5 Free Austin Museums to Visit

May 7

Texas is a state rich with storied history, and nowhere is this more evident than in the bustling capitol city. Austin is filled with educational immersive museum experiences, and many offer free admission for visitors year round.

*Please note: the museums on today’s list may be subject to limited hours or closures due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions.

Austin Fire Museum

The Austin Fire Museum is located inside Austin’s historic Central Fire Station #1, and is operated by the Austin Fire Museum Hook & Ladder Society. Nestled in the bustling Sixth Street District next to the O’Henry Museum, exhibits feature uniforms, photographs and memorabilia from more than a century of station history.

The museum is open to the public on select days throughout the year, and appointments for private tours are available upon request.

Austin Science and Nature Center

Established in 1960, the Austin Science and Nature Museum offers hands-on nature exhibits, recreational opportunities and educational programs for visitors of all ages. The Center is located in the west section of Zilker Park, adjacent to the Zilker Nature Preserve.

Guests can enjoy free, rotating exhibits such as the Dino Pit Fossil Dig, Naturalists Workshop, and the Austin Nature & Science Center Forest Trail. Additional programs such as summer, spring and winter camps are also available throughout the year for an additional fee.

Elisabet Ney Museum

Established in 1892, the Elisabet Ney Museum is housed inside the former studio of famed sculptor Elisabet Ney. The museum boast’s the world’s largest collection of Ney’s work, including her portrait busts and pieces from her private collection. Additional contemporary artists are also featured.

The museum is currently offering online exhibitions, in light of ongoing closures due to COVID-19 restrictions. Guests can view Elisabet’s work, tools, maquettes and more through crisp, high-definition photos. Exhibitions include pieces not typically visible to the public, hidden deep within the museum’s collection rooms.

Emma S. Barrientos Mexican-American Cultural Center

The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center strives to uphold the preservation, creation and promotion of Latinx cultural arts. The museum features two main galleries showcasing local, regional and national artists.

Though currently closed to the public, the Center is offering a wide range of free digital resources for those wishing to learn more about Mexican-American and Latinx cultural arts. ESB-MACC also spearheads a special “Healing Garden”, where staff raise herbs, fruits, and vegetables for the local community.

George Washington Carver Center

Built in 1926 in the style of the Colonial Revival, the George Washington Carver Museum is dedicated to the preservation and exhibition of African-American cultural, historical and aesthetic identity. According to their mission statement, GWCM operates with the goal to “tell stories about our local community, connecting those histories to the larger narratives of Blackness.”

Admission to the museum is free–however, the facility remains closed due to ongoing COVID restrictions. In the meantime, free digital programs are available to the public via the museum’s official website. Free programming includes “Stay Creative 2021”, inviting children ages 8-12 to partake in cultural arts classes from the comfort of their homes via Zoom.

Which free museum experiences would you add to our list, and why? Let us know in the comments!