We had time for one museum while on our trip and so we picked Bullock Texas State History Museum. This was a great choice that we made and certainly something to explore. The History History and the contemporary history that is all laid out here is very well presented and in the contemporary part it felt like you were reading, observing and strolling from decade to decade. A wide range of topics and different vantage points of Texas is explored here which makes it very fascinating and was mind broadening as we progressed through the displays and artifacts. I didn't know a whole lot about Austin City Limits and all of the musicians and musical acts that played there which was very much a learning experience and perhaps one of my favorite sections of the museum. Definitely worth going to if you are in Austin and wanting to take in some history and culture that makes up the state and the city. read more

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The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum is an absolute must see! From the moment you walk in, you're immersed in the rich story of Texas from its early days to modern times. The exhibits are interactive, engaging, and thoughtfully curated, making history come alive for visitors of all ages. There is a paid parking garage available, but parking is free after 5:00 for movie showings. Highlights include the detailed artifacts, hands-on displays, and the impressive theater experiences that really bring Texas history to life. Staff were friendly and knowledgeable, happy to answer questions and guide you through the exhibits. Whether you're a history buff or just looking for a fun and educational outing, this museum is a must-see. I left feeling inspired and with a deeper appreciation for my home state of Texas! I have attended numerous movie screenings at the IMAX theater on site. Most recently the EPiC Elvis Presley in Concert. The seats are comfortable and it was easy to purchase tickets from the box office and they have a bar and concessions. Was a very comfortable place to watch a film. read more

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The museum is beautiful with a very rich presentation of Texas history. I truly enjoyed the experience and found myself deeply intrigued by the complexity of the state's past. The exhibits highlighting Texas under Mexican rule, the revolution, land certificates, and the formation of the Republic of Texas were especially fascinating. You really get a sense of how law, governance, and political interests shaped the path of the state. That said, the visit also prompted some critical reflection. History is not just about what is displayed, but also what is absent. During my visit, another guest mentioned that a prior exhibit featuring Black culture from that historical period had been present in 2024 but was no longer there. I cannot independently confirm this, but it certainly sparked important thoughts about how historical narratives are curated and evolve over time especially in light of the current political climate. As a PhD student in public administration and policy, I view spaces like this as starting points for deeper inquiry rather than definitive accounts. Despite any perceived gaps, the museum offers an engaging and visually impressive exploration of Texas history that is well worth visiting. I left with plenty to think about and even more to research on my own. read more

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I visited the Bullock Texas State History Museum with my husband and parents on the first Sunday of the month which allows you free entry! The museum is an homage to Texas history and culture. The current special exhibit showcases Texas Festivals from highly decorated parade floats, pageant costumes, and competitive eating! This museum is great. It's also across the street from the Blanton Art Museum and a quick walk down to the Capitol Building so you can make a it a day of Austin must-sees especially if you're visiting for the first time. read more

Bullock Texas State History Museum - Cinema Near Me - Austin, Texas

This theater desperately needs reserved seating. The new queueing system was an honest attempt to make the experience better, but it still falls short. I don't think experience IMAX is worth it if you have to wait in line in the hot sun to get a queue card to -maybe- getting a good seat. Please just invest in reserved seating! read more

This IS The State of Texas museum. It is the best resource to learn about the rich history of the state and is an excellent choice to spend a couple of hours while in Austin. It's located on the University of Texas campus and is a short walk to the Capitol building which you should also visit. The museum has a parking garage and there is also metered street parking available. Inside it has 3 levels and a gift shop of course. Start at the bottom and work your way up. There are many interesting dioramas, storyboards and artifacts representing Texas history. This museum is very well done in its design and content. Go online to buy tickets or get them at the door. read more

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This is a really good family friendly museum. It has quite a few interactive exhibits that keeps a kid busy. This place can get busy specially during the week since it does look like a lot of schools come here for field trips. I really enjoyed all the historical exhibits especially about the early history of Texas and learning about the significance of the Alamo. Definitely check this place out if you are in town. read more

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It's such an awesome full of surprises. We came for the jewelry making free event and that was so awesome. It was also a free day brought by HEB. I brought my babies with me and was greeted by staff member. They let me know about the serenity room which is super comfy and provides privacy to breast feed my newborn. It's stroller friendly and children friendly! We purchased a membership to make sure we take advantage of the free imax films included. read more

It's a great time to check out Bullock while the TRex exhibit is up! We also enjoyed the cafe and sitting on the outdoor terrace. Apparently you can go in and eat here without buying a ticket - might be worth a shot if you're in the area and need lunch or a coffee. read more

Bullock Texas State History Museum - Cinema Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I like this museum and there's a lot to see. Texas has such a rich history that can be easily missed if you're not paying attention. I'd recommend setting aside 2 hours to get thought it. Pro-tip: It's free the 1st Sunday of every month. 10/10 Cows read more

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We came to this museum by reading the TripAdvisor reviews. The T. rex exhibit was very interesting and informative. The rest of the museum focused on the state of Texas and its long history. Indeed, there was a lot to view and absorb which I found to be very educational. If you find yourself in Austin with a little time to kill swing by this Texas size museum! read more

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The Bob Bullock, Texas State Museum totally rocks. The extra exhibit currently is the T-Rex exhibit with lots of great stuff about the dinosaurs. My grandson totally enjoyed it. The primary exhibit on Texas history is always so enjoyable, I could spend hours going through all of the wonderful exhibits and videos Great way to spend a few hours and be thoroughly entertained and educated read more

This is an outstanding state history museum. It logically tells the story with depth and great perspective. The substantial exhibit about early French settlers -- who often get just a mention in Texas history -- was a suprising start. The formative years of the mid-19th century were clearly explained. Artifacts are outstanding and well presented throughout, from big things like the original Goddess of Liberty from the capitol to various documents and personal items. There's a room where temporary exhibits are hosted, which at the time of our visit, was all about T Rex. This was a great exhibit but quite surprising, seems like something that should be at a science or natural history museum. read more

We were able to get in for free with a voucher from our one night stay at the courtyard marriot Was definitely an interesting experience, they had multiple floors and sections. Main topics of interest were: - texas war/ conflict history -agricultural history - oil history / weather / natural disasters - plants / animals / etc -pop culture / music history / art Small enough to do in one day, big enough to make a day out of it / be able to visit multiple times. They also had a theater with documentaries/historical/science type showings. We didnt see one, these are not included with a basic ticket but not too much more. They have a nice gift shop as well read more

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Great museum to get a flavor of the long history of Texas. $15 per adult ticket is probably a little too much for what's there but still worth it. We skipped all the IMAX documentaries. read more

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I took my grand daughters and daughter to see the monarch butterfly IMAX and it was great. We also toured the museum and it was amazing clean well laid out and great Texas history. We will go again for sure read more

I had a lot of fun during my visit. The exhibits were engaging and made it easy to enjoy and learn at the same time.

Great museum very informative and have cool interactive pieces. Has lots of interesting information and great photo op places outside

A nice way to learn about the history of Texas from the indigenous people to colonial America to modern times. Texas has a unique and complex history, probably more than most states. It's 3 floors of exhibitions including artifacts and an old colonial ship that was recovered. read more

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The had so very little about the history of East Texas. This wasn't a Texas Museum it was a Central Texas Museum. I have several things I had considered donating, I went to the Museum to see if it was a place that would be worth it. It's a hard pass for me. read more

We took 300 7th grade students on a field trip to the Bob Bullock Museum and everyone had a great time! The staff started with an orientation and then the kids were set loose by groups on each floor. They really enjoyed the current shark exhibit and seeing everything they've been learning about Texas history. They also have a cafe and gift shop. All of the staff were incredibly helpful and knowledgeable. I'd definitely recommend it as a spot to take guests in town! read more

Bullock Texas State History Museum - Cinema Near Me - Austin, Texas

While Shana and the former Teen went to see the EDO artwork next door, something I had already done with Shana, I went over to the Bullock museum as I love history and Texas history a ton. It is a pretty big place, three stories, an IMAX, a Star Cafe, Texas Spirt Theater, and currently a history of Lowriders which was unique and cool. Lets get the two issues that happened to lose a star out of the way. The Texas Spirt Theater was not working, it was broken but nothing anywhere said that. I had to find out from where you buy tickets and that was the other issue. It has a sign that said if you buy entrance, IMAX, Texas Spirt, all together you save some money. I tried to get that and the person seemed to have no idea what I was talking about though it was right there on the electronic ticket pricing. Then when she finally understood she told me the Spirt theater was down. So I just got an entrance ticket, no IMAX or anything extra as I was fairly frustrated at that point. But that was all the bad. The museum itself is amazing, from a recently recovered lost ship in all it's glory to the very cool Lowrider display with cars, trucks, bicycles, strollers, and history was very cool. A fun but informative display and I am glad I got to see it, it is there until September if you would like to see it too. This has a ton about Texas from the start, to independence. From famous people to sports teams. The Dallas World Fair, the Moon Landing and Nasa in Houston. Civil Rights, and so much more. You will miss some stuff unless you spend all day there. Lots of small movies through out to paint a better picture and give more information from the battles against Santa Ana to World Fair and Reel Texas Cowboys and how Texas has be presented in Hollywood. They have stairs and an elevator, bathrooms and water fountains on every floor. The bathroom on the 2nd floor I can say was clean. If you are curious about history in general or want to learn more about the State of Texas this is a good spot to do so. read more

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Still love visiting The Bullock Texas State History Museum! Their special exhibits are interesting. The current one, "Carros Y Cultura: Lowriding Legacies in Texas", is quite fantastic. Many colorful, blinged-out vehicles for you to feast your eyes on. And not just cars, but motorcycles, too -- one of my favorites is decorated with a Whataburger theme. Exploring indoors here in cool, air-conditioned comfort is a lovely way to spend a hot summer afternoon. Highly recommend. read more

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It was a cool surprise. I was coming to see a Juneteenth movie and ended up coming on first FREE Sunday. I got to learn so much about the "making of Texas" and enjoyed the history. The museum is pretty big but all things are big in Texas, right? I signed up for their updates so I can visit again as I'm new to Austin. read more

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"The Bullock Texas State History Museum is named for the state's 38th Lieutenant Governor, Bob Bullock, who championed the preservation and exhibition of Texas history and worked to establish the museum that opened in 2001." Be prepared and wear comfy shoes. There are so many captivating, intriguing historically organized items on display in the multi level museum complete with bookstore, cafe, and IMAX theatre. It's perfect as a solo, date, or family visit. Paid garage parking. read more

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Was underwhelmed and couldn't really get engaged. It's an okay museum but isn't a repeatable visit.

Came here just to watch Mission: Impossible and yeah--it slapped. Huge screen, booming sound, and Tom Cruise nearly flying off a mountain in crispy IMAX glory? Can't beat that. Only reason it's 4 stars and not 5? The popcorn machine was broken. I had to watch an entire plane chase with just candy. Tragic. Still, would 100% return to witness more explosions and questionable spy logic in oversized cinematic form. read more

If you're going to come to the Bullock Texas History Museum, come on the first Sunday of the new month. It's free and the street parking meter is free too. It's a beautiful campus, with so many photo ops. You can even see the capital from here. It's 3 floors, with stairs and elevators available. Each floor has a theme. First floor is the history of the discovery of Texas. Parts of a ship, guns, artifacts, so on. The second floor is about all things Texas. Cotton gin, and when Texas become a state. The third floor was about music from Texas, like Janis Joplin. Willie Nelson, and some athletes like Mary Lou Retton. I liked the third floor. At the end of my tour, which is a self walk, took just under 2 hours. I went back to the first floor to check out their gift shop. There's a lot to look at in the gift shop. I actually picked up some great Christmas gifts. Getting a head start! read more

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Parking in the garage next door is not free during the day ($15) but there is no fee after 5PM. The Bullock is located downtown so you have to figure out your parking situation before you go. I thought there was the right amount of exhibits and things to see at this museum. The price was a good value as well ($13 for an adult). They are only open until 5PM each day, so plan accordingly. We went on a Saturday a few hours before closing and it was decently busy but not too crowded. A few kids were running around but it wasn't chaotic. It was nice that there were some interactive elements and things you could touch throughout the exhibits. I especially liked the large models of the sharks on the ground floor! read more

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I seem to find a way of sneaking chocolate into movie theaters.. .. I always have a few twix up my sleeve. My wife and I had a long day but still came out later and had a great movie night. Bullock was a balance of comfort, entertainment, and ambiance. Setting: The first thing that we noticed was the comfortable seating, not once did I have to adjust, it definitely was a comfortable place to sit and relax. Food and Drinks: Snacks and treats: The snack counter had a variety of snacks and drinks to enjoy during the movie. Most importantly they had Raisinets for me since they are my go-to. Bullock combined these elements perfectly for us and it was a great night, you can create a memorable and enjoyable movie night experience for yourself when you go. read more

Great museum! Informative, nostalgic and very well put together. If you have a couple of hours while you're in Austin I would check it out. read more

Bullock Texas State History Museum - Cinema Near Me - Austin, Texas

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An amazing museum with so much history! I spent 3 hours here and loved it! They really care about this place and it shows read more

Bullock Texas State History Museum - The entrance - Cinema Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Really cool museum! We really love the low riders exhibit they had this time! Super cool cars - overall the museum has a wide range of history but personally we really liked the more modern history on the 3rd floor and the low riders exhibits ! Free on the first Sunday of the month! read more

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This museum is large and modern with many spectacular displays, a large open design that shows off all three floors and a spacious entrance with details like the art built into the floor. There are several screening rooms for short films of each section's history, and numerous interactive elements throughout. Everything is arranged by time period with the ground floor showing the early history of Texas including Spanish and native artifacts and a huge 1600s French explorer's shipwreck that is being restored. The next floor has a nice Alamo facade and details about the revolution and pioneer life. And the top floor shows more modern eras including the discovery of oil and the moon landing. The open design makes some of the largest items visible from many angles such as the airplane hanging from the ceiling or the full-sized classic windmill, or the massive statue from the top of the Capitol. And everything is much like a textbook overview of the history of Texas with broad outlines and some artifacts to illustrate items used during those eras. Unfortunately there are very few really significant items to see on display. At the Smithsonian you can see George Washington's sword and the table the surrender was signed on to end the Civil War and Edison's first light bulb. Here you used to be able to see Santa Ana's chamber pot that was captured in battle, but even that was missing on my last visit. There are so many famous people and stories in Texas history it's a shame there aren't more remarkable objects here to appreciate. Instead it's usually an antique object or broken pottery that's an EXAMPLE of what people used in those days. And many things are reproductions too, like the statues and historic documents. I want to see famous relics used by famous people in famous events, not an overview textbook! Just the same, this museum is well worth seeing and has all features one expects like an IMAX theater, cafe, and well-stocked gift shop. It's probably worth the price of admission for people visiting from out of state and can take perhaps 2-3 hours to really absorb everything, but for Austinites I'd recommend coming on a free day such as Austin Museum Day. read more

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Such a cool museum. My husband and I went for our anniversary and really enjoyed ourselves. Will definitely be back many times!

Beautiful space and great collection of Texas history. Friendly staff and great central location. Highly recommend.

I enjoyed my time here until I started picking up on the whitewashing of history and science in some of the exhibits. First of all, a major factor in Texas' fight for independence against Mexico was Mexico's outlawing of slavery and Texas wanting to continue the institution of slavery, but this is barely mentioned. And, the Civil War is barely mentioned. In the oil and natural gas exhibit they have an "environmental impact" plaque. But it doesn't even mention climate change. These are not minor omissions. read more

One of the nicest and interesting museums I've ever been. Compact, informative, great amenities and not boring. I went there on free Sunday and I think it's my 6th time already. They rotate documentaries and gallery. It's not too crowded which I love. Parking is so easy to find on Sunday. Otherwise they have parking garage right there for $15 flat. Lots of interesting stuff and info about Texas and locals. read more

Bullock Texas State History Museum - Cinema Near Me - Austin, Texas

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It was simply great. I can't remember what I ate, though. I think I may have had too much to drink, but the food was great and you know Bullock was such a historical figure in Texas that you should go just to be at his place. read more

In a state where everything is bigger, and students study Texas history for several years, of course the history museum would cover centuries and centuries starting 16,000 years ago. So interesting to read about the early French explorers and the drama that unfolded as la Salle led an expedition that was plagued with discontent, loss of lives and ultimately a mutiny. His claims for the French crown later laid the framework for the US claim to parts of Texas during the Louisiana Purchase. Amazing to see one of the French galleons, La Bella, that sunk 300 years ago and has been restored. Continue up the stairs to see the history unfold from Spanish colonization to Mexican Independence from Spain. Next came the empresarios like Stephen F. Austin who recruited Americans to colonize the new country of Mexico. As the rights of the American colonists were taken away, the Texas battle for independence started. "Remember the Alamo." Although the Texans were able to win battles, the new Republic of Texas was saddled with debt and burdened with challenges. Texas ultimately was annexed and became the 28th state to join the Union. From the Civil War through Reconstruction, the Great Depression to the discovery of oil and the Race to the Moon, there is so much history under one roof. Especially enjoyed learning more about Jack Yates who played a large role in advocacy for education, landownership and open public parks in Houston. Admission is $13 per person. Reciprocal museum passes are accepted. Garage parking is available, but for a short visit, street parking is just $1.50 an hour. Welcome to the Lone Star State. read more

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