Houston Museum Of Natural Science Houston Texas
dinosaur museum
Houston Museum of Natural Science is one of the most popular dinosaur museums in the United States. The museum has over 120,000 square feet of exhibition space and offers an extensive collection of fossils, artifacts, and specimens from all over the world. The museum also has a research department that is dedicated to studying the biology and evolution of dinosaurs.
Quetzalcoatlus The Largest Flying Reptile
The Quetzalcoatlus is one of the largest flying creatures ever discovered. It dates from the North American Late Cretaceous period around 66 million years ago.
Dinosaur discovery tour at the Museum of Natural Science in Houston. Learn about Quetzalcoatlus, one of the largest flying creatures ever discovered. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Experts Guide: Houston Museum Of Natural Science
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When it comes to hunting dinosaurs, theres only one address in Houston: the Houston Museum of Natural Science. And while T-Rex and stegosaurus might be the first things that come to mind when thinking of this gem in Hermann Park, dinos are far from the only thing the mega-museum has to offer. In addition to a series of rotating and traveling exhibitions, the museum is home to its own planetarium, a butterfly center, and so much more. In fact, theres so much to do there, the museum has become a go-to for families, date nights, and special events.
Here are some tips and frequently asked questions to help you plan your day.
Where is the Houston Museum of Natural Science ?
The Houston Museum of Natural Science is located in Hermann Park, at 5555 Hermann Park Drive. You can get there via light rail by taking the red line to the Museum District stop and walking along Fannin Street to Hermann Drive. The museum is between San Jacinto and Caroline streets. Obviously, you can drive there, too, and theres a parking garage attached to the museum. Bonus: each level is marked with a different dinosaur to help you remember where you are.
When is the best time to go to HMNS?
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How much does it cost to go to HMNS?
The museum is free to everyone on Thursday from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. with the last entry at 4:30 p.m.
How long does it take to visit the museum?
What are the must-sees?
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What are special exhibits and how do we find out more?
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Houston Museum Of Natural Science Houston Tx
The Houston Museum of Natural Science has long been considered a world-class museum, it is one of the largest and most well-attended museums in the United States. Paleontology and dinosaurs, however, were historically good but not greatHouston had a nice collection, but it was not a museum that would be included in many top dinosaur museum lists. That changed in the last ten years, however, when HMNS hired world-renowned paleontologist Dr. Robert Bakker as the Curator of Paleontology, and he led the massive renovation of their dinosaur hall.
HIGHLIGHTS
When it reopened in 2012, the Morian Hall of Paleontology quickly elevated the museum into the top echelon of dinosaur musuems nationwide. Filled with wonderful fossils and terrific paleoart , the HMNS is now one of the best dinosaur museums in the country.
One of the best things about the HMNS renovation is the creative way the fossils are displayedin many cases they are designed to showcase the creatures interacting with others that lived in the same time and place. Some of the displays are truly fantastic and singular: if you want to see the giant pterosaur Quetzalcoatlus NOT in flight, or if you want to see what a Stegosaurus might look like standing on its hind legs, the HMNS is currently the only museum you will be able to do that.
PostosuchusDesmatosuchusStegosaurus Dipsy the DiplodocusDenversaurusTyrannosaurusTriceratopsDidelphodon
WHAT IF I DONT LIKE DINOSAURS?
Rock N Roar Summer At Home
Jurassic Park Movie Box Want to see dinosaurs from the comfort of your own home? No Problem! We have the perfect movie box just for you. During this Rock n Roar Summer at HMNS enjoy the classic movie, Jurassic Park. Just follow the link to purchase your movie night box and enjoy the roaring of the T-Rex from your very own couch.
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Getting Your Bearings On The Main Level
From the box office, youll enter the permanent exhibits through the Alfred C. Glassell, Jr. Hall. Take a moment to orient yourself on the map and look up to find a projection of the area, allowing you to interact with a menagerie of virtual animals coming out to greet you.
The main attraction on this floor is the Morian Hall of Paleontology. Opened in 2012, it is the pride of the the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Its one of the largest paleontology halls in the nation, featuring an extensive collection of plant and animal fossils that date back billions of years.
Take a chronological journey through this exhibit and learn how our world came to be before whirling around more than 60 major dinosaur skeletons.
This stunning exhibit is highlighted by the most intact Triceratops skeleton ever discovered, affectionately named Lane. In addition to the skeleton, a mummified portion of his skin has been cast so that guests have the rare opportunity to see and feel dinosaur skin from prehistoric times.
Touring The Taxidermy On The Second Level
As you move up to the second floor of the Houston Museum of Natural Science, your visit with the dinosaurs isnt quite over as the Morian Overlook, right next to the elevator bay, offers a spectacular view from above of the entire Paleontology Hall.
Around the corner, youll find two impressive wildlife displays complete with taxidermied animals and meticulously recreated habitats. The Evelyn and Herbert Frensley Hall of African Life takes visitors through seven biomes of the African Continent to view lions, elephants, and one of only two Okapi on display in North America.
The Farish Hall of Texas Wildlife, just across from the Africa display, features animals from the seven biotic regions of Texas. From the desert plains of the west, to the fragile coastal environments, visitors leave this exhibit with a powerful understanding of Texas ecosystems.
At the end of the second level, youll also find the hushed Cullen Hall of Gems and Minerals. Over 450 natural specimens and rare gemstones fill this vault, offering guests a chance to see a plethora of stunning, naturally-occurring crystallization as well as the tailored handcrafted gems brought forth by expert jewelry designers.
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Video: Explore The Massive Dinosaur Exhibit In Houston
Explore the massive dinosaur exhibit in Houston, Texas. Discovery guide Alexander Ruff takes us on a dinosaur discovery tour of the Morian Hall of Paleontology at the Museum of Natural Science.
The huge exhibition hall is full of ancient life and is almost 30,000 square feet, or about as large as an American football field.
Denver Museum Of Nature And Science Denver Colorado
best dinosaur museum
Denver Museum of Nature and Science is one of the top dinosaur museums in the United States. The museum has a vast collection of fossils and artifacts from all over the world, and its a great place to learn about the history of dinosaurs. The museum is also home to one of the worlds largest indoor exhibits, which features more than 60 life-sized dinosaurs.
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The Most Famous Triceratops In The World
The museum features one of the most famous and most complete Triceratops in the world, called Lane. It was named after the grandson of the woman who found it on her family ranch in Wyoming. The Triceratops is 80 per cent complete and there are even skin impressions on the wall behind the exhibit.
The most complete Triceratops in the world, called Lane is at the Museum of Natural Science in Houston. Photo Credit: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
The Houston Museum Of Natural Science: A Must
Anyone who wishes to visit Houston should visit the Houston Museum of Natural Science. The facility houses more than 20 million specimens, so its difficult to fit everything in in one visit, but at least two hours is recommended. The museum is large and sprawling, so you may not be able to find your way if you dont have a map. The Museum will be open for tours following the school day if you intend to visit it during the school day if you need to visit the museum, be aware that buses will be returning to the Museum for free. All guests over the age of two are required to wear a mask, and the Museum has a variety of masks available for purchase for $1.
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The Field Museum Chicago
dinosaur museum
The Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago is one of the worlds foremost museums of natural history, with a collection that spans over 30 million specimens. The museum has a distinctive dinosaur exhibit, which is the largest and most comprehensive collection of dinosaurs in the world. The museum is also home to a number of other notable exhibits, such as the Henry Ford Museum of American History and the Regenstein Library.
Great Place To Visit: Houston Museum Of Natural Science
If you want to learn more about the natural world, the Houston Museum of Natural Science is a great place to go. The museum is still a great place to visit, even if visitors are advised to wear masks if they are concerned about COVID-19 spreading. If youre not an international traveler, youll have a good time at the museum it usually takes at least two hours to get through, but even if youre an international traveler, youll find something to pique your interest.
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Rock N Roar Summer At Hmns Sugar Land
Sugar Lands T. rex is ready for his close up – visit HMNS at Sugar Land during T. rex week for a slew of special activities. Did you know that HMNS members also get free access to general admission at our Sugar Land location? To save BIG on admission at get 15% off your membership purchase, use code ROAR15 at checkout. Sugar Land Dig Pit Experience the thrill of paleontology first-hand! Several species of cast fossil dinosaurs await
Houston Museum Of Natural Science Tickets
The Houston Museum of Natural Science is one of the most popular museums in the city, and tickets are always in high demand. The museum is home to a wide variety of exhibits, including a dinosaur exhibit, a planetarium, and a butterfly garden. Visitors can also see a variety of live animals, such as snakes, lizards, and birds.
The Houston Museum of Natural Science is located in the heart of the Houston Museum District, across from Hermann Park. The museum houses two permanent exhibits: the largest dinosaur hall in North America and the Gems and Minerals exhibit. One of the museums most extensive collections in the United States includes 450 rare gemstones and geodes. The Houston Museum of Natural Science has North Americas largest dinosaur hall and one of the countrys largest gem and geode collections. Good weather is essential for this type of adventure. If the weather is bad, we will provide you with a different date or a full refund. The dinosaur exhibit is as impressive as it is simple to see.
Passes for standard admission cover a variety of exhibits, but IMAX, butterfly, and planetarium tickets are extra. Take advantage of the opportunity to save money on these attractions if you become a Donating member. Its not clear what the disadvantages of this trip were, but it may have been a great experience traveling from out of town.
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Visitors Guide: Houston Museum Of Natural Science In The Museum District
Peer into the ancient past and explore how the world works at the Houston Museum of Natural Science in the Museum District.
Standing at the edge of the Hermann Park roundabout, the Houston Museum of Natural Science has invited millions of annual visitors over the last century to connect with the world around them.
In the meantime, expansion into four floors of sprawling exhibit halls, a tropical butterfly center, a planetarium, a giant screen theater, and the stunning and all-encompassing Hall of Paleontology has elevated the museum to one of the most popular in the country.
Visiting a museum of this scale isnt quite apt for an afternoon drop-in, so grab your walking shoes and get ready for a full day of discovery, or break your explorations into multiple days.
Amber Secrets: Feathers From The Age Of Dinosaurs
Prized amber gems began their journey through deep time in liquid form as resin secreted by trees, likely in response to injury. This liquid Band- Aid served as a natural sticky trap for capturing a portion of the ecosystem that could not be preserved in such detail in any other manner. Except in the rarest cases, the fossilization process is not a gentle oneit favors the largest and most durable. Delicate or small things are forgotten by the process. The copious ancient resin that trapped and drowned fragments of these ancient landscapes served as
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How Much Does It Cost To Get Into Houston Museum Of Natural Science
The cost of admission to the Houston Museum of Natural Science varies depending on the age and status of the visitor. Admission for children ages 3-11 is $10, while admission for adults is $15. Seniors, students, and military personnel receive a discounted rate of $13. Admission is free for museum members and children ages 2 and under.
Admission to the Houston Museum of Natural Science is free, and you can see all of its permanent exhibits. There are numerous behind-the-scenes tours available, including the Hall of Paleontology, the Hall of Ancient Egypt, and so on. If you dont make it to the museums free day on Thursday, you can still visit if you have a regular ticket. At Downtown Aquarium Houston, there is a 500,000-gallon aquarium, a tiger exhibit, and a variety of rides suitable for children. The Beer Can House is an exciting tourist attraction in Houston that has been visited by over 50,000 visitors.
Dino Stampedepaleontology Hall Will Be Home To A Herd Of 26 Dinosaurs
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With hip bones connected to thigh bones and leg bones connected to ankle bones, the Houston Museum of Natural Science‘s planned football field-size paleontology hall part of an $85 million expansion set to open in summer 2012 is an odds-on favorite to become the liveliest boneyard in town.
Denizens of the hall will include favorites such as the menacing Tyrannosaurus rex, the 42-foot-long, 7½-ton Cretaceous period predator, and the birdlike reptile, Quetzalcoatlus northropi, whose skin-covered wings reached a span in excess of 30 feet.
All told, the hall will feature 26 dinosaurs among 61 major mounted skeletons, assistant paleontology director David Temple said. Those exhibits will be complemented by smaller skeletons, a veritable petrified forest, fossils and artistic renderings of prehistoric animals in action.
While the Houston museum’s collection may not rival that of New York’s American Museum of Natural History, said museum director Joel Bartsch, its presentation arguably will be the nation’s most dynamic.
“This will not be old school,” he said. “We’re not renovating a historic space on the classic idea of displaying skeletons in a row. We’re building a new structure. It will have 21st century interactivity.”
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Explore The Civilizations Of Humanity On The Third Level
Rising to the third floor of the Houston Museum of Natural Science brings visitors back into the aboriginal past. The John P. McGovern Hall of the Americas tours guests through societies across the Western Hemisphere that have risen and fallen. From Aztecs and Mayans, to the Inuit and Native populations of North America, this wide-ranging exhibit provides a fascinating look into a bygone time.
The nearby Hall of Ancient Egypt explores the many facets of Egyptian society such as writing, religion, and mummification. Filled with artifacts and trinkets, the exhibit also offers a very up close and personal look into several sarcophagi and the mummified remains of its previous inhabitants.
Elements Molecules & Matter On The Lower Level
Here, youll find the Welch Hall of Chemistry, an interactive KHOU meteorology exhibit, and the planet-probing Earth Forum .
Highlighting the Hall of Chemistry is the wall-sized periodic table containing real samples of each element. Time your stop in the lower level and find the nearby Conoco Phillips Hands-On Demonstration Lab where scientists are performing experiments.
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Lots Of Action Promised
One of the nation’s most popular science museums with approximately half a million school kids passing through its galleries annually, the museum will meld academics with entertainment in an effort to convey how the hall’s ancient occupants lived and died.
“All the mounts will be in action,” Bartsch said. “Everything will be chasing something everything will be eating something.”
Bartsch said the 200,000-square-foot addition, the seventh expansion of the 102-year-old museum since its current facility opened in the 1960s, will roughly double exhibition space and triple classroom space. The four-story building will include galleries to accommodate traveling exhibits.
Faced with severe space limitations in its current building, the science museum has held much of its collection out of sight in storage. With the new hall’s opening, the public for the first time will see the bulk of the museum’s 130-specimen Herb and Joan Zuhl petrified wood collection.
Prehistoric skeletons will be hauled from storage to join new acquisitions such as “Willie,” a nearly complete Dimetrodon loomisiskeleton currently being excavated by the museum in Texas’ Permian Basin. A fearsome Permian period carnivore, the sail-backed animal lived between 280-265 million years ago.
New, too, will be a remarkably well-preserved Triceratops, a three-horned plant-eating dinosaur that lived about 65 million years ago.