Austin Museum Day
September 22, 2024
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.
Art by Florentino Diaz
Keep checking back here or our Facebook page for more info as it comes in! Grab a copy of the Austin Chronicle for an in depth look at all the museums, or visit the Headquarters Tent on the plaza of the Bullock Texas State History Museum to ask questions or get advice on where to head next.
Participating Organizations:
-
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.
-
10am-4pm
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!
-
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.
-
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.
-
12pm-5pm
Brush Square Museums consists of two historic houses, the O. Henry Museum and Susanna Dickinson Museum! 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.
-
10am-5pm
Visit the Bullock Texas State History Museum for Austin Museum Day, a day to visit dozens of Austin-area museums for free in a celebration of art, culture, history, music, nature, science, and play! 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.
-
12pm-5pm
Step inside this unique castle-like structure that once served as the General Land Office. Explore exhibits relating to Texas history, the Texas Capitol, and Texas land. Free, fun activity sheets will also be available.
-
1pm-4pm
Celebrate Chateau Bellevue's 150th anniversary. Visit the home of the Austin Woman's Club to learn about its history, unique features and architecture. Explore the Chateau to see the magnificent stained glass, hand-carved wood, and elegant antiques.
-
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. Make your way to the Jones Center downtown for lint roller printing and photo collaging inspired by our new exhibitions, then stay for family yoga from Castle Hill Fitness, bespoke poems by Typewriter Rodeo, and a talk by Talking Bees Roadshow. Over at Laguna Gloria, relax and reflect with Mindful Weaving, lawn games, and more while surrounded by art and nature.
-
12pm-5pm
Celebrate our current exhibit, Super Modeling, by exploring the many processes that Elisabet Ney used to execute her own neoclassical sculptures. This year for Austin Museum Day, the Elisabet Ney Museum will present a portrait sculpting demo by local artist, Dana Younger. There will also be a ton of interactive sculpting activities, portraiture lessons and edible sculptures that participants can take home.
-
**SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21**
12pm-3pm
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center & Cepeda Branch Library Present: Chicano Classics: The Art of Lowriding and Bronze Band at the Cepeda Branch Library. Families-come celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in East Austin at the Cepeda Branch Library! This is a free event for all ages with Lowrider crafts, Lowrider Art by Alonso Estrada, and live music by Austin's Bronze Band!
-
10am-3pm
The Flower Hill Center invites you to join us on Austin Museum Day. Our 1.38 acres of historic Texas Wildscape and the historic Richmond Kelley Smoot home—built in 1877—will be open for exploration and short tours. Our team will be on hand to share stories of three generations of Smoots and our extensive collection of art, textiles, and furnishings still in the home. Learn more about our ongoing restorations and the future of Flower Hill Center.
-
12pm - 5pm
Explore the current exhibitions Public Works: Art by Elizabeth Olds and Visualizing the Environment: Ansel Adams and His Legacy with a family guide, and view the Gutenberg Bible and the Niépce Heliograph. Printing press demonstrations and interactive gallery tours will be available throughout the day. This site is a stop on the UT Campus Crawl.
-
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.
-
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. Later, flutter on over to the Little House to experience our Power the Migration exhibit
-
11am - 3pm
Landmarks (UT’s public art program) will participate in the Campus Crawl showcasing museums across the Forty Acres. Visit Tony Smith’s Amaryllis or Michael Ray Charles’ (Forever Free) Ideas, Languages and Conversations to get your stamp and participate in hands-on art activities. Prefer to explore at your own pace? Visit Landmarks’ app for a variety of self-guided tour options.
-
9am-5pm (last admittance at 4pm)
Hispanic Heritage Week was created by President Johnson in 1968– and this year, the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library continues the celebration of the beautiful cultures brought to us from south of Texas. 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.
-
Come play with all kinds of mathematical activities in the Math Room at Austin Nature and Science Center. Or you can visit our table at the Texas State History Museum where you will learn about mathematical tools of navigation and make a parallel ruler or compass rose to take home.
-
11pm-2pm
Join us at the Austin Central Library to learn more about Dia de los Muertos and create paper marigolds. These flowers will be used during a performance on our Festival Dia de los Muertos. Join us!
-
10am-3pm
Welcome to one of Austin’s finest museums and historical buildings, the historic 1878 Millett Opera House. 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 via telephone, please.
-
10am - 6pm
A 6500 sq.ft. single artist museum and outdoor sculptures. "There is nothing that quite equals the museum of a single artist; the experience is being spellbound in a magical play.” ~ Mark Rosenthal, Former Curator of 20th Century Art Guggenheim Museum Soho, NYC
-
11am-4pm
Austin Museum Day at the Neill-Cochran House Museum will feature an exciting array of activities and fun for the whole family. Come make paper sun catchers, hand churned ice cream and lemonade, then explore the museum and restored slave quarters. Check out the Cassandra James exhibit, Art on the Lawn, meet the Buffalo Soldiers, Victorian Ladies, and Federal Army Surgeon, then enjoy the live music and lawn games under the shade of our 100 year old trees. The Neill-Cochran House Museum is the place to be for Austin Museum Day.
-
10am-4pm
Explore new 1800s history sites with hands-on historical demonstrations and exhibits. Dance to Yodeling Coyote Cowgirl Evelyn Billington in a century-old dance hall. See Longhorn cattle herd, donkeys, chickens and more.
-
-
10am-5pm
Walking tours of historic Austin Cemeteries - Oakwood and Evergreen. Evergreen is the resting place of important African-American Austinites, including Civil Rights Icon Juanita Craft, Folklorist J. Mason Brewer, Tuskegee Airman Norman Scales, Sr., Educator Friendly Rice and many more. Learn about these important people and many more on a short and easy walking tour. Oakwood Cemetery is the original city cemetery for Austin and many early Austinites of note are buried here. Please join us for a walking tour through this historic cemetery.
-
12pm-5pm
The Science Mill is a family destination offering a fun, interactive learning environment for all ages. Through cutting-edge technology-based exhibits, games, and programs, the Science Mill expands students' understanding and appreciation of science in their everyday lives. By igniting their curiosity and inspiring them to pursue post-secondary education, the Science Mill experience starts students on the path to a life-long career in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
-
10am-4pm
Come see tanks, helicopters, jets, jeeps, uniforms, weapons and more! Climb in an F16 cockpit! Learn about Texas Military History.
-
12pm-4pm
The Texas Music Museum pursues the goal of preserving and presenting the broad range of Texas music history and culture. TMM works toward this goal by researching, archiving, and presenting exhibits and programs related to Texas music.
-
1pm-5pm
Discover your place in the natural world at Texas Science & Natural History Museum! Walk beneath the 33-foot wingspan of a giant pterosaur and meet our new tyrannosaur. Try one of our scavenger hunts and explore our galleries filled with fossils, meteorites, and Texas wildlife.This site is a stop on the UT Campus Crawl.
-
12pm-5pm
Join the guided or self-guided tour of the Texas Capitol and learn about the history of the state and the Lone Star State House. See historical works of art and climb the monumental stairs. Explore the 22 acres of Grounds, a relaxing place to experience nature in downtown Austin including the new Capitol Mall.
-
8am-5pm
Come take a guided or self-guided tour of the Texas State Cemetery. Discover the names of the diverse men and women who have helped shape the great State of Texas. Visit their final resting places and pay tribute to their Lone Star spirit.
-
10am-5pm
Join Thinkery for STEAM-based family fun! All ages are welcome to visit and explore our interactive gallery spaces — including our newest addition, Fortastic Adventure. Check out our social media pages and website for updates on specific Museum Day activities.
-
11am-4pm
UMLAUF features a new exhibition, This Takes Doing. This exhibition explores the art, business, and family life of Charles and Angie Umlauf. Outside, 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.
-
1pm-4pm
In honor of Hispanic Heritage month, come learn with us about the vibrant and rich history of Williamson County’s Hispanic residents. We will have all sorts of activities sure to entertain and inform about the important cultural history and influence of Spain and Mexico in this area. You can 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.
UT Campus Crawl
Create, examine, and explore with some of Austin’s finest museums and galleries during the Campus Crawl! Grab a postcard from any of our seven participating museums and galleries, and journey through various art and history exhibitions on UT Austin’s campus. Visit four sites and win a prize!
Choose from the Art Galleries at Black Studies, the Blanton Museum of Art, the Bullock Texas State History Museum, the Harry Ransom Center, Landmarks, LBJ Presidential Library, and Texas Science & Natural History Museum.
Start the scavenger hunt at any of the participating organizations. Submit your card, and pick up prizes at a table near the ticketing counter of the Blanton Museum of Art. One prize per household.
Museum Day in the News
Still not sure about Museum Day? Check out what our Board Members and Event Planners are up to and get pumped for Museum Day!
Check out some of the fun you can expect this Austin Museum Day in our recent spot on We Are Austin!
Look into the history and highlights of Austin Museum Day with the Community Impact!
Find out Do512 Family’s top recommendation for family activities at Austin Museum Day!
