Guide to the Best Museums in Austin!

The city of Austin is home to a myriad of cultural centers and museums that not only preserve history but highlight what makes the capital city one to explore for many generations to come. See visiting art exhibits from renown artists and curators that each tell a unique story. Brush up on multicultural history, sculpture, pop & contemporary art, Latinx art, Texas state history, and so much more at some of the best museums in Austin.

This is your one-stop-shop for Austin museums!

1. Blanton Museum of Art

One of Austin’s most notable museums, the Blanton Museum of Art is home to internationally known works of art, exhibits, and events. With 189,340 square feet of art exhibits, the Blanton Museum is one of the largest museums in the United States. Its space includes many different visiting exhibits, in-house gallery collections, classrooms, print rooms, their museum shop, café, and an auditorium for events! You can even experience Blanton’s in a 360 degree virtual tour as well. But we think you should see one of the best museums in Austin up close and in person!

Photo: Evelyn Garcia for UNATION

Visit Website

2. Mexic-Arte Museum

A source of Latinx art and culture collections since the eighties. The Mexic-Arte Museum lies in the heart of Austin for all to visit and shop at. Visit Mexic-Arte for a total immersive experience on the culture of Mexico, Latino, and Latin American timelines throughout history. The musuem community offers educational lectures, exhibitions, and visiting art collections all with the purpose to encompass the rich history of our neighbors down south. Visit their website for upcoming events to check out!

Visit Website

3. Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum

The official museum of the state of Texas carries exhibits that made the lone star state not only memorable, but historically significant. The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum is home to galleries rich with Texas history, the mystery of Texan Freemasonry, oil & gas history, and various artifacts from different regions of Texas state. You can learn a lot about our history through visiting lecture circuits and even witness live music in the Austin City Limits Theater.

Visit Website

4. LBJ Presidential Library and Museum

Honoring President Lyndon B. Johnson, this library stands on top of the University of Texas and provides a place for study, reflection, and an Oval Office replica. The LBJ Presidential Library and Museum offers endless resources and history on the Lyndon B. Johnson’s Presidency and legacy. Experience permanent exhibitions like the First Lady’s gallery, the Great Hall, and Lady Bird’s John’s office. Learn more about the history through visiting exhibits and educational events at one of the best museums in Austin.

Photo: Charles Bogel

Visit Website

5. Museum of Weird

Emulating the dime museums popularized by the likes of PT Barnum, Austin’s own museum of weird contains plenty of oddities and curiosities. The Museum of the Weird offers tons of artifacts and lore around renown mysteries and conspiracies. This weird museum plays host to myths like Fiji mermaids, shrunken heads, mummies, and wax scultptures of famous movie villains and creatures. Most recently the museum acquired an ancient photograph of the Cottingley Fairies, an infamous hoax from England’s early aughts.

Visit Website

6. South Austin Museum of Popular Culture

Pop Culture comes to life at this museum. Collecting the old and the new, the South Austin Museum of Popular Culture allows visitors to understand our mantra: “Keep Austin Weird.”

Visit Website

7. Women and Their Work Gallery

This nationally recognized gallery was founded in the 70s and helped develop the lives and careers of countless female artists its had to opportunity to host and represent. As a vessel for expanding on art curated by women thriving in Texas, Women and Their Work Gallery offers art in many mediums, educational resources, and community engagement. Witness diverse art exhibits from live performances to visual works of art. Admission is free, but donations are always appreciated!

Visit Website

8. UMLAUF Sculpture Garden and Museum

Named after Charles Umlauf, this garden preserves his work alongside pieces of art belonging to his influences and contemporaries. Featuring modern art, sculpture, light art, architecture highlights, and other mediums, Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum is visually stunning. There’s always something new to check out in the museum. Experimentation with a variety of mediums and artists from across the nation draws your senses into total immersion!

Visit Website

9. The Contemporary Austin

A combination of outdoor and indoor exhibits, The Contemporary Austin’s mission reflects the dream of interweaving modern art with modern life. By showcasing many forms of contemporary art, the museum’s mission is to reflect that ability to be transformed by a work of art and the way we connect with one another. Explore various exhibits that flow with visual art, music, and sculpture. Check out the Daniel Johnston Mural exhibition while you’re there; a commissioned piece reflecting his “posthumous reflection.”

Visit Website

10. Elizabeth Ney Museum

Celebrating the historic home of German artist Elizabeth Ney who moved to Austin in the 1880s, this museum works to highlight her sculptures, history, and legacy. Within the confides of Hyde Park National Register Historic Neighborhood, Elizabeth Ney Musuem hosts her works of art spanning from the 1850s to her passing in the early aughts. Her work features preservation efforts with the Historic Prairie Landscape Restoration project, which we founded. See current exhibits and tours of the facility by visiting their website!

Photo: City of the Violet Crown

Visit Website

11. George Washington Carver Museum

Home to a space where the global work of African American individuals in history are recorded and celebrated, the George Washington Carver Museum pursues their mission by storytelling through various exhibitions. Among the many featured exhibits include Small Black History Residency, which showcases three talented Austin-based artists and their distinct mediums. In light of the chaos of the past few years, the Carver musuem has linked with City of Austin Equity office in conjunction with local poets, artists, and scholars to create a large-scale work of art to enlighten us in these trying times.

Photo: Shamekia Brady

Visit Website

Guide to the Best Museums in Austin!

1. Blanton Museum of Art

2. Mexic-Arte Museum

3. Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum

4. LBJ Presidential Library and Museum

5. Museum of Weird

6. South Austin Museum of Popular Culture

7. Women and Their Work Gallery

8. UMLAUF Sculpture Garden and Museum

9. The Contemporary Austin

10. Elizabeth Ney Museum

11. George Washington Carver Museum

Follow us

Curated by

Hailey Way

See you soon 👋

It’s better in the app

Guide to the Best Museums in Austin!

Follow us

Curated by

Hailey Way