Free Fun

An Art Lover's Guide to Free Museums in Houston

Many institutions in town are always free to the public, while others have special free days on Thursdays.

By Emma Balter and Amarie Gipson July 30, 2024

The Menil Collection's main gallery is housed in a stunning Renzo Piano–designed building.

Image: Courtesy Houston First Corporation

Museums everywhere are celebrated for their ability to educate and inspire. But they aren’t always the most accessible to all.

Houston is abundant with museums of all sizes and focuses, both inside and outside the Museum District. Thankfully, you don’t have to wait for an occasion like National Museum Day to enjoy a cost-free visit to one of these institutions. Places like the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston and the Menil Collection are always free, while the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston has free offerings across its sprawling campuses citywide. Many Houston museums offer free admission on Thursdays. Of course, a membership grants you free admission all year long, plus additional perks.

Here are 16 Houston museums where you can see art for free.

ALWAYS FREE

Art League Houston

Mon–Sun, 9am–5pm

Art League Houston (ALH) celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2023. The organization has a robust art school as well as community programming and rotating exhibits. ALH has forged partnerships and launched city-wide initiatives to keep the arts alive. Partly funded by the city, the Platform program allows artists to temporarily display public art on a billboard on the exterior of the building.

Blaffer Art Museum

Tues–Fri, 10am–5pm and Sat & Sun, noon–5pm

Nestled on the University of Houston’s main campus, the Blaffer is one of the city’s leading university museums, celebrating 50 years in 2023. The organization focuses specifically on contemporary art through rotating exhibits. Don’t worry, you don’t have to be a student to visit—although the museum does hire them to work in the galleries.

Contemporary Arts Museum Houston

Wed–Sun, 11am–6pm

Founded in the late 1940s, Contemporary Arts Museum Houston (CAMH) is one of the nation’s oldest and more forward-thinking contemporary art institutions. Like the Blaffer, CAMH is a non-collecting museum, so all exhibits on view rotate throughout the year, in both the main gallery and the one downstairs.

Houston Center for Contemporary Craft

Tue–Sat, 10am–5pm

Art made with nonconventional materials and methods is at the heart of the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft’s mission. The museum elevates craft as an important medium in visual art through temporary exhibitions, public events and workshops, and an active artist residency program.

Houston Center for Photography

Wed–Thu, 11am–7pm; Fri, 11am–5pm; Sat & Sun, 11am–7pm

Photography is one of the most accessible and relatable art forms. This small gallery in Montrose offers many opportunities to dive into the medium through rotating exhibitions, class offerings, and even residency programs.

Houston Museum of African American Culture

Thur–Sat, 11am–6pm

Located in the Museum District, the Houston Museum of African American Culture is dedicated to bringing thought-provoking exhibitions on the past, present, and future of Black history and culture. The museum was proposed to the City of Houston by former mayor Lee P. Brown and has been open since 2012. Make a trip to see any of its rotating exhibitions on modern and contemporary Black artists.

Lawndale Art Center

Wed–Sat, 11am–5pm

Founded by a group of artists, the Lawndale Art Center is a site for openness and experimentation, emphasizing Houston artists and those from the Gulf Coast and greater Southern region. The upstairs, downstairs, and window spaces rotate on an ongoing basis. Just walk on in—there often isn't even an attendant at the front desk.

The Menil Collection

WED–Sun, 11am–7pm

The Menil Collection has a stellar reputation worldwide and is a beloved favorite of Houstonians. The permanent collection of John and Dominique de Menil showcases the arts of Africa and the Americas, Byzantine and Medieval art, as well as modern and contemporary pieces. Temporary exhibits have recently featured powerhouses such as René Magritte and Joan Miró. The Menil campus also includes a gift shop and bookstore, the Drawing Institute, the Cy Twombly Gallery, and a public park that’s popular among picnickers and loungers. Don’t forget to pay a visit to the nearby (also free) Rothko Chapel.

Moody Center for the Arts

Tue–Sat, 10am–5pm

Located on Rice University’s campus, the Moody Center for the Arts is one of the city’s younger institutions, having just opened in 2017. The museum has made a big splash since, displaying three exhibits a year that have recently included JooYoung Choi’s impressive and whimsical Love and Wondervision. The Moody also has a robust event schedule and curates public art throughout Rice’s campus. After your visit, enjoy some fresh air on the lawn or make your way to the Skyspace installation by James Turrell.

Project Row Houses

Tue-Fri, 9am–6pm

Located in a collection of row houses that have been converted into art galleries, this Third Ward institution has been a crucial part of the neighborhood’s fabric since 1993. The structures are home to rotating exhibits of contemporary art, with a focus on African American and BIPOC artists. Project Row Houses regularly hosts events and engages in community work beyond the museum itself, such as the restoration of the El Dorado Ballroom.

FREE ON THURSDAYS

Buffalo Soldiers National Museum

10am–5pm

What was once a collection of artifacts stored in the home of Captain Paul Matthews and his wife, Barbara, transformed into a full-fledged organization and a museum in 2001. The Buffalo Soldiers Museum is dedicated to educating the public on the history of African American soldiers in the US military.

The Children's Museum is free on Thursdays evenings.

Image: Courtesy Houston First Corporation

Children’s Museum Houston

5–8pm

The Children’s Museum is a go-to destination to exercise your kiddo’s imagination and make them learn more about the world around them through interactive art and activities. Kids at heart will enjoy the experience too, but note that your group must be accompanied by a child 12 or under to enter the museum.

Czech Center Museum Houston

2–4pm

This museum is all about Slavic culture, which became very present here after thousands of Czech immigrants came to Central Texas in the 1800s. Learn languages in one of the interactive workshops, and discover traditional music, art, and more. If you’re a student, bring your ID for free admission every second Saturday of the month.

The Health Museum

2–7pm

Houston is home to a world-class medical center, so it’s no surprise that health enthusiasts have a dedicated space to geek out. Learn all you need to know about the human body at the Health Museum, from weekly live organ dissections on Thursdays ($5) to immersive tours and family-friendly science labs.

Holocaust Museum Houston

2–5pm

Holocaust Museum Houston was founded in 1981 by survivor and Houston resident Siegi Izakson to fill a need for such a museum in the city, whose Jewish population stems in large part from the Galveston Movement of the early 1900s. The museum is a living memorial with permanent galleries dedicated to educating the public about the horrors of the Shoah, as well as temporary exhibits that showcase the ongoing story of Jewish culture in the US.

Houston Museum of Natural Science

2–5pm (5–8pm during the summer)

The Houston Museum of Natural Science has more than a dozen permanent galleries and several special exhibits throughout the year. Tour the sprawling museum to find dinosaurs and (live) butterflies, and learn about science, space, wildlife, and so much more. Make sure to stop by the planetarium for an out-of-this-world film experience.

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

10am–9pm

MFAH is among the top 10 largest art museums in the United States, holding more than 65,000 pieces of art. The permanent collection features art from Asia, the Islamic World, Africa, Europe, and the Americas, as well as photography, prints, drawings, and decorative arts. The museum also has a theater that shows independent films throughout the year, and rotating exhibits in their temporary gallery spaces. Head over to the relatively new Nancy and Rich Kinder Building across the street for even more art, or visit MFAH’s satellite locations throughout Houston, such as Bayou Bend Collection and the Rienzi gardens.

Museums, Museum District

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