Texas Science & Natural History Museum

06/19/2026

Meet — 𝘉𝘰𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘨𝘶𝘴 an extinct canid that may have been one of the toughest eaters in Texas. 🦴🐕

Nicknamed the “bone-crushing dog,” 𝘉𝘰𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘨𝘶𝘴 lived in what is now the Texas Panhandle about 6.5 million years ago. Powerful jaws and specialized teeth allowed it to crack and consume bone, helping it make the most of every meal.

Some paleontologists even think 𝘉𝘰𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘨𝘶𝘴 may have lived and hunted in social groups, using its bone-crushing abilities to provide more food for the pack.

See this remarkable prehistoric predator come to life in our Featured Creatures animation and discover more incredible Texas fossils in Epic Encounters.

06/19/2026

Thanks, The Daily Texan, for featuring our new exhibit! 🦇

The Texas Science & Natural History Museum’s newest exhibit, “Masters of the Night: The True Story of Bats,” explores the role of bats in the environment and their connection to Austin. The exhibit aims to educate visitors and challenge common misconceptions about the animals, with the interactive displays open until August 2027 and free for UT faculty, students and staff.

https://thedailytexan.com/2026/06/18/texas-science-natural-history-museum-opens-new-bat-exhibit/

06/17/2026

The museum will be closed on Friday, June 19. We’ll reopen with normal hours on Saturday—plan your visit and come explore with us soon!

http://sciencemuseum.utexas.edu

06/15/2026

Pollinators come in all shapes, sizes and species. 🦇🦋🌙

During Pollinator Week, we’re celebrating some of the remarkable pollinators featured at Texas Science & Natural History Museum—from nectar-sipping monarch butterflies to fruit bats that help pollinate plants as they feed.

These often-overlooked animals play a vital role in ecosystems around the world, helping many flowering plants reproduce and thrive.
Swipe through to meet a few of our favorites and learn how they help keep the natural world blooming.

06/13/2026

🦇 Did you hear? There’s a new exhibit at Texas Science & Natural History Museum—and it’s all about bats!

Austin may be famous for its Mexican free-tailed bats, but there are nearly 1,500 known bat species around the world, making bats one of the most diverse groups of mammals on Earth.

Despite their spooky reputation, only three species feed on blood. Most bats dine on insects, while others prefer fruit or nectar. And those fascinating wrinkles and folds around their ears? They help bats redirect sound, allowing them to navigate and hunt using echolocation with incredible precision.

Discover the surprising science, diversity, and importance of bats in Masters of the Night: The True Story of Bats, now open through August 2027.

06/12/2026

Oh give me a home where the dinosaurs roam… 🦖🏡

Along ancient shorelines in Central Texas, giant sauropods and theropods once left footprints in the mud, while the forests and coastal plains of Big Bend were home to tyrannosaurs, horned dinosaurs, and duck-billed hadrosaurs. 🦕

Millions of years later, these fossils continue to help us piece together the story of prehistoric Texas.

Explore the dinosaurs of Texas at Texas Science & Natural History Museum—and join us July 11 for Dinosaur Day!, a family-friendly celebration packed with hands-on activities, fossil discoveries, and prehistoric fun. 🦴

06/11/2026

Thanks, Allison Miller and John-Carlos Estrada CBS Austin for helping us bring prehistoric Texas to life!

Have you come to explore "Epic Encounters," our newly reimagined paleontology exhibit? Summer is a great time to explore--plan your visit at http://sciencemuseum.utexas.edu

06/11/2026

TBT to June 11, 1936, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt visited Austin to help break ground on what would become Texas Memorial Museum, now known as Texas Science & Natural History Museum.

Founded by the Texas Legislature as part of the Texas Centennial celebration, the museum was designed by renowned architects John F. Staub and Paul Philippe Cret—the visionary behind the UT Tower and several other iconic UT Austin campus landmarks.

Nearly 90 years later, we’re still connecting Texans with the natural history of our state in the very building that began with this historic moment.

06/10/2026

06/10/2026

Calling all Austin-area teachers: Enjoy snacks and drinks while learning about field trip opportunities at Texas Science & Natural History Museum!

📍Where: Bullock Museum, free parking after 5pm

⏰When: June 25th, 2026 from 5:30 to 7:30pm

Chat with museum professionals from institutions across the Austin area to learn about how field trip experiences can connect to your classroom and attend a Q&A panel discussion.

Register Here: https://txspb.formstack.com/forms/field_trip_fair_registration_202606

This event is co-hosted by the Austin Museum Partnership and the Bullock Museum.