The Houston Museum District has many fascinating museums and centers, for example The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston or Contemporary Arts Museum Houston. However, this article isn't about art museums, but rather about some speciality museums that focus on a particular topic or area.
I love museums because they're amazing places to be, not only because of the educational aspect but also for the peaceful atmosphere. They're great for dates, study sessions or if you just want to hang out somewhere peaceful, as well as learn new things.
Let's explore the 3 interesting speciality museums in the Houston Museum District that I've picked for this article!
Czech Center Museum Houston
I'm originally from the Czech Republic, therefore including this museum in the list was a must-do. I think it's amazing that Houston offers museums that focus on completely different countries and cultures, especially when these are as small as the Czech Republic with its 10 million inhabitants.
The Czech Center Museum Houston is also known as the Czech Cultural & Community Center and it was apparently founded in 1995. The museum shows art, objects and stories of Czech & Slovak people who left the country because of its oppressive regime (the Communist regime lasted in Czechoslovakia until 1989) and came to America in a search for freedom.
The museum's website states:
"Our purpose is to inspire people to learn from those who sought freedom despite oppressive rulers and systems. The museum strives to be an accessible resource, actively encouraging the study, appreciation, understanding, and enjoyment of diverse cultures and traditions. We promote art, music, and dance as well as celebrate history and stories of immigrant experiences shared by Americans."
The collections display pantings, posters, pottery as well as folk art. When it comes to ticket prices, one adult ticket costs 6 dollars. People between 13-18 pay 3 dollars and children under 12 don't have to buy a ticket.
If you're interested in exploring the Czech culture more, visit the museum at 4920 San Jacinto street in Houston.
The Health Museum
The Health Museum is the perfect place for anyone interested in biology and human health. It's a great place for children as well!
It's also known as the John P. McGovern Museum of Health and Medical Science and it opened in 1969. One of the great things about the museum is that it's very interactive - you get to learn about health in an interactive playful way instead of just looking at things, which is always appreciated.
The museum doesn't offer only exhibitions - there are scout programs, summer camps, science mini-classes and so much more. The mission of the museum is apparently:
"To foster wonder and curiosity about health, medical science and the human body."
An adult ticket costs 10 dollars, while a ticket for children between 3-12 is 8 dollars. For anyone interested, the museum is located at 1515 Hermann Dr in Houston.
Holocaust Museum Houston
Holocaust is an essential topic that we need to talk about and be reminded of so that history doesn't repeat itself, and therefore visiting the Holocaust Museum Houston is an excellent idea.
The museum opened in 1996 for the first time and it reopened again in 2019 after a big expansion. It reminds its visitors how hatred and prejudice can cause immense danger in our society. The museum's mission is described on the official website thus:
"Holocaust Museum Houston is dedicated to educating people about the Holocaust, remembering the 6 million Jews and other innocent victims and honoring the survivors’ legacy. Using the lessons of the Holocaust and other genocides, we teach the dangers of hatred, prejudice and apathy."
An adult ticket costs 19 dollars and anyone between 0-18 can enter for free. The museum is located at Lester and Sue Smith Campus, 5401 Caroline in Houston.
Final Thoughts
I have picked these three museums because I believe they're all highly educational, and they provide their visitors with lots of valuable insights and knowledge. Whichever you pick, I hope you enjoy your visit.
Illustrational photo by Daria Shevtsova on Pexels