Texas Science & Natural History Museum

05/29/2026

The museum will be closed on Saturday, May 30 for a private event.

We look forward to welcoming you on another day! Plan your visit at http://sciencemuseum.utexas.edu

05/28/2026

Fossils have always been at the heart of Texas Science & Natural History Museum since our doors first opened in 1939. Over time, our displays have evolved alongside new research, updated interpretive style and new ways of exploring Texas’ prehistoric past.

Our renovated Paleontology Gallery, with new exhibit “Epic Encounters,” reopened earlier this year with immersive design, engaging stories and fresh perspectives spanning hundreds of millions of years of history.

Plan your next visit at http://sciencemuseum.utexas.edu

05/27/2026

Thanks to KXAN News for featuring our newest exhibit, “Masters of the Night: The True Story of Bats,” now open on the museum’s fourth floor.

Come explore to discover how bats help sustain ecosystems, explore Austin’s connection as the “Bat Capital of the World,” and see why these often misunderstood animals deserve a closer look!

Austin’s iconic bat colony is back for the summer, and a new exhibit at the Texas Science and Natural History Museum is giving visitors a closer look at the misunderstood animals and why they matte…

05/26/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the grand opening of “Masters of the Night: The True Story of Bats” during H-E-B Free Fourth Sunday! 🦇

Designed for curious minds of all ages, this new fourth-floor exhibit invites visitors to get hands-on while exploring the fascinating world of bats.

🦇 Discover the incredible diversity of bats found around the world
🦇 Experience how bats use echolocation to navigate and hunt in darkness
🦇 Learn how bats help pollinate plants, regenerate forests and maintain healthy ecosystems
🦇 Explore Austin’s connection to bats as the “Bat Capital of the World”

"Masters of the Night" is now officially open and on view through August 2027. We can't wait for you to see it!

Museum hours this week:
Tuesday–Friday: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Saturday, May 30: Closed for a private event
Sunday: 1–5 p.m.

Plan your visit at http://sciencemuseum.utexas.edu

05/22/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our free public program “Biodiversity and Kinship in a Changing World” with Dr. Shalene Jha, biology professor at UT Austin and Academic Director of Research at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Dr. Jha explored the important relationships between pollinators, plants and landscapes. From native bees to biodiversity, the evening offered fascinating insights into the interconnected nature of our changing world.

Thank you for spending National Bee Day with us and helping make this program such a meaningful evening of learning, conversation and discovery! 🐝

Bee sure to join our email list to learn about our next round of free public lectures, starting in the fall! http://sciencemuseum.utexas.edu

05/19/2026

Kick off summer with free admission at Texas Science & Natural History Museum during H-E-B Free Fourth Sunday on May 24! Celebrate Memorial Day weekend, the end of the school year and the start of summer. ☀️

Be among the first to explore “Masters of the Night: The True Story of Bats,” our exciting new exhibit that reveals the fascinating world of bats through hands-on interactives, lifelike models and immersive experiences. Plus, discover towering fossils, prehistoric creatures and more throughout the museum. 🦇

Make family memories, spark curiosity and start your summer adventure at the museum! ✨

The museum is located on the campus of The University of Texas at Austin and is open Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. (last admission at 4:30 p.m.). No tickets are required for H-E-B Free Fourth Sundays. 🦖

For directions, parking, accessibility details and stroller information, visit http://sciencemuseum.utexas.edu. 🧭

05/15/2026

From a chance discovery in Shoal Creek to one of the museum’s most remarkable fossils—meet the Shoal Creek Plesiosaur. 🌊

Discovered in 1990 by a local dentist and his son while searching for shark teeth, this ancient marine reptile was carefully excavated by a team of paleontologists led by our museum.

Unlike many fossils found scattered apart, this skeleton remains articulated in the surrounding rock matrix, preserving important clues about how the animal looked and moved through the ancient seas of Texas.

See the Shoal Creek Plesiosaur and more at Texas Science & Natural History Museum, on the campus of The University of Texas at Austin.

Plan your visit: http://sciencemuseum.utexas.edu

05/14/2026

We are proud to offer free admission program for active-duty military and their families from Armed Forces Day (May 16, 2026) through Labor Day (September 7, 2026) through the Blue Star Museums Program.

Plan your visit at sciencemuseum.utexas.edu