[Ansteorra] Art Museums

[Hillary Greenslade]

Houston museums can be found at: 
  http://gotexas.about.com/od/attrac5/tp/HouMuseums.htm
  http://www.museumspot.com/cities/houston.htm
  http://www.houston-guide.com/
  http://www.houstonareaweb.com/museums/
  http://www.guestlife.com/media/GuestLife/Houston/Annual-2006/Houston-Museum-Guide/index.php
   
  There is a list of just the museums in the 'Museum District' at: 
  http://www.houstonmuseumdistrict.org/default.asp?id=1
   
  For the European arts, the Museum of Fine Arts Houston has one of the nicest collections (free on Thursday evenings) and the Menil (free) has some nice antiquities and Icons in the permanent collection, though most of their traveling exhibits tend to be modern.  I particularly like the newer Houston Museum of Contemporary Crafts, which could be showing anything from wood, baskets, metals or glass depending on when you come.  Also, not directly in the museum district, but the Printing Museum of Houston has some nice displays (not open Sundays).  
   
  As Maria mentioned, Houston also have the Nat'l Science museum, the Houston Zoo, and downtown Houston is an Aquarium build by Landry's Seafood restarant, also in the complex.  
   
  For kids, check out the Children's Museum of Houston, for lots of hands on, and they may also like the Museum of Health and Science, also supposed to have hands on, (haven't been there).  And of course, the seat of Texas Independence is at San Jacinto, they are supposed to have really done an update on the park, and the USS Texas is anchored there for tours. 
   
  Near Galveston, in Clear Lake, is Space Center Houston http://www.spacecenter.org/
  I just took my nephews there and they enjoyed it, but I think they need more hands on for the exhibits there, but they still had fun, a bit expensive, check out specials.
   
  Down in Galveston:  http://www.galveston.com/museums/
  musuems include the Strand, shopping, Mardi Gras museum, the tall sailing ship Elisa, and along the main streets are historic victorian style homes (http://www.galveston.com/historichomes/), such as the Bishops's Palace, Ashton Villa and Moody Mansion, they should be open in the summer.  
   
  For fun, Galveston has the Moody Gardens: http://www.moodygardens.com/
  with a Rain Forest, and more.   
  http://www.concierge.com/destination/texas/?mbid=google&npu=1&gclid=CN6Hue-L05ACFQOllgodgk91XA
   
  Sadly, Houston no longer has Six Flags (formerly known as Astroworld).  
   
  To save on funds, you may want to check out renting a beach house in Galveston, near the water and sand, but you can use the kitchen and save on a bit of money,  though driving back into Houston for the sights will still take 45-1hour and the gas expense.   There are a lot of timeshare's and folks who rent out their beach homes when not in town. 
   
  Have fun, Hillary
  (hey, I'm enjoying reading about all the other museums in Texas)