Sponsored By Austin Museum Day
Explore Austin-area museums — for free September 17th! The 26th Annual Austin Museum Day is a free celebration of art, culture, history, music, nature, and science.
More than twenty museums in Austin will welcome visitors with special programming including guided and self-guided exhibition tours, activities, and more for visitors of all ages.
ART
Art Galleries at Black Studies
Christian-Green Gallery, 201 E. 21st St., Beauford H. Jester Center A232A (512) 471-0254 Facebook: @galleriesatut, Instagram:@galleriesatut, Twitter: @galleries_at_ut 11am – 5pm
On view at Christian-Green Gallery is Kaylynn Sullivan TwoTrees’ exhibition ‘Travelogue Series: Un-Tying Our Cosmic Ancestors’ curated by Omi Osun Joni L Jones. TwoTrees explores how we might find paths to a cosmic ancestry that connects us all in this multi-sensory exhibition incorporating visual art, a vocable soundscape, and olfactory elements. This site is a stop on the UT Campus Crawl.
200 East MLK Jr. Blvd. (512) 471-5482 Facebook: @BlantonMuseum, Instagram: @BlantonMuseum, Twitter: @blantonmuseum 10am – 5pm
Welcome to Austin’s art museum! Enjoy the Instagram-worthy new grounds designed by acclaimed architects Snøhetta while savoring shade under “the Petals” or a picnic on the Moody Patio. While roaming our galleries, don’t miss our special exhibitions “Forces of Nature: Ancient Maya Art from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art” and “If the Sky Were Orange: Art in the Time of Climate Change.” And don’t forget to stop by the Museum Store to bring a bit of the Blanton home with you. This site is a stop on the UT Campus Crawl.
City of Austin Art in Public Places
(512) 974-7700 Facebook: @CityofAustinArts, Instagram:@CityofAustinArts Daylight Hours Recommended
Did you know that the City of Austin’s ‘Art in Public Places’ collection has over 300 pieces? Many of those artworks are accessible by the public 24 hours a day—a museum without walls! Explore these sites in person by taking a self-guided tour. Follow this link to discover more information about each of our works – onsite or from the comfort of your own home: https://tinyurl.com/kmm2k26z
Laguna Gloria at 3809 W 35th St. Jones Center at 700 Congress Ave (512) 458-8191 Facebook: @TheContemporaryAustin, Instagram: @contemporaryatx, Twitter: @ContemporaryATX 9am-3pm
This Museum Day, explore all 14 acres of Laguna Gloria for free! Grab a snack or a cold drink at the cafe on the grounds, Spread & Co, to enjoy as you adventure around the grounds taking in more than 20 sculptures and countless plants, trees, animals and more!
1110 Barton Springs Rd.
(512) 974-4000 Facebook: @doughertyarts, Instagram: @doughertyartscenter 12pm-3pm
The Dougherty Arts Center opens its doors for Austin Museum Day 2023! Come visit the Julia C. Butridge gallery and take part in fun and interactive art experiences during this free event. Help us celebrate art, culture, history, music, nature, and science in Austin in a city-wide tour sponsored by Austin Museum Partnership.
304 E 44th St. (512) 974-1625 Facebook: @elisabetney 12pm – 5pm
Re-Imagining the Ney: Draw your Own Path. Learn the many facets of drawing through this family event! Local artist collective, Atelier Dojo, will be here to give a live sketching demonstration using Elisabet Ney’s sculptures as models. There will also be a ton of hands-on art projects led by local artists and educators that will inspire you to draw your own path. As part of Austin Museum Day, this event is free and open to all ages.
Landmarks, The Public Art Program at The University of Texas at Austin
(512) 495-4315 Facebook: @LandmarksUT, Instagram: @LandmarksUT, Twitter: @LandmarksUT 9a – 1pm
On Austin Museum Day, Landmarks (UT’s public art program) will participate in the Campus Crawl showcasing museums across the Forty Acres. Visit Mark Di Suvero’s Clock Knot (corner of Speedway and Dean Keeton) to get your stamp and to join a 30-minute guided tour of select Landmarks’ works. Prefer to explore at your own pace? Visit Landmarks’ app for a variety of self-guided tour options.
419 Congress Ave.
(512) 480-9373 Facebook: @mexicarte Instagram: @mexic_arte Twitter: @mexic_arte 11am-4pm
The Mexic-Arte Museum invites you to participate in the Annual Austin Museum Day, where visitors will get to participate in the creation of a papier mâché sculpture called mojiganga. This workshop is led by artist Sergio Lejarazu, a pinata and mojiganga artist based in Austin.
Millett’s Opera House Foundation
110 E. 9th St (512) 447-9496 Facebook: @MillettOperaHouse 10am-3pm
Tour three floors of Historic Millett’s Opera House. The art collection, which is exhibited and curated, totals in 117 pieces.
3440 East FM 2147, Marble Falls (830) 693-2147 Instagram: @museobenini 10am-6pm
Museo Benini, one of 300 single artist museums in the world, will be open with paintings and sculptures by Italian artist Benini on display. Walking trails on the 35 acre ranch lead to 48 sculptures by artists from here and abroad.
UMLAUF Sculpture Garden + Museum
605 Azie Morton Rd.
(512) 445-5582 Facebook: @umlaufsculpture, Instagram:@umlaufsculpture, Twitter: @umlaufsculpture 11am – 4pm
Austin Museum Day at the UMLAUF features a new contemporary exhibition, Apropos, with 17 Austin artists displaying video, sculpture, drawings + multi-media works relating to Charles Umlauf’s sculptures. Outside, over 25 artists from Texas Society of Sculptors will offer live demos and display their work, in addition to our permanent collection of over 50 large Umlauf sculptures.
1311 E. Cesar Chavez (512) 477-1064 Facebook: @WomenAndTheirWorkGallery, Instagram: @womenandtheirwork, Twitter: @WTWgallery 12pm – 5pm
On view at Women & Their Work is the Red Dot Art Spree featuring over 150 artworks from a wide range of perspectives and media from painting and sculpture to video and photo created by artists who live and work in Texas. For families visiting on AMD, we’ll have a scavenger hunt for you to explore this colorful, contemporary art show.
SCIENCE
Austin Nature & Science Center
2363 Stratford Dr. (512) 974-3865 Facebook: @ATXNatureCenter 12pm – 5pm
Visit the Austin Nature & Science Center on Austin Museum Day! Take a guided tour of our property, attend an informative animal keeper talk and learn about different nature and science topics by visiting our table activities. We will have fun for kids of all ages!
MathHappens activities at: Austin Nature and Science Center, Bullock Texas State History Museum, and Neill-Cochran House Museum Facebook: @MathHappens, Instagram: @mathhappensfoundation, Twitter: @MathHappensOrg
Come interact with some fun math at the Math Room at the Austin Nature and Science Center (12pm-4pm), calculate like it’s 1968 with a slide rule at the Bullock Texas State History Museum (10am-2pm) or visit the Pythagorean Tables at Neill Cochran House Museum (11-4pm).
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
4801 La Crosse Ave. (512) 232-0100 Facebook: @wildflowercenter, Instagram: @wildflowercenter, Twitter: @wildflowerctr 9am – 5pm
Join us at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center for the debut of Alexa Capareda’s new work “Movement in the Garden”. Enjoy a walk through our gardens and arboretum while learning about our mission, “inspiring the conservation of native plants”.
101 South Lady Bird Lane, Johnson City (844) 263-6405 Facebook: @ScienceMill, Instagram: @sciencemilltx, Twitter: @ScienceMill 12pm – 5pm
Only an hour from either Austin or San Antonio, the Science Mill is a family destination offering a fun, interactive learning environment for all ages. Through cutting-edge technology-based exhibits, games, and programs, the Science Mill expands students’ understanding and appreciation of science in their everyday lives. By igniting their curiosity and inspiring them to pursue post-secondary education, the Science Mill experience starts students on the path to a life-long career in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
Texas Science & Natural History Museum
2400 Trinity St. (512) 471-1604 Facebook: @TexasScienceandNaturalHistoryMuseum; Instagram: @texas.snhm; Twitter: @TexasMemMuseum 1pm-5pm
Texas Science & Natural History Museum is the restored Texas Memorial Museum at UT Austin! Come for a sneak peek at our recently renovated space with exciting new and updated exhibits. We’re thrilled to throw open the doors to visitors of all ages to explore life in the natural world again. This site is a stop on the UT Campus Crawl.
1830 Simond Ave. (512) 469-6201 Facebook: @TheThinkery, Instagram: @thinkeryatx 10am – 3pm (Community Hours every Sunday 3-5pm)
Join Thinkery for STEAM-based family fun! All ages are welcome to visit and explore our interactive gallery spaces — including our newest addition, Notion Of Motion. Check out our social media pages and website for updates on specific Museum Day activities.
HISTORY
Austin History Center (@ The Austin Public Library)
710 W Cesar Chavez St. (512) 974-7385 Facebook: @AustinHistoryCenter; Instagram: @austinhistorycenter 2pm – 5pm
Join the Austin History Center in celebrating the Austin Hip Hop Honors Awards! An exhibit will be on display spotlighting a Hip Hop poster collection by Bobby Dixon! We hope you will join us for this historic event!
Bastrop County Historical Society
904 Main St., Bastrop (512) 303-0057 Facebook & Instagram: @bchs1832 10am – 4pm
Make a day of your trip to Bastrop. Only 45 minutes southeast of Austin, Bastrop is “the most historic small town in Texas.” With the most homes and buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, Bastrop boasts much to see and do. The Bastrop County Historical Society won’t disappoint. Professional exhibits detail the history of Bastrop County from pre-history through WWII. Bastrop History is Texas History is our motto.
Bullock Texas State History Museum
1800 Congress Ave. (512) 936-8746 Facebook: @bullockmuseum, Instagram: @bullockmuseum, Twitter: @bullockmuseum 10am – 5pm
Celebrate Grandparent’s Day at the Bullock Museum! Create your very own historic Cup and Ball game, enjoy an interactive Storytime, participate in more drop-in family activities with MathHappens from 10am-2pm, and buy tickets to a special screening of Encanto hosted in the Texas Spirit Theater. This site is a stop on the UT Campus Crawl.
Chateau Bellevue, Home of the Austin Woman’s Club
708 San Antonio St. (512) 472-1336 Facebook: @chateaubellevue-austin, Instagram: @chateaubellevue 1pm – 4 pm
Come explore the hidden gem of Downtown Austin! Enjoy a tour of the historic Chateau Bellevue, home of the Austin Woman’s Club, given by one of our wonderful docents, and learn about the people and stories that make up the history of this beautiful and fascinating 1874 era building! Check out the incredible Romanesque architecture, beautiful stained-glass windows and ornate hand-carved woodwork! Please enter through the entrance at 708 San Antonio Street or through our parking lot elevator on Nueces Street between 7th & 8th Streets; free parking lot on Nueces St.
Flower Hill Urban Homestead Museum
607 Pressler Street (512) 305-3650
Facebook: @flowerhillfoundation, Instagram: @flowerhillfoundation, Twitter: @FlowerHill1877 10am-3pm
Come visit the Flower Hill Foundation. Our 1.38 acres of historic Texas Wildscape and the historic Richmond Kelley Smoot historic home will be open for exploration and short tours. The foundation will have on display our future restoration plans and a meet and greet with our collections team.grounds and historic home will be open for exploration and short tours. The foundation will have on display our future restoration plans and a meet and greet with our collections team.
1705 Waterston Ave. (512) 656-5289 Facebook:@clarksvillecommunitydevelopmentcorporation; Instagram: @clarksvillecdc_austin 11am-4pm
Discover the rich history of Clarksville—one of Texas’s earliest Freedom Colonies—at the historic Hezikiah Haskell House. Learn about the formerly enslaved men and women who founded Clarksville, and of the struggles their descendants faced to keep their community alive. In addition to docent-guided tours, there will be fun activities for kids and families, a raffle, and freebies. Home Street Music, an Austin nonprofit that empowers people who have experienced homelessness by building community, restoring confidence, and reclaiming dignity through the healing power of song, will provide live music in the afternoon.
1410 Rio Grande St. (512) 440-1991 Facebook: @Humanities Texas, Instagram & Twitter: @humanitiestexas 10am-2pm
Humanities Texas is the state affiliate of the National Endowment of the Humanities and is housed in the Historic Byrne-Reed House. Museum Day visitors will have the opportunity to see the restored historical architecture, as well as two of our traveling exhibitions, Citizens at Last: The Woman Suf rage Movement in Texas and the brand newSam Houston: A Texas Icon . Additionally, we will have activity pages available for children and information about our other program offerings.
2313 Red River St. (512) 721-0200 Facebook: @LBJLibrary, Instagram:@lbjlibrary, Twitter: @lbjlibrary 9am – 5pm (last admittance at 4pm)
Join the LBJ Presidential Library & Museum on Sunday, September 17th, to celebrate Austin Museum Day! From 10AM to 3PM, kids can use one of our Fujifilm Instax instant cameras for a scavenger hunt. On the hunt, explore our exhibit based on the book The Lorax, step into the Oval Office, see the president’s limousine and much more. Experience the political and personal legacies of LBJ and Lady Bird Johnson through photography. Sign up for a specific time slot to ensure everyone gets a chance to participate! Children will use their photos to create memory books. Plus, we’ll have giveaways and you can enter to win a Fujifilm Instax instant camera.
2310 San Gabriel St.
(512) 478-2335 Facebook: @nchmuseum.org, Instagram: @neillcochran 11am – 4pm
For this year’s Austin Museum Day the Neill-Cochran House Museum will be celebrating with a full day of activities, including Art on the Lawn, lawn games, and hands on lemonade and ice cream making. Come learn about the Victorian Era with our Victorian Ladies. Learn about Civil War medicine with Civil War medics. Come explore the exhibit Liberating Black Art, produced with UT Art Galleries at Black Studies, then create your own self portrait using collage, paint, and other mediums. This year spend Austin Museum Day at the Neill-Cochran House Museum for art, history, and sweet family treats.
Jourdan-Bachman Pioneer Farms Foundation
10621 Pioneer Farms Dr. (512) 632-9561 Facebook: @pioneerfarms, Instagram: @pioneerfarms, Twitter: @pioneerfarms 10am – 4pm
Experience Texas’ diverse history, from the days of the Republic to the dawn of the 20th century. Tour our farmstead and homesites, from 1839 to 1899, and ongoing projects preserve the history of the Texians, African-Americans, Tejanos, Indigenous Peoples and more. New exhibits, hands-on activities, live music, food, Old General Store, and more.
Save Austin’s Cemeteries and Oakwood Chapel
1601 Navasota St. (512) 798-3576 Facebook: @SaveAustinsCemeteries Instagram:@save.atx.cemeteries 9am – 5pm
Please join us for walking tours of Historic Evergreen Cemetery from 9 am to 1 pm. Evergreen Cemetery, founded in 1926 to serve the African-American community, is the final resting place of many famous African-American Austinites; come learn about these amazing people. Additionally, join us for walking tours of Oakwood Cemetery from 9 am to 5 pm and to view the exhibits in the Chapel including information about the Historic Colored Ground and the Monument dedication for the 37 individuals whose remains were discovered underneath the Chapel during a recent renovation. Water and snacks will be provided and a public bathroom is available at both sites.
112 E 11th St. (512) 305-8400 Facebook: @TexasCapitolVisitorsCenter 12pm – 5pm
Step inside this unique castle-like structure that once served as the General Land Office. Explore exhibits relating to Texas history, the Texas Capitol, and Texas land. Join us for chats with Gallery Assistants and famous O. Henry short stories inspired by the building.
Texas Medical Association History of Medicine Gallery
401 W. 15th St. (800) 880-7955 12pm-4pm
Come check out our final exhibit in the History of Medicine Gallery before the Texas Medical Association building undergoes major renovations in 2024. “Greatest Hits from the History of Medicine Gallery & Archives” showcases some TMA history and our past public health initiatives, and reprises the coolest exhibit highlights and artifacts, including an iron lung used for artificial respiration in polio patients.
3038 W 35th St. (512) 782-5659 Facebook: @Texasmilitaryforcesmuseum, Instagram: @TMFMuseum, Twitter: @TMFMuseum 10am – 4pm
Discover the history of Texas Volunteer and Militia units in the 19th Century, and the Texas National Guard in the 20th and 21st Century. See tanks, jets, helicopters, trucks, jeeps, weapons, uniforms, and much more! Sit in an F16 cockpit, touch a piece of the Berlin Wall and stand in front of the helicopter used by presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy!
1100 Congress Ave. (512) 463-0063 12:30-4pm (last tour departing at 3:30pm)
Join a guided or self-guided tour of the Texas Capitol and learn about the history of the state and the Lone Star state house. See historical works of art and climb the monumental stairs. Explore the 22 acres of Grounds, a relaxing place to experience nature in downtown Austin including the new Capitol Mall.
909 Navasota St. (512) 463-0605 8am – 5pm
Come take a guided or self-guided tour of the Texas State Cemetery. Discover the names of the diverse men and women who have helped shape the great State of Texas. Visit their final resting places and pay tribute to their Lone Star spirit.
716 South Austin Ave., Georgetown (512) 943-1670 Facebook: @williamsonmuseum, Instagram: @williamsonmuse, Twitter: @williamsonmuse 1pm – 4pm
Come celebrate 175 Years of Williamson County! Join The Williamson Museum from 1pm-4pm for hands on crafts, birthday snacks, and exhibits that share how Wilco is still making History!
CULTURE
Austin Museum of Popular Culture
5500 South Congress Avenue (pop-up at Sagebrush) (512) 698-7303 Facebook: @auspopmuseum, Instagram: @southpopatx, Twitter: @SouthPopATX 12pm – 5pm
Jump into the Time Machine and immerse yourself in the Austin music scene of the 1970s. See an exhibit of posters, photographs and stage wear that gives a window into one of the most important decades of Austin’s cultural history.
409 E. 5th St. (512) 496-7608 Facebook: @susannadickinsonmuseum, Instagram: @brushsquaremuseums 12pm – 5pm
Brush Square Museums will be sharing hands-on history activities at the Susanna Dickinson Museum including spinning, old-fashioned games on the lawn, a lacing activity for children, and even making butter! The O. Henry Museum will have word games for the whole family with Texas themed prizes. Join us for a day of free fun at Brush Square. Don’t leave empty handed-take your project with you!
300 W. 21st St (512) 762-8717 Facebook: @ransomcenter, Instagram: @ransomcenter, Twitter: @ransomcenter 12pm – 5pm
Explore the Long Lives of Very Old Books, learn about the history of printing with hands-on family activities and take home a bookmark to ensure that all of your books have very long lives. Plus: see word art, one of 20 complete copies of the Gutenberg Bible, and Frida Kahlo’s untitled self-portrait known as Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird. This site is a stop on the UT Campus Crawl.
1009 E. 11th St. (512) 472-8891 Facebook: @texasmusicmuseum 11am – 4pm
Join us for special guided tours of East Side African American and Mexican American/Tejano Musicians; over 120 Musicians are exhibited