Texas Science & Natural History Museum — Attraction in Austin

This was the third time we had been to the museum. Twice before it closed for the renovation and once after. I'd say, not much changed. They revitalized the first floor and added a cool dinosaur, some interactive history about Texas and expanded the store. Beyond that almost everything else remained the same. There are many areas still closed off and not much is available for kiddos to interact with. No fossil digging, scavenger hunts or even coloring pages - most everything is behind glass or barriers. There are some resources online but if you don't have a printer, you are out of luck. They did though manage to print up flyers to sell you on a birthday party. 🙄 There are no safe areas inside for parents to rest or take a break with kiddos. Think like the eating area at the Thinkery or the upstairs area at the Mayborne Museum. There are some benches off go the side but they are positioned in the aisle, so people walking by will likely have to go around you, potentially opening up to some nasty remarks, particularly if you have a stroller or multiple kiddos with you. Also, if your kid needs a snack, you will need to leave the building and go outside. You could maybe hide in the stairwell but they have staff walking around and you may be asked to leave anyway. Bathrooms were fine and clean. Not huge, so big strollers, nope. It is air conditioned and will offer a reprieve from the Texas heat in summer. The parking is at San Jacinto garage, right next store, so expect to pay. Compared to the Mayborne Museum (another Texas history and science museum but by Baylor in Waco), this one is okay. They have a long long way to go to reach the level of the Mayborne. I'd say if you have kiddos, make the drive up to Waco and skip this one. My 8yr old was bored after about 30 mins. We got through the entire museum in about 45. We did end up becoming members, but not because we liked the museum but because by becoming a member the reciprocal benefits are pretty sweet. Well worth it if you plan to visit any other science or history museum in the country. Just visit one other museum and you've already paid for and saved by being a member. This includes the Johnson Space Center in Houston. Also, your parking as a member is included -...

Texas Science & Natural History Museum is a fairly compact museum for a name that implies something much larger. The entire experience is spread over four levels, beginning with a lower-level floor you descend into after entering. This is where the main dinosaur exhibit is located—skeletons of species that once roamed the land now known as Texas. The space is tightly packed, and the number of visitors makes it feel even more crowded. It might have made more sense to distribute the dinosaur displays across the first and lower floors, as the first level features a spacious atrium with only two dinosaur skeletons and little else.

Also on the first floor, you’ll find a museum store and a small theater showing a video about the shifting geography of Texas—how it was once underwater and moved across the globe over millions of years due to continental drift. The exhibit gives a decent idea of what kinds of creatures could have lived in the region through time.

The third floor is dedicated to the animal life of Texas, though again, the space is quite limited. It’s essentially a hallway with a few side rooms where you’ll see local mammals, a small insect corner, and a separate bird room. The fourth floor appears to be more of a temporary exhibit space, which during our visit featured mannequins dressed in themed clothing—possibly part of a fashion exhibit.

While it’s informative and makes the most of its space, Austin clearly deserves a more spacious, modern, and technologically advanced natural history museum. This one feels more like an introduction than a...

I went to the reopening and unfortunately I can’t comment on the exhibit. I was inside for 40 minutes yet saw nothing. Actually on my way out I was able to see one dinosaur mural and some butterflies, otherwise nothing due to crowds.

I have been to this museum before and it was really fantastic. I’m sure it continues to be that way. My review is based on my stressful experience during the grand re opening. I’m sure there are fire laws regarding occupancy and I’m sure they were exceeded. Wall-to-wall people everywhere. The lines were incredibly long for the bathrooms. Multiple kids almost peed in their pants. One woman had to whip out a plastic bag for her daughter to avoid an accident. We decided to leave immediately because it was just too much. We proceeded to go down the stairwell but unfortunately we were on the fourth level and it took a good 15 min to make our way down. It was jam packed with people, primarily frustrated parents and screaming kids.. If there was any sort of panic people could have been seriously harmed.

My message to the management is to do better moving forward. This was not an acceptable experience. I hope to return and I’m sure the exhibit...