If you’re looking for a fun yet educational and mind-expanding way to spend quality time with your family, heading to a museum or art gallery is a great idea! We have many to chose from here in Austin, and Austin Museum Day is a great time to check out as many as you can!
On Austin Museum Day, September 22, 2024, you can explore Austin-area museums for free!
The 27th Annual Austin Museum Day is a free celebration of art, culture, history, music, nature, and science. Over thirty museums in the greater Austin area will welcome visitors with special programming including guided and self-guided exhibition tours, activities, and more for visitors of all ages.
Austin Museum Day Participating Organizations:
Art Galleries at Black Studios | 11am – 3pm
On view at Christian-Green Gallery is Nicole Awai: In the thick of it. Check out this “ooze”ing exhibition of sculptures and drawings, and create a rainbow scratch drawing inspired by Awai’s work. On view at Idea Lab is Rashaun Rucker: Patron Saints of a Black Boy, in which the artist connects Christian iconography, Black spirituality, and notions of ancestry in rhinestone-studded sculptures. This site is a stop on the UT Campus Crawl.
The Austin Museum of Popular Culture (AusPop) | 10am-4pm
The Austin Museum of Popular Culture (AusPop) collects, conserves, and exhibits vintage posters and live music ephemera from the 1960s through today to educate future generations on the rich and unique culture that makes Austin the Live Music Capital of the World.
Visitors will see an assortment of Austin Music related art and ephemera that tracks the timeline of the mid-40’s to present day. Learn about Austin music culture and those who made it all happen!
Bastrop County Historical Society Museum & Visitor Center | 10am-4pm
Visit this award winning museum and explore the history of Bastrop and Bastrop County. Tour the special exhibit “Stories Inked in Skin” about the history of tattooing.
Blanton Museum of Art | 10am – 5pm
Enjoy free admission to the Blanton. The Blanton showcases art across centuries and continents, from pre-Colombian works to abstract expressionism to film/video. Don’t miss the iconic (and selfie favorite) Austin by Ellsworth Kelly! This site is a stop on the UT Campus Crawl.
Brush Square Museums | 12pm-5pm
Stop by on Museum Day to create beeswax candles, decorate your own journal, and learn about pioneer skills and tools. Then, stick around and explore the museum to learn about the unique stories of Alamo survivor Susanna Dickinson and short-story writer O. Henry.
Bullock Texas State History Museum | 10am-5pm
Enjoy FREE admission for all three floors of Texas history and join drop-in activities designed with the whole family in mind from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This site is a stop on the UT Campus Crawl.
Capital VisitorsCenter | 12pm-5pm
Explore exhibits relating to Texas history, the Texas Capitol, and Texas land. Free, fun activity sheets will also be available.
Celebrate Chateau Bellevue’s 150th anniversary. Visit the home of the Austin Woman’s Club to learn about its history, unique features and architecture.
Jones Center: 11am-6pm
Laguna Gloria: 9am-3pm
The Contemporary Austin is celebrating Austin Museum Day at both locations with free admission, art activities, and performances for the whole family.
The Flower Hill Center | 10am-3pm
The Flower Hill Center invites you to join us on Austin Museum Day–open for exploration and short tours.
Harry Ransom Center | 12pm – 5pm
Printing press demonstrations and interactive gallery tours will be available throughout the day. This site is a stop on the UT Campus Crawl.
Hezikiah Haskell House | 11am-4pm
Docent-guided tours of the historic Hezikiah Haskell House. “Soul Man Sam” will perform from 2pm-3pm. Free refreshments and fun activities for kids and adults.
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center | 9am – 2pm
Join artist Mark Menjivar on bird watching walks through the Center’s research trails (pre-registration will be required). Enjoy a unique soundscape experience in the Auditorium, visit Central Texas Seed Savers and several other local grassroot organizations in the Great Hall for a plethora of engaging learning opportunities, or explore your creative side with arts and craft activities led by our very own Education team.
Landmarks (UT’s public art program) will participate in the Campus Crawl showcasing museums across the Forty Acres.
LBJ Presidential Library | 9am-5pm (last admittance at 4pm)
Join the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library for Austin Museum Day as we continue the festivities on Sunday, September 22nd from 9:00am to 2:30pm. Activities include crafts, story time, an ofrenda to President and Mrs. Johnson, and more! This site is a stop on the UT Campus Crawl.
Visit them at the Austin Central Library to learn more about Dia de los Muertos and create paper marigolds.
Millett Opera House | 10am-3pm
Tours are on the hour from 11:00am to 2:00 PM. Complimentary snacks and beverages will be available. Sunday brunch from 11:30 to 1:30 will be available and open to the general public. Make a reservation by calling 512-477-9496.
A 6500 sq.ft. single artist museum and outdoor sculptures.
The Neill-Cochran House Museum | 11am-4pm
Austin Museum Day at the Neill-Cochran House Museum will feature an exciting array of activities and fun for the whole family. Make paper sun catchers, hand churned ice cream and lemonade, then explore the museum.
Dance to Yodeling Coyote Cowgirl Evelyn Billington in a century-old dance hall. See Longhorn cattle herd, donkeys, chickens and more.
Republic of Texas Museum | 10am-3pm
Enjoy our self guided tour on the Texas Revolution and Special Exhibit room.
Come celebrate Austin Museum Day (September 22) at the Science Mill and enjoy FREE ADMISSION! Explore 50+ hands-on indoor & outdoor exhibits like the Aquaponics Greenhouse, Light Loom, Colossal Robotic Hand, and more!
Texas Military Forces Museum | 10am-4pm
Come see tanks, helicopters, jets, jeeps, uniforms, weapons and more! Climb in an F16 cockpit! Learn about Texas Military History.
Texas Science & Natural History Museum | 1pm-5pm
Try a scavenger hunts and explore our galleries filled with fossils, meteorites, and Texas wildlife. This site is a stop on the UT Campus Crawl.
All ages are welcome to visit and explore our interactive gallery spaces.
UMLAUF Sculpture Garden & Museum | 11am-4pm
UMLAUF features a new exhibition, This Takes Doing, a new exhibition exploring the life and business partnership of Angeline (1915-2012) and Charles (1910-1994) Umlauf. Drawing extensively from from the Museum’s archives, This Takes Doing offers behind-the-scenes insights into the Umlaufs’ art and life partnership.
Outside, many artists from Texas Society of Sculptors will offer live demos and display their work, in addition to our permanent collection of over 50 Umlauf sculptures.
The Williamson Museum | 1pm-4pm
Make your own maracas, papel picados and tissue paper flowers. You can play a rousing game of Loteria and even sample delicious foods. From the original tenant farmers that cultivated the land to the teachers and community leaders that made a difference in countless lives, we celebrate all their contributions.
