national community . The Center's activities are focused on: 1) education of newly graduated meteorologists in the art of global marine and tropical weather forecasting, 2) outreach/community education programs for school children and adults, and 3) weather research. Funds for the annual budget come from grants and fees for global weather forecasting, research, education programs, membership, admission to WRC's Weather Museum, and charitable donations. A. Education of newly graduated meteorologists. Since no university is providing hands-on global, marine and tropical weather forecasting training, graduates from Texas A&M, the University of Oklahoma and elsewhere come to the WRC as interns for on-the-job training. Internships last for 1 to 3 years and interns are compensated for their work at WRC. They benefit from the opportunity to prepare actual forecasts for a variety of corporations, largely oil and drilling companies with operations worldwide. B. Outreach/Community Education Programs. WRC inspries students through science experiments and presentations of the Weather Museum. Programs which emphasize science and mathematics are available both at the Museum and through site visits to partner organizations. These programs include Weather Camp, Weather Labs, Weather Classes and Student Summer Internships. WRC's 20 plus partners include American Meteorological Society, Cy-Fair ISD, HISD, Community in Schools, Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts, etc. C. Weather Research. These research projects range from forensic meteorology to detailed hurricane risk analysis for Texas Department of Insurance, detailed wind study and forecast for the installation of high-tech fabric Radome designed to withstand winds of more than 130 mph, forecasting for recovery tasks such as the Titanic, space capsules and other intricate projects. Clients have included Oceaneering, Raytheon, etc. Plans For The Future The John C. Freeman Weather Museum opened at 5104 Caroline Street on April 21, 2006. In order to operate in adequate space with room to grow and to meet the present and rapidly increasing demand for professional and community education, the Board of Directors approved the plan to expand the museum's educational programs . WRC Mission WRC advances the science of weather and the knowledge of the weather's impact on the global community through research, prediction and education. WRC Vision WRC exists to make a difference by helping the community learn about weather through outreach, education and research inspiring interest in math and science.

La Carafe

Museums ; Special Events

The La Carafe building is listed on the National Register for Historic Places and is believed to be the oldest bar in Houston, and is the oldest commercial building still in use, in Houston. Built by developer Nathaniel Kellum in 1847, the La Carafe building has remained a two-story public venue since it’s construction. While many would assume La Carafe is just a bar, its really much more than that. La Carafe is actually a reasonably priced wine bar where anyone (age 21 or over) can enjoy a mellow atmosphere, a nice wine selection, and depending on the night- good company and interesting people. The dim lights are coupled with arguably the best jukebox in town, ringing tunes from jazz and oldies to the cool sounds of Bob Marley. The bar takes as much space as the area for customers, but that doesnâ€™t stop those wanting to come in and relax a bit, even if it means cozying up to a stranger on a crowded Saturday night. The enduring popularity of La Carafe cannot be understood by those who have not been there, nor explained by those who have. It simply a place to experience and embrace; and if you let it, La Carafe will embrace you too.

Last Concert Cafe

Museums ; Music

Whether you want to enjoy great food, live music and entertainment, the Last Concert Café is the place to be.

Liendo Plantation

Museums ; Special Events

Liendo Plantation was built in 1853 by Leonard Waller Groce, the son of Jared Groce, who was one of the largest most respected land owners in Texas. Originally a Spanish land grant of 67,000 acres assigned to Justo Liendo, the plantation’s namesake, Liendo was one of Texas’ earliest cotton plantations. It was considered the social center of Texas receiving and lavishly entertaining early Texas dignitaries and notorieties. Liendo was considered a typical Southern plantation, having over 300 slaves and being itself built by slave labor. Sufficient in all its needs; it was a self contained community. Like most Southern plantations, however, Liendo fell on hard times after the Civil War and changed owners several times thereafter. In 1960 Carl and Phylis Detering purchased Liendo from Miss Willene Compton and began their 10 year job of restoring the plantation home. Traveling throughout the deep South and Europe, the Deterings acquired period furnishings and faithfully restored Liendo to its former glory. Liendo is recognized as a Texas historic landmark and is listed on the national register of historic places. Today, Will Detering owns and operates Liendo Plantation and continues the work of preserving and sharing this Texas landmark.

Lone Star Flight Museum

Museums ; Nonprofit

The Lone Star Flight Museum is a 501(c)(3) aviation museum and STEM learning center with a mission to preserve, educate and inspire. Led by CEO Lt. Gen. (ret) Douglas H. Owens, LSFM’s new $38 million state of the art facility at Houston’s Ellington Airport will September 2017. In addition to the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame, the 130,000 square foot facility will house the Museum’s renowned flying collection of historic aircraft, a $1 million, high-tech Aviation Learning Center and dynamic hands-on exhibits LSFM’s vision is to be a world-class educational museum linking an understanding of the past with inspiration for the future.

Menil Collection

Museums

The Menil Collection is a unique museum environment located in the Montrose-area Museum District housing the collection of John and Dominique de Menil. The museum building is the centerpiece of a neighborhood featuring satellite gallery spaces and related cultural instituitons set in a parklike setting. The Menil Collection opened in 1987 to preserve and exhibit the art collection of John and Dominique de Menil. Considered one of the most important privately assembled collections of the twentieth century, The Menil Collection houses approximately 15,000 paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings, photographs, and rare books. Masterpieces from antiquity, the Byzantine and medieval worlds, the tribal cultures of Africa, Oceania, and the American Pacific Northwest, and the twentieth century are particularly well represented. Among the highlights of the museum are its Surrealist holdings, widely regarded as one of the world’s foremost collections of its kind. The Menil Collection displays selections from its permanent collection and regularly offers special exhibitions and programs to the public. Acclaimed by critics as a triumph of modern architecture, The Menil Collection was designed by a joint venture of Renzo Piano/Building Workshop, Genoa, Italy and Richard Fitzgerald & Partners, Houston. The museum’s ingenious roof and skylight system, interior atrium gardens, and large windows fill the galleries with natural light, reflecting subtle changes of weather, season, and time of day. Throughout the museum, visitors find quiet, contemplative spaces, ideal for viewing art.

Museum of Broken Relationships

Museums

The Museum of Broken Relationships grew from a traveling exhibition revolving around the concept of failed relationships and their ruins. Unlike ‘destructive’ self-help instructions for recovery from failed loves, the Museum offers a chance to overcome an emotional collapse through creation: by contributing to the Museum’s collection. Whatever the motivation for donating personal belongings – be it sheer exhibitionism, therapeutic relief, or simple curiosity – people embraced the idea of exhibiting their love legacy as a sort of a ritual, a solemn ceremony. Our societies oblige us with our marriages, funerals, and even graduation farewells, but deny us any formal recognition of the demise of a relationship, despite its strong emotional effect. In the words of Roland Barthes in A Lover’s Discourse: "Every passion, ultimately, has its spectator… (there is) no amorous oblation without a final theater." Conceptualized in Croatia by Olinka Vištica and Dražen Grubiši?, the Museum has since toured internationally, amassing an amazing collection. Although often colored by personal experience, local culture and history, the exhibits presented here form universal patterns offering us to discover them and feel the comfort they can bring. Hopefully they can also inspire our personal search for deeper insights and strengthen our belief in something more meaningful than random suffering.

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