Texas Memorial Museum
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
This morning, my friend Kim and I took our kids to the Texas Memorial Museum. As part of UT's Texas Natural Science Center, this four story (air conditioned!) building presents exhibits based on research conducted at the Center's Vertebrate Paleontology Laboratory, Non-vertebrate Paleontology Laboratory, and Texas Natural History Collections.
Here is what you will find on each of its four floors:
- Hall of Geology and Paleonology - 1st Floor
- Dinosaurs
- Discovery Drawers
- Fossil Animals and Plants
- Meteorites
- Onion Creek Mosasaur
- Paleo Lab
- Great Hall - 2nd Floor
- Colors of Nature
- E.M. Barron Exhibit of Minerals and Gem Collections
- Natural Wonders: Treasures of the Texas Natural Science Center
- The Texas Pterosaur
- Hall of Texas Wildlife - 3rd Floor
- Fishes of Texas
- Natural Regions of Texas
- Night Shift
- Wildlife Dioramas
- Winged Wonders
- Hall of Biodiversity - 4th Floor
Our kids had a wonderful time exploring each of the interactive exhibits. The museum was not crowded at all. There are only two things you may need to think about before heading over there: strollers and parking. If you are planning to take a stroller, here is what you will run into when you arrive.
The only way to avoid those steps is to enter using the Handicap Accessible Entrance, which is around the building, to the left of these stairs. This entrance takes you into the basement, rather than the Great Hall. Once inside the building, you can use the elevator to visit the different floors.
As for parking, it's tricky because the museum is on the UT campus and most street parking requires a permit. I recommend parking in the San Jacinto Garage, adjacent to the museum. There are automated machines located near the garage exit that will accept your payment. For more information on parking, go here.
Texas Memorial Museum
Austin, Texas
