Institutions in Austin are very generous with their museums. They waive the admission fees sometimes, mostly, and always! Get a dose of Austin’s culture and history without spending anything. Check the list below!
Austin Fire Museum
Downtown
Hours: Always free Wednesday through Sunday, 12-5pm.
O. Henry Museum
Downtown
Hours: Always free Wednesday through Sunday, 12- pm.
Free monthly readings of William Sydney Porter’s literary works on the last Saturday of each month.
Susanna Dickinson Museum
Downtown
Hours: Always free Wednesday through Sunday, 12-5pm.
Visit Susanna Dickinson’s 146-year old home.
Bullock State Texas History Museum
Downtown
Hours: Free on the first Sunday of each month, 12-5pm.
George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center
Rosewood
Hours: Always free Monday through Wednesday from 10am to 6pm; Thursdays from 10am to 9pm; Fridays, 10am to 5pm; and Saturdays from 10am to 4pm.
Discover the African American history and culture.
Texas Military Forces Museum
Tarrytown
Hours: Always free Tuesday through Saturday, 10am to 4pm.
Marvel at big, bad military tanks, artillery, weapons, and aircraft dating back to 1823.
Harry Ransom Center
University of Texas Campus
Hours: Always free Monday through Wednesday, and Fridays from 10am to 5pm; Thursdays, 10am to 5pm; and Saturdays and Sundays, 12-5pm.
Find the world’s first photograph and an original Gutenberg Bible both here.
Austin History Center
Downtown
Hours: Always free Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 6pm; and Sundays, 12pm to 6pm.
Texas DPS Museum & Research Center
North Lamar Boulevard
Hours: Always free Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm.
Austin Nature & Science Center
Hours: Always free Monday through Saturday, 9am to 5pm; and Sundays, noon to 5pm.
Blanton Museum of Art
University of Texas Campus
Hours: Free on Thursdays from 10am to 5pm.
Thursdays are for extended museum hours, yoga in the lobby, tours, and special programs and exhibits all for free!
The Contemporary Austin
Multiple locations
Hours: Free on Tuesdays, 11am to 7pm at the Jones Center and 10am to 4pm at Laguna Gloria.
Elisabet Ney Museum
Hyde Park
Hours: Always free Wednesday through Sunday, noon to 5pm.
Get a glimpse of the meeting place for Austin’s aristocratic elite.
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center
River Street
Hours: Always free Monday through Thursday, 10am to 6pm; Fridays, 10am to 5:30pm; and Saturdays from 10am to 4pm.
Enjoy the exhibits of local and national Latino artists.
Mexic-Arte Museum
Downtown
Hours: Always free Sundays and in December.
UMLAUF Sculpture Garden & Museum
Zilker
Hours: Free during the summer, Tuesday through Friday, 10am to 4pm; and Saturday through Sunday, noon to 4pm. Free throughout the year on the first Sunday of each month, from 12pm to 4pm.
Experience the beauty of native Texas plant gardens and original Charles Umlauf sculptures.
Texas Music Museum
East Side
Hours: Always free Monday through Friday, 9am to 4pm.
Enjoy the genres from Tejano to country to the blues.
Capitol Visitors Center
Downtown
Hours: Always free Monday through Saturday from 9am to 5pm; and Sundays, noon to 5pm.
Learn about Rick Perry’s villainous/heroic story.
Texas Governor’s Mansion
Downtown
Hours: Always free Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, from 2-4pm.
Take a peek of Governor’s humble abode. Try giving the tour guide a $20 secretly to sneak a peek at the sex dungeon (you just know there’s a sex dungeon).
