Museums
The
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH), recognized as one
of the premier art museums in the country, exhibits works
in the Audrey Jones Beck Building, the Caroline Wiess Law
Building and the Glassell School of Art. It is open Tuesday
through Sunday, and general admission is free on Thursdays.
For hours of operation and the location of each exhibition,
call (713) 639-7300 or visit www.mfah.org.
The
Children’s Museum of Houston
Ranked among the top children’s museums
in the country by Child magazine, The Children’s Museum
of Houston features 14 galleries of hands-on, minds-on activities.
Located at 1500 Binz, it’s open Tuesday-Saturday, with
Free Family Night held on Thursdays. For admissions and hours,
call (713) 522-1138 or visit www.cmhouston.org.
Holocaust
Museum Houston
The first institution of its kind in the Southwest,
Holocaust Museum Houston is a memorial to the millions imprisoned
and murdered in Nazi death camps, as well as an education
center on the dangers of hatred and prejudice. Admission is
free. Located at 5401 Caroline St., it’s open Monday
through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday noon
to 5 p.m. For more information, call (713) 942-8000 or visit
www.hmh.org.
Contemporary
Arts Museum Houston
Contemporary Arts Museum Houston is housed
in an award-winning, all-metal structure that complements
the style of art it surrounds. Admission to the museum is
always free, and is open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m.
to 5 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday noon to
5 p.m. For information, call (713)
284-8250 or visit www.camh.org.
The
Menil Collection
Featuring more than 15,000 paintings, sculptures,
prints, drawings, photographs and rare books, the Menil, housed
in a modern landmark designed by architect Renzo Piano, is
free to the public. Ongoing installations include the Room
of Wonders, filled with Surrealist curiosities, and the multicolored,
fluorescent Dan Flavin Installation. Located at 1515 Sul Ross,
it’s open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.
Admission is free. For more information, call (713) 525-9400
or visit www.menil.org.
The
Houston Zoo
Houston’s only urban jungle, the Houston
Zoo now features the John P. McGovern Children’s Zoo,
which recreates the six ecosystems of Texas: city, forest,
coastal, prairie, desert and farm. The zoo, located in Hermann
Park, is open seven days, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. For admission
and information, call (713) 533-6500 or visit www.houstonzoo.org.
Houston
Museum of Natural Science
Houston Museum of Natural Science highlights
the earth’s wonders through Wortham IMAX Theatre, Cockrell
Butterfly Center and Burke Baker Planetarium. Additionally,
three floors of permanent exhibits feature everything from
dinosaurs to diamonds. The museum, located at One Hermann
Circle Drive, is open daily. Admission prices vary, and exhibit
schedules are subject to change, so call (713) 639-4629, (713)
639-IMAX or visit www.hmns.org.
The
Jung Center of Houston
The Jung Center, a nonprofit educational institution,
houses one of the Southwest’s finest collections of
work in psychology, spirituality and comparative mythology.
Located at 5200 Montrose, the Jung Center is open Monday through
Saturday. For hours, information or a course catalog, call
(713) 524-8253 or visit online at www.cgjunghouston.org.
Buffalo
Soldiers National Museum
A permanent collection of artifacts and memorabilia
chronicles the African-American military experience from the
Revolutionary War to modern times. Periodically some of the
last surviving Buffalo Soldiers are on hand to show
visitors around the galleries. The museum, located at 1834
Southmore, is open
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturdays. For details, call
(713) 942-8920 or visit www.buffalosoldiermuseum.com.
Byzantine
Fresco Chapel Museum
The only intact Byzantine frescos in the Western
Hemisphere, these 13th-century masterworks were stolen from
a chapel on Cyprus, cut into pieces, and smuggled off the
island. Rescued and restored by The Menil Foundation, the
fresco fragments now reside on long-term loan from the Church
of Cypress in an intimate chapel designed by award-winning
architect Francois de Menil. Admission is free to the museum,
located at 4011 Yupon. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday,
Saturday and Sunday. For more information, call (713) 521-3990.
Houston
Center for Contemporary Craft
One of the most innovative organizations in
the country dedicated solely to craft, the center emphasizes
art made of glass, fiber, clay, metal or wood. The center
is located at 4848 Main and is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesday through Saturday and from noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission
is free. For more details, call (713) 529-4848 or visit www.crafthouston.org.
Houston
Center for Photography
Celebrating its 22th anniversary, Houston
Center for Photography (HCP) is dedicated to the study of
photography as an expressive medium, as well as an investigative
tool. HCP is located at 1441 W. Alabama. Hours are 11 a.m.
to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday
and Sunday. For more details, call (713) 529-4755 or visit
Web site at www.hcponline.org.
Lawndale
Art Center
One of our premier alternative art spaces,
Lawndale Art Center allows Houston artists to exhibit their
works in a professional, selective atmosphere. Located at
4912 Main Street, admission is free. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday through Friday and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday. For information,
call (713) 528-5858 or visit www.lawndaleartcenter.org.
John
P. McGovern Museum of Health & Medical Science
Explore giant sculptures of human organs,
including a brain, ribs and even teeth with a journey through
the Amazing Body Pavilion. Many programs and films are offered
in English and Spanish. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through
Saturday (except Thursday) and noon to 5 p.m., Sunday. Thursdays
are free from 4 to 7 p.m. For information on the museum, located
at Hermann and La Branch, call (713) 521-1515 or visit www.mhms.org.
Rice
University Art Gallery
Rice University Art Gallery invites outstanding
contemporary artists to create new installations on site.
Make plans to visit the gallery on the ground floor of Sewall
Hall, near the main entrance of one of the nation’s
most beautiful college campuses. For information, call (713)
348-6069 or visit the Web site at www.rice.edu/ruag.
The
Rothko Chapel
Dedicated in 1971 as an intimate sanctuary
for people of every belief, the Rothko Chapel is a modern
meditative environment inspired by American abstract expressionist
painter, Mark Rothko. The chapel is located at 1409 Sul Ross
and is open daily. For event dates and times, call (713) 524-9839
or visit www.rothkochapel.org.
Bayou
Bend
Comprising the American decorative arts collection
of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the Bayou Bend Collection
and Gardens is located at 1 Westcott St., at the estate of
the late Houston philanthropist Ima Hogg. The collection of
more than 5,000 objects chronicles American style from 1620
to 1870. Fourteen acres of formal and woodland gardens surround
the historic home. Guided home tours are available Tuesday
through Friday, morning and afternoon, and Saturday mornings
by reservation only. Recorded audio tours are offered on Saturday
and Sunday afternoon. Self-guided garden tours can be taken
Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 to
5 p.m. For more information, call (713) 639-7750 or visit
www.mfah.org.
Rienzi
Rienzi, the former River Oaks home of philanthropists
Carroll Sterling Masterson and her husband, Harris Masterson
III, houses a stunning collection of European art and antiques.
Located at 1406 Kirby Dr., Rienzi was designed by John Staub
in 1954 and expanded in 1972 with the aid of architect Hugo
Neuhaus. Rienzi is open Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday
10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday 1-5 p.m.; closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
For more information, call (713) 639-7800 or visit www.mfah.org.
Miller
Outdoor Theatre
The seasonal stage thrives with dance, theater,
music and other performances at Houston’s outdoor theater.
Picnickers on the hill are welcomed at the free shows featuring
local, regional and national performers. Tickets for the
limited covered-seating area must be picked up on the day
of performance. The park also presents a Childrens Series
just for families. For complete programming information, call
(713) 284-8350 or visit the Web site at www.houstonparks.org.
