Enjoy Free Admission and Activities at More Than 30 Cultural Institutions on Austin Museum Day
Before you join this city-wide celebration of culture this Sunday, take a look at our picks for lesser-known spots to explore
One of our favorite occasions is back on Sunday, September 21 where you can explore a wide array of exhibits, artifacts, displays, artists talks, performances and more! Austin Museum Day invites everyone to celebrate art, history, music, nature and science when over 30 museums in the greater Austin region open their doors with free admission and an abundant agenda of activities.
Organized by the Austin Museum Partnership, this special city-wide celebration of culture offers a vast selection of experiences that can be enjoyed by individuals of all generations.
On Austin Museum Day, you can brush up on Texas history at the Bullock Museum or enjoy a stroll through the neighboring Blanton Museum of Art, or stop by the LBJ Presidential Library while you’re on the UT Austin campus. For some fresh air and sunshine, take a stroll through the gorgeous gardens at Laguna Gloria on the shores of Lake Austin or at the UMLAUF Sculpture Garden and Museum near Zilker Park. You can also experience what life was like in Central Texas back in the 1800s at Pioneer Farms.
Best Bets for New-to-You Museum Experiences
While you can certainly enjoy Austin’s most popular museums on Austin Museum Day, we also think of this as a perfect time to go explore some of the lesser-known local cultural institutions in the area. Most of the museums will have special programming and guided tours of their exhibits. Check out a full list of participating museums on the Austin Museum Partnership website. Below, we’re sharing five notable new-to-you museums to keep in mind as you plan your day.
Historic Chateau Bellevue
Step inside Austin’s very own castle and explore the historic 1874 Chateau Bellevue from 1 – 4 p.m. Enjoy a scavenger hunt with fascinating facts, color your own stained glass window, and listen to live piano music in the parlor. Discover the legacy of the Austin Woman’s Club and experience a day of history and beauty.
Historic Millett’s Opera House
Tour three floors of Historic Millett’s Opera House (110 E. 9th St.) from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. This is one of the most historic buildings still in use in Downtown Austin which served as as Austin’s first true opera house, hosted a session of Texas legislature and the first graduation ceremonies of University of Texas. Today it is host to the beautiful and equally historic Austin Club. Beverages and sweets will be available for guests and visitors.
Flower Hill Foundation
Visitors are invited to step inside the historic Smoot home and wander the Flower Hill grounds on self-guided tours. Enjoy light bites and punch on the side porch, then join an all-ages collage workshop in the restored Carriage House led by Carlie Arts.
Hezikiah Haskell House
The historic Hezikiah Haskell House will be open from 1-4 p.m. Built by Charles Clark, the formerly enslaved man who established the early Texas Freedom Colony of Clarksville, a tour of the House will provide history about life in early Clarksville. You can also enjoy music from Soul Man Sam and his band from 2-3 p.m., enjoy light refreshments and play yard games.
Museo Benini
Located in just outside of Marble Falls, Museo Benini, one of 300 single artist museums in the world, will be open from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. with paintings and sculptures by Italian artist Benini on display. Walk trails on the 35 acre ranch that lead to 48 sculptures.
No matter what museums you choose to visit on Austin Museum Day, we hope you have a wonderful time exploring!
RELATED: Laguna Gloria: Austin’s Historic Lakeside Villa Transformed Into a Modern Cultural Landmark