Plan Your Family's Visit
All you need to plan a great day at the Bullock Museum
Explore Together
From fun family programs to one-of-a-kind artifacts, the Bullock Museum is the best place to experience Texas history.
Tips for Your Visit
- Reserve two to three hours to explore the area. Plan to spend about two hours exploring the galleries, then see a film, eat lunch at the Cafe, and walk the Texas Capitol Mall
- Don't try to see everything in one visit. The Bullock Museum is perfect for repeat trips. The artifacts on display change frequently, so each visit creates a new story. Learn more about family membership opportunities
- Plan ahead and see what Family-Centric Activities are on the calendar
- Need to take a break? The Star Cafe on the second floor offers a variety of breakfast and lunch options, including kid-friendly fare
- Learn about parking, ticket prices, hours, and amenities on our Plan Your Visit page
- Still have questions? Read our Museum FAQ
Please note: Visitors age fifteen and younger must be accompanied in the Museum and theaters by someone age sixteen or older.
Exhibitions & Resources
Artifacts and activities throughout the Museum tell stories that every member of your family can relate to.
- Galleries & Special Exhibitions — Three floors of Texas History Galleries take visitors on a one-of-a-kind journey through more than 16,000 years of Texas history, exploring the story of how Texas began, the creation of the Lone Star Identity, the ways land, culture, and technology shaped Texas, and Texas's place in a broader national and international story. Special exhibitions rotate through the Museum frequently. Check current and upcoming exhibitions to find one that interests your family.
- Activity Guides — Activity guides help kids focus on specific topics and skills during their Museum visit.
- Amenities — Elevators, water fountains, and restrooms are located on each floor of the Museum. A family restroom is located off the first floor lobby. All restrooms are equipped with changing tables and wheelchair-accessible stalls and sinks. The Serenity Room, perfect for nursing parents, is located on the first floor. For questions or to make an accommodation request, please contact us at (512) 936-8746 or ContactUs@TheStoryofTexas.com at least 14 days prior to the date of your visit.
- Homeschool resources — Four times a year, Homeschool families can visit the Museum and receive school group rates for IMAX® Theatre and Texas Spirit Theater films and enjoy special activities and programs. Additional Homeschool teaching tools are available on the Educator Resources page.
Top 5 Activities for Families
From viewing new artifacts on display to taking in the latest film, you can do something new every time you visit the Museum. Here are our top picks—try one of these activities next time you visit.
- Find Your Favorite Artifact. What speaks to you? The Bullock Museum is filled with special objects. Seek out one your family can relate to. Maybe it's a unique flag or a relic from a Texas ranch. No matter where your family's interests lie, you're sure to find something here for you. Don't forget, artifacts leave and come into the Bullock Museum frequently—so there is always the opportunity to find something new.
- Join us for a Program. The Bullock Museum has many opportunities for your family to find your place in the Story of Texas and offers resources and programming for all ages. Check the calendar of events for what's coming up next.
- Interact with Texas History on a New Level. Digital interactives around the Museum help connect you to various artifacts. Use them to test your knowledge about bison, see a life-size digital version of the ship La Belle, listen to legendary Austin City Limits Live performances, and more.
- Don't Just See Films—Experience Them. The Bullock Museum is home to one of the biggest IMAX® screens in Texas — six stories tall — and offers daily screenings using state-of-the-art laser technology. The IMAX® Theatre provides the very best cinematic experience, hosting award-winning documentaries and feature films. In the multisensory Texas Spirit Theater, discover Texas history in The Star of Destiny or dive deep into the true adventure story of a family on the ship La Belle in Shipwrecked.
- Go on a Scavenger Hunt. Become keen observers and pick up a scavenger hunt at the Ticketing Counter. The Bullock has plenty of colors, shapes, and unique characteristics to focus on. Your family can take turns seeking out artifacts and playing this game. Then, you can take a closer look at the objects you've spotted and discover their stories.
Family-Centric Activities
School Field Trips presented by The John M. O'Quinn Foundation.
School Programs are generously funded by Featured sponsor The Marie M. and James H. Galloway Foundation, Supporting sponsor The Lange Family Foundation, and Contributing sponsors Bella and Chase Cooley, Dian Graves Owen Foundation, and Roger and Marianne Staubach.
The Bullock Museum, a division of the Texas State Preservation Board, is funded by Museum members, donors, and patrons, the Texas State History Museum Foundation, and the State of Texas.