Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. To purchase online, please visit Admission and Tickets. Tickets can be purchased via a desktop computer or mobile phone. You will receive a confirmation that you can print and bring to the Museum, or we will scan your ticket from your mobile phone.

Yes. We encourage visitors to purchase exhibition admission and theater tickets online in advance to ensure you are able to visit on the day and time that works best for you, but it is not required. To purchase tickets onsite, visit Ticketing in the Museum’s lobby.

Advanced reservations are not required for Members to enjoy unlimited free exhibition access. When you arrive, show your Member card at Ticketing to utilize your benefits.

The Bullock Museum has a “no refunds” policy for exhibitions admission and theater tickets. This policy also applies to any purchase made for event/program participation. If you are unable to visit, your purchase is considered a donation to the institution.

Please note: Film tickets and paid event/program participation are only valid for the purchased event date and time. Exhibitions admission tickets are only valid for the purchased date. In the rare situation when a particular film showtime is canceled, the Museum will reschedule your ticket(s) for another showtime or refund your purchase, including any ticket fees.

For more information about ticket pricing and policies, visit Admission and Tickets.

Online convenience fees ensure we are able to continue providing advance exhibition tickets through our website. All ticket purchases, including both admission and fees, directly support the Museum’s exhibitions and educational programming.

Adult groups of 20 or more can receive discounted admission with an advance reservation. To plan your group visit, call (512) 936-4649 or email reservations@thestoryoftexas.com. For school group reservations and information, please visit our Field Trips page.

Please present your voucher at Ticketing in the Museum’s lobby when you arrive for your visit. Keep in mind that the Museum is unable to accept vouchers issued prior to January 1, 2017, with or without an expiration date. Unsure about your voucher? Please email bullocktickets@thestoryoftexas.com to confirm yours is valid.

Yes. Re-entry to the exhibition galleries is permitted on the same day as your purchased ticket.

Bank of America cardholders receive one free exhibition entry admission on the first full weekend of the month according to the Museums on Us program guidelines. Available for onsite purchases only. Please present your active Bank of America, Merrill, or Bank of America Private Bank (U.S. Trust) credit or debit card and photo ID at Ticketing upon entry to the Museum. Admissions for additional guests must be purchased separately. For additional details, visit the Museums on Us program site.

Families who participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and/or the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) can receive free exhibition admission. Please present your EBT card at Ticketing. Free exhibition admission is available for EBT cardholders and any accompanying family or guests. For additional details, visit the Museums for All site.

We recommend that you plan to spend at least one to two hours exploring the Museum’s three floors of exhibitions and to also factor in time to see a documentary in the IMAX Theatre and Texas Spirit Theater. You can find a digital version of the Museum’s Gallery Guide on our Plan Your Visit page.

Unless noted on signage, non-flash photography for personal use with small hand-held devices is permitted in exhibition galleries and public spaces with the exception of the IMAX® Theatre and Texas Spirit Theater.

For the safety of our visitors and artifacts, the Bullock Museum prohibits the use of selfie sticks, tripods, monopods, camera rigs and gimbals, and other external equipment, unless previously arranged and approved. Camera equipment cannot be stored onsite. 

Photoshoots are not permitted inside the Bullock Museum or on the Lone Star Plaza in front of the Museum without prior approval and, if approved, may require facility rental fees.

Please see our full Photography Policy for more information on photoshoots, commercial and promotional filming and photography, and media visits. 

Food and beverages are not allowed in the exhibition galleries, including water bottles. The following items are also not permitted inside the Bullock Museum or its theaters:

• Outside food and beverages are not permitted in the IMAX® Theatre. Food can be purchased at Concessions in the IMAX lobby. Food is not permitted in the Texas Spirit Theater.
• Tripods, video cameras, and audio recording devices; no video recording is allowed in the theaters, including with iPads and tablets.
• Animals exception for animals that are leashed or harnessed certified service animals).
• Bags, backpacks, and purses larger than 12x12x12 inches. Please note that the Bullock Museum does not offer coat or bag storage.
• Bicycles, scooters, skateboards, skates, Segways, or other unauthorized means of transportation.
• Chairs and folding tables.
• Distribution of unauthorized promotional or commercial material.
• Fireworks, explosives, or other incendiary devices.
• Glass containers.
• Illegal substances or weapons.
• Items that may be deemed a safety hazard or annoyance to guests (aerosol cans, sports equipment, balloons, projectiles, laser pointers, musical instruments, any kind of noise-making or -transmitting equipment, etc.).

In addition to items specifically listed here, other items that may be deemed to present a potential hindrance or threat may also be prohibited.

Please note that the Bullock Museum does not offer coat or bag storage. Backpacks smaller than 12x12x12 inches are allowed in the exhibition galleries. Suitcases and large backpacks/bags are not permitted.

Yes. We offer copies of the Museum’s Gallery Guide in both Spanish and English. Gallery Guides are available at Ticketing and in the galleries.

Visitors age fifteen and younger must be accompanied in the Museum and theaters by someone age sixteen or older.

Yes. The Museum offers accessible routes and staff ready to help. If you have special needs or requests at any point during your visit, please talk with a Visitor Services staff member. For more information about accessibility at the Museum, visit our Accessibility page.

Yes. Wheelchairs are available for checkout at the Information Desk and Ticketing, both located in the Museum’s first floor lobby. There is no fee to rent a wheelchair, but you will need to leave a driver’s license or equivalent ID that will be returned to you upon returning the wheelchair.

Yes. Captioning devices are available for most IMAX feature films and documentaries, as well as for the Texas Spirit Theater films The Star of Destiny and Shipwrecked. Film screenings in the Texas Spirit Theater presented as part of a program currently do not have captioning available. Please check the webpage for the film you plan to attend to confirm that accessibility devices are available or email bullocktickets@thestoryoftexas.com.

Yes. Upon request, assistive listening audio descriptive devices are available in the IMAX Theatre for most feature films and documentaries. Assistive listening audio descriptive devices are also available for the Texas Spirit Theater film The Star of Destiny. Please check the webpage for the film you plan to attend to confirm that accessibility devices are available or email bullocktickets@thestoryoftexas.com.

The Bullock Museum complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and allows leashed or harnessed service animals to perform specific tasks for an individual with a disability. Dogs are the only animals recognized as service animals by federal law, with miniature horses afforded special consideration. 

Pets are not allowed inside the Museum.

Yes. The Bullock Museum's underground parking garage is a convenient and accessible parking option to access the Museum, the University of Texas campus, the Capitol Complex, and the Blanton Museum. Entrance to the garage is located on 18^th Street on the south side of the Museum. Designated accessibile parking spaces are located near the elevators on each level of the garage. For more information, visit Parking and Directions.

Parking in the Bullock Museum garage is $15 for full-day parking. Re-entry and overnight parking are not permitted.

Parking on University of Texas home football game days is $25 for the general public and $10 for Museum Members. Members must present a valid parking voucher to receive parking discount on game days.

Long-term parking is available. For rates and information, visit Parking and Directions.

The Bullock Garage closes at 8 p.m. on most days but may remain open later for special events. For questions about parking garage hours, please contact us at (512) 936-8746.

Metered street parking is available near the Museum. Please note that metered parking is subject to change due to ongoing construction in the area.

For information about where to load or unload visitors traveling to the Bullock Museum via bus and motor coach, please call (512) 936-4637. There is no parking available at the Museum for buses, RVs, and other large vehicles. Buses will need to leave the Capitol Complex after drop-off.

Various CapMetro, MetroRapid, MetroExpress, MetroRail and UT Shuttle routes service the area around the Museum. Please view our Parking Map for more information.

We recommend purchasing your theater ticket(s) in advance for the best opportunity to see the film at your desired showtime. However, onsite ticket purchases are available at Ticketing in the Museum lobby before 5 pm and in the IMAX lobby for feature films after 5 pm.

To purchase a theater ticket online, please visit IMAX and Films. After your purchase, you will receive a confirmation that you can print and bring to the Museum, or we can scan your ticket on your phone. You can purchase tickets via a desktop computer or mobile phone. If you will be presenting a ticket on your phone, please turn up the brightness for easy scanning.

Yes. Log in when making your online purchase and your Member discounts will be applied to your order. Please note that membership discounts do not apply to matinee screenings. Call our Membership line at (512) 936-4689 for additional assistance.

No. IMAX Theatre and Texas Spirit Theater seating is on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Discounted $10 matinee pricing is available for the first IMAX feature film screening of the day, excluding special early preview screenings prior to a film’s official release date. Please note that membership discounts do not apply to matinee screenings.

The IMAX Theatre shows movies in both standard format as well as the large format 1.43:1 aspect ratio with an IMAX dual laser projection system. This system provides a brighter image with better color than traditional film. Please note that the IMAX Theatre no longer presents films in 70mm or IMAX 15/70mm.

The Bullock Museum has a “no-refunds” policy. If you are unable to make your showtime, your purchase is considered a donation to the institution.

Film tickets are only valid for the purchased date and time. In the rare situations when a particular film showtime is canceled, the Bullock Museum will reschedule your ticket(s) for another showtime or refund your purchase, including any ticket fees. Tickets may be rescheduled according to availability up to one day in advance of the date of the event. 

For more details on ticket pricing and policies, visit Admission and Tickets.

The Bullock Museum Store, located on the first floor of the Museum, is open during normal Museum hours and offers unique items and gifts for all ages, including books, toys, local foods, music, custom art prints, and more. You can also shop online at store.bullockmuseum.org. Museum admission is not required to shop in the Museum Store. 

Museum Members receive a 10 – 15% discount. Not a member? Join here.

The Star Cafe, located on the second floor of the Museum, offers hot lunch options, grab-and-go items, coffees and other drinks, bakery items, and snacks. Seating is available inside the cafe or on a patio overlooking the Lone Star Plaza and Texas Capitol Mall. Museum admission is not required to dine in the cafe. 

Museum Members receive a 10% discount in The Star Cafe. Not a member? Join here.

No, admission is not required to visit the Museum Store or The Star Cafe.

You can become a Member onsite at Ticketing, online, or by calling the Membership Office at (512) 936-4689. Members receive unlimited exhibition admission, parking vouchers, and much more! For more information or to join, visit Become a Member.

Memberships start at $50 and pay for themselves with only a few visits. Visit the Become a Member page for a full list of levels and benefits. Cost and benefits vary by level. A portion of all membership purchases are tax deductible. 

For more information on pricing and levels contact the Membership Office at (512) 936-4689 or email us at Membership@thestoryoftexas.com.

The Bullock Museum offers nine levels of membership. To check the benefits that come with each level, visit Become a Member. For additional questions, please contact the Membership Office at (512) 936-4689 or Membership@thestoryoftexas.com.

By supporting the Bullock Museum, you help provide outstanding exhibitions and educational programming that educate, engage, and encourage a deeper understanding of Texas.

Please visit our Membership FAQs for additional information, or contact the Membership Office at (512) 936-4689 or Membership@thestoryoftexas.com.

Please visit our field trips page to make a reservation online. For questions, please contact reservations@thestoryoftexas.com or call the Teacher Hotline at (512) 463-6712.

You must have at least 10 students to reserve a field trip and receive field trip rates. We require a ratio of one chaperone to 10 students. Reservations must be made at least two weeks in advance, and we suggest a three-hour visitation window for your trip to the Museum.

Visit our field trips page for more information on rates.

Field trip groups should plan to bring lunch or order from The Star Cafe, located on the second floor of the Museum. Field trip groups must eat outside on picnic tables or on the bus.

We have two bus zones and staff ready to help you as soon as you arrive. There is no bus parking near the Museum; the bus driver should leave the Capitol Complex after drop-off is finished. Visit our field trips page to learn more.

Adult groups of 20 or more can receive discounted admission with an advance reservation. Learn more about group visits.

Yes, we offer a variety of unique spaces for every occasion. Spaces available for events include the Grand Lobby, Bob Bullock Atrium, Austin Room, The Star Cafe, Texas Spirit Theater, Boardroom, and the Lone Star Plaza. Exhibition access is available for an additional charge in conjunction with renting a Museum space. Learn more about our spaces on our Venue Rentals page.

To inquire about availability, please email events@thestoryoftexas.com. We will place a courtesy hold on your preferred date on a first-come, first-serve basis while you are in the initial planning stages for your event. If another party requests the same date, you have two business days to move to contract and pay the deposit or the space will be released. To secure the date, a signed Rental Agreement and deposit of 50% of the agreement total are required. The remaining balance is due 30 days prior to the event date.

Spaces are available for a four-hour period between 6 p.m. and 12 a.m., with an additional hour allotted for loadout and cleanup. The Grand Lobby and Bob Bullock Atrium are not available during Museum operating hours.

Our rental rates include an onsite event coordinator that will assist you and your vendors with building access and organization, oversee the event’s set up and break down, and who will be available throughout the event to ensure the entire process runs smoothly. Please keep in mind that we do not offer full event planning services.

The base rental rate does not include exhibition access, catering, equipment rentals, liability insurance, audio and visual services, décor, entertainment, outside vendors or full-service event planning.

Yes, the Museum requires all private clients to provide a certificate of liability insurance, with the Museum named as additional insured, at least 30 days prior to the event. Please inquire for specifics related to state agencies and University of Texas events.

Visit our Venue Rentals page for full information.

All areas of the Museum, including exhibitions, restrooms, lobbies, IMAX Theatre, Texas Spirit Theater, Museum Store, and high-touch areas, are cleaned throughout the day. Hand sanitizing stations are available throughout the Museum.

Wherever needed, physical barriers and low-to-no contact transactions are in place. All staff workspaces are cleaned regularly and equipped with barriers to ensure social distancing. We also encourage staff and visitors to limit elevator and restroom capacity, maintain social distancing with others, and follow all applicable CDC Guidelines.

The IMAX Theatre is equipped with enhanced air filtration to ensure constant clear airflow during the show.

We check staff health daily, and we stay home when we are sick. We ask that you stay home if you are feeling unwell or have cold symptoms.

Masks are welcome onsite at the Museum, but they are not required.