Austin Texas Museums & Historic Sites

Austin History Comes Alive . . .

As the capital of the State of Texas, Austin has a number of interesting museums that showcase the people, history, culture, art, and music of Texas.

The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum shows the history of Texas, as does the Daughters of the Republic of Texas Museum and the Texas Memorial Museum. Other museums, such as the Texas Music Museum, Elisabet Ney Museum, and the Austin Museum of Art, tell about the music and art of the various peoples of Texas.

There are many other museums in Austin and the surrounding area. The following list gives more information about many of these locations.

Austin museums & historic sites listed by distance from the North Austin Plaza Hotel & Suites:

Daughters of the Republic of Texas Museum  •  0.8 mi

510 E Anderson Ln, Austin, TX     512-339-1997
The Daughters of Republic-Texas Museum houses a collection of Republic-era artifacts.
Website: http://www.drtl.org/DRTinc/index.asp#drt

Texas DPS Museum  •  0.9 mi

621 W Saint Johns Ave, Austin, TX   512-459-4046
Known nationally and internationally as one of the premier law enforcement agencies in existence today, the Texas Department of Public Safety preserves the proud heritage and history of the agency in the Texas DPS Museum.
Website: http://texasdpsmuseum.com/

Elisabet Ney Museum  •  2.1 mi

304 E 44th St, Austin, TX     512-458-2255
The Elisabet Ney Museum is the former studio and portrait collection created by nineteenth-century sculptor Elisabet Ney.
Website: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/elisabetney/html/main.html

Texas Memorial Museum  •  3.4 mi

2400 Trinity St, Austin, TX     512-471-1604
The Texas Memorial Museum is the exhibit hall of the Texas Natural Science Center.
Website: http://www.utexas.edu/tmm/

Lyndon B Johnson Library  •  3.4 mi

2313 Red River St, Austin, TX     512-721-0200
The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum houses permanent historical and cultural exhibits, including forty five million pages of historical documents which include the papers from the entire public career of Lyndon Baines Johnson.
Website: http://www.lbjlib.utexas.edu/

Neill-Cochran House Museum  •  3.9 mi

2310 San Gabriel St, Austin, TX     512-478-2335
The Neill-Cochran House is one of Austin's oldest and most treasured landmarks. Built in 1855 as a suburban estate, this impressive Greek Revival house has survived war, neglect, and the immense growth of the University area and the Capital City.
Website: http://www.neill-cochranmuseum.org/

Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum  •  4.0 mi

1800 Congress Ave, Austin, TX     512-936-8746
The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum tells the history of Texas with three floors of interactive exhibits, the special effects show, The Star of Destiny, in the Texas Spirit Theater, and Austin's only IMAX Theatre, featuring the signature large-format film, Texas: The Big Picture. The Museum also has a Cafe with indoor and outdoor seating and a Museum Store with something for the Texan in everyone.
Website: http://www.thestoryoftexas.com/the_museum/about.html

Jacob Fontaine Religious Museum  •  4.1 mi

1195 Comal St, Austin, TX     512-480-9371
The Jacob Fontaine Religious Museum collections include materials that represent the history of African American churches in the Austin area. The museum is named for Jacob Fontaine, a slave preacher who founded thirteen Baptist churches in Travis County.

Austin Museum of Art  •  4.1 mi

3809 W 35th St, Austin, TX     512-323-6380
Website: http://www.amoa.org/site/PageServer

George Washington Carver Museum  •  4.3 mi

1165 Angelina St, Austin, TX     512-974-4926
George Washington Carver Museum is includes four galleries, a conference room, classroom, darkroom, dance studio, 134-seat theatre, and archival space. The galleries feature a core exhibit on Juneteenth, a permanent exhibit on Austin African-American families, an Artists Gallery, and a children’s exhibit on African-American scientists and inventors.
Website: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/carver/default.htm

Texas Music Museum  •  4.4 mi

1009 E 11th St, Austin, TX     512-472-8891
A museum dedicated to the music of Texas. Recent displays include an exhibit called the Many Faces of Texas Blues; also features sheet music exhibits of famous Texas music and songs.
Website: http://www.texasmusicmuseum.org/

French Legation Museum  •  4.6 mi

802 San Marcos St, Austin, TX     512-472-8180
The oldest frame house in Austin, built in 1840 for a French dignitary. Owned by the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, the house was restored with furniture of the era and is available for touring and special events.
Website: http://www.frenchlegationmuseum.org/

Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum  •  7.6 mi

605 Robert E. Lee Road, Austin, TX 78704
The Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum is founded around the work of American sculptor Charles Umlauf. The museum is dedicated to providing educational experiences that encourage the understanding and appreciation of sculpture. The Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum features more than 130 sculptures, drawings & paintings. Charles Umlauf, a prolific and internationally known sculptor, created works ranging in style from realistic and abstract expressionism to lyrical abstraction during his career. In 1985 he and his wife, Angeline Allen Umlauf, gave their home and studio with sculptures, drawings and paintings to the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum.
Website: http://www.umlaufsculpture.org

Austin Nature and Science Center  •  8.7 mi

301 Nature Center Drive, Austin, TX 78746, 512-327-8181
Located on the western edge of Zilker Park, the Austin Nature & Science Center is dedicated to the exploration of the natural world. Since 1960, ANSC has provided nature exhibits, education programs, and recreation resources for countless visitors, teachers, and children of all ages. When you come by for a visit you will be able to meet a coyote and red-tailed hawk in our Wildlife Exhibits. You can follow the path of Texas fossil hunters and un-cover evidence of pre-historic life in the Dino Pit. You can explore natural science specimens and add to your own collection through the Naturalist Workshop and Trade Counter.
Website: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/ansc/