In honor of the Houston Zoo’s groundbreaking new exhibit, we’ve put together a list of 10 best exhibitions in Houston to see inside and outside of a museum walls this season.
1. Galapagos Islands
Where: Houston Zoo
When: Permanent exhibition beginning April 7
The first-of-its-kind $70 million exhibit is set to illustrate the rich environmental landscape as well as the diversity of endemic species found on the Galápagos Islands.
New features are set to include an underwater tunnel, molten lava tubes, a viewing pond, sea cave, and a new 190,000-gallon aquarium, and ocean gallery with residents that aren’t limited to sharks, rays, giant sea turtles, giant tortoises, blue iguanas and more.
2. Dino’s Alive
Where: Marq’e Entertainment Center
When: March – June 2023
Go back millions of years to a land ruled by giants! This immersive experience in Houston brings you face-to-face with the fearsome and spectacular dinosaurs that dominated the animal world for 140 million years. From the turkey-sized Velociraptors to the mighty T-rex, interact with life-sized, moving animatronics of a large variety of species, and see these magnificent creatures in their natural Jurassic habitat. Step into another world and learn something new in an experience that’s fun for the whole family!
3. CAMH Court
Where: Contemporary Arts Museum Houston
When: March – April 2023
The first-ever playable basketball court in an art museum is now open in Houston at the Contemporary Arts Museum. In celebration of the 2023 NCAA Men’s Final Four in Houston, the Contemporary Arts Museum and ADIDAS Basketball have collaborated for the opening of CAMH Court.
4. Pixel Forest and Worry Will Vanish
Where: Museum of Fine Arts Houston
When: March 12 to September 4, 2023
Pipilottie Rist: Pixel Forest and Worry Will Vanish beautifully blends the myriad suspended LED lights of Pixel Forest with the dreamlike projections of Worry Will Vanish. The result is an enchanting, grand-scale experience in the Museum of Fine Arts Houston.
5. King Tut’s Tomb Discovery Experience
Where: Houston Museum of Natural Science
When: Through May 2023
Transport yourself back to 1922 in the fabled Valley of the Kings when renowned expert Howard Carter looked upon the tomb of King Tut for the first time. King Tut’s Tomb Discovey Experience leads visitors through the dark winding tunnels to the burial chambers of Tutankhamen, where they can behold untold treasures and stunning hieroglyphs.
6. The George Observatory
Where: George Observatory
When: Permanent exhibition
At the newly renovated George Observatory, stargazers can see live feeds of brilliant constellations through their state-of-the-art telescopes, muse over the Milky Way with astronomical experts, and embark on a laser tour of the universe.
7. Yayoi Kusama Aftermath of Obliteration of Eternity
Where: Museum of Fine Arts Houston
When: Permanent exhibition
Using a network of mirrors, Kusama is able to create an illusion of infinity, or otherwise boundless twinkling galaxies unfolding before the eyes. Space City is the new permanent home of one of Kusama’s famous works of art; Aftermath of Obliteration of Eternity is a piece Kusama made in celebration of her 80th birthday upon returning to Japan.
8. Narrative Threads: Fiber Art Today
Where: Moody Center for the Arts
When: January 13 – May 13, 2023
Narrative Threads: Fiber Art Today is a free exhibit showcasing fiber artwork from 22 artists from all walks of life. Through textile pieces, black, woman, and LGBTQ+ artists express contemporary ideas on subjects such as gender, race, identity, and sexuality.
9. Women, The Spirit of the Universe
Where: Holocaust Museum Houston
When: January 13, 2023 – April 23, 2023
At Women, The Spirit of the Universe, visitors can look upon the collars of 23 exceptional American women who dedicated their lives to the attainment of equal rights for women. From Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, to Texas titans Governor Ann Richards and Representative Barbara Jordan, the exhibits spans generations of inspirational women.
10. Bayou Bend Collections
Where: Museum of Fine Arts
When: Permanent exhibition
Ima Hogg was also a patron and collector of the arts. Her former home on the grounds of the Museum of Fine Arts in River Oaks is a testament to this fact. Populated with collections decorative arts, paintings. and art pieces, Bayou Bend Collections is a year-round museum that stands as “one of the finest showcases of American furnishings, silver, ceramics, and paintings in the world.”