3.5 This is a great…read morelittle museum for the little ones but not much here for adults. There's a room with live animals, fish and even bees. Then there's a hall with rocks and gemstones. Then there were some stuff animals, bones and replicas. The final section was local Texas history. It didn't take long to see it all. They were also setting up a née display so many displays were empty. Bathrooms are in the meeting Hal next door and parking was ample.

Fabulous place with fabulous people!!…read more They promote and preserve the Brazos Valley heritage and do a fantastic job presenting their artifacts! The exhibit openings are fun!! The expert presenters are interesting and informative! If you've not been you need to see this place!

This is an old jail with some beautiful architecture on the outside, and some crazy living…read moreconditions on the inside. 100 years ago the sheriff both lived and worked at the jail. So when you walk in on the first floor it feels like you're in someone's house or home office. Then you go upstairs and it's a whole different world. Could easily imagine 50 to 100 people shoved in here. The docents are very friendly, and are clearly passionate about volunteering here.

This is one of the original jails for Bellville, TX. This is mostly a self-guided tour, though…read moresomeone does give you a little history beforehand. It's a couple of stories, but the top is closed off. The bottom is the house for the deputy who used to live there with his family. Each room has some artifacts and photographs. There are some guns on display and some mock-ups of an office desk. Near the back, you can access the staircase to go upward to the jail cells that look entirely different with their decaying metal. They recently installed A/C up there, which was a good idea. It's not a large museum and for the casual viewer won't take too long to see everything. For the photographer the upstairs is the most interesting part of the tour. Parking is on the street and donations are appreciated.

We are a great experience at Mayborn Science Theater. We brought our 3 young boys. The ticket…read moreprices are very reasonable. We loved learned about space. It isn't traditional, as you have to buy tickets in person. There are no food or drinks aloud in the theater. And you want to sit near the top, or in the last three rows for the best views. The 360 degree theater was a fun, educational, and memorable outing.

We did the Queen laser light show! It was fun! We really enjoy the show! I plan on returning…read moreagain.

TLDR: Great (free) museum full of large displays -- cars, tanks, and more. Located right before the…read moremilitary base -- if you miss the turn, stay left at the gate to turn around. Minimal interactive elements for toddlers but a lot to look at for older kids. Bonus: cavalry (horse) training facility next door -- you can pop in and ask for a quick tour or come by Thursdays at 10am for a weekly demonstration. Excellent museum that traces the history of the "mounted" soldier beginning with horseback and encompassing bicycles, trucks, tanks, helicopters, and more. Located just before the entrance to the military base. If you accidentally miss the turn for the museum, you'll arrive at the gate for the base. Don't panic -- stay left and there is a turnaround. It's not a big museum but I wouldn't call it small either. It's actually surprising how much stuff they were able to fit in the building. DISPLAYS: What makes this museum really stand out are all the amazing displays. We actually weren't able to read any of interpretive panels since we had our two toddlers with us and had to wrangle and chase them. While I would have loved to learn more, we were still able to get a lot out of this museum. Every room had an impressive display of some sort of mounted soldier and their transport (cars, tanks, even a full-size helicopter). The soldier models were very well done and some of the displays even incorporated immersive elements (lights and wind for the helicopter scene). Very awe-inspiring. KIDS: As far as being kid-friendly, it depends on your kids. It's better for older kids, I think. My kids (2YO and 3.5YO) got bored immediately. They weren't impressed by the models. They just want to touch stuff and this museum doesn't offer too many kid-friendly interactive activities (I get it -- it doesn't jibe with the solemn spirit and subject matter of the museum). They did have a Jeep photo opportunity outside the exhibit halls -- you can put on army jackets and helmets and take photos in the Jeep. My kids enjoyed that. Perhaps they could add a couple more interactive kids' activities in the main hall (where the vibe is a bit less solemn). Anyway, I think older children and babies would do best here. I should also add that the women's restroom had an excellent changing station (see photo). STAFF: The staff here is extremely nice and welcoming. HORSES: If your kids like horses -- the museum is located next to the cavalry training facility. If you plan to come by on Thursday at 10am, you can view their weekly cavalry demonstration. That's a tough time for working folks/parents so if you're visiting the museum at a different time, you can also swing by and ask for a tour. The folks at the museum confirmed that this was very much a possibility so we went over. A super nice guy took us around to meet a few of the horses and learn about the facility. They don't use horses for combat purposes anymore so this is really just for the sake of tradition. We were able to pet a couple of the friendlier horses. This was a nice bonus.

Great Museum, covers every US military combat action In sequence. Audio, reading, photos, maps all…read moreeasy to follow, even radio handles to pick up and listen to recordings for real time combat missions. Very well coordinated, clean, and the NCOs at the front are very helpful without asking. Only missing the Tank n vehicles display from the old museum

We have been here twice and have loved it both times! There is SO much to do. So many floors and…read morethemed rooms of fun for all ages (bubble room, craft room, trains, grocery store, sound and light, tea room, etc). This is also a great value! Admission was affordable and was part of our "GetOut" austin passes. The only tricky thing may be parking. There are a lot of spaces, but each time we've gone it's been a full lot. Would definitely recommend this place for kiddos!

We were thoroughly surprised by the Mayborn Museum. It looks small but it offers so much for kids…read more The first floor is the museum and the second floor is interactive and mainly for kids. We spent the whole day here except going out for lunch as they offer re-entry. Check out the Design Lab and Lights and Sounds areas. We had the most fun there. Also, there are scavenger hunts all over the museum so keep your eyes open for those.

I've been to many museums through the years. This was my first visit to a presidential…read moremuseum/library, and it was spectacular. In addition to a 25-minute video production about the life of President George H.W. Bush (during which I shed a tear), there are more artifacts here than you can shake a stick at. The guides are quite friendly and knowledgeable, and they are prepared to answer questions. During my visit, there were several original artifacts on display, including FDR's speech on Dec. 8, 1941, and Elvis Presley's original enlistment documents. But those are traveling exhibits. There is plenty of Bush family memoriblia to quench your thirst for some up-close history.

I love visiting Presidential Libraries when I happen to be in the area. So far I have visited the…read moreones for Hoover (West Branch, IA), Johnson (Austin, Tx), Nixon (Yorba Linda, CA), Reagan (Simi Valley, CA), Truman (Independence MO), and now George H.W. Bush. I was in College Station over the weekend for a Texas A&M Class of 1980 Reunion, and part of the agenda was paying this place a visit. The George H. W. Bush Presidential Library complex, located on the campus of Texas A&M University in College Station, includes the Presidential Library and Museum, the Bush School of Government and Public Service, and the Annenberg Presidential Conference Center. My visit included the main Museum, a separate building holding the very cool Union Pacific 4141 Engine and the Marine One Helicopter, and the graves of President Bush, his Wife Barbara, and their Daughter Robin. The later involves a pretty walk around a scenic pond (and rose garden area) and onwards to a gated plot within a quiet woodsy area. If Gayle is reading this, of course I also took a look through the gift shop at the end of my visit. I found the main museum to be nicely curated, in chronological order, and with lots of interesting things to learn and remember. I found that I needed at least a couple passes through to help layer my visit. Of particular note (besides the 4141 and Marine One) were exhibits noting the fall of the Berlin Wall, Camp David, the family boat (Fidelity), and the car that the Bush family drove out to Texas for the first time. There was also a special (and worth visiting) exhibit when I was there Music America: Iconic Objects From America's Music History. Also, please don't miss the 22 minute orientation video when you first start in. I found that it really helped set the stage for what was to come at this museum.

I was so lucky we found this place. Just when you think you know a lot, you come across a cotton…read moregin and your mind explodes. I never know what went into cotton ginning....heck, I didn't know what it was. the museum admission is free, but there is small fee for guided gin tours. Stormee is very knowledgeable and helpful. She showed us a short film depicting the history of the gin and the wonderful folks that ran it There is a little store where you can purchase items - we bought some homemade cinnamon honey. There is a small cotton patch and a path that leads to the gin. You can peak in the see the "Lady B" engine. If you can make it for the 3rd Saturday in April, that's when they have the annual Burton Cotton Gin festival. I bet that is awesome.

A total hidden gem that's absolutely worth a stop--whether you're in the area or not…read more Stormee, our tour guide, was incredibly kind and brought the history to life with stories and insight that made the experience unforgettable. It's a rare chance to see the oldest operating cotton gin in America, and the whole visit feels like stepping back in time.

Well, I can tell you that prior to visiting here, I had no idea about the German POW camps in…read moreAmerica. The tour guide was very informative and had a lot to say about all the displays. There was a video from the History channel that you can watch as well. We came during the summer months, so seeing the outside wasn't as feasible, but you can drive by the pads where the buildings were and see the old water tower. If you love history, especially WWII come check this out.

I know it's not like those super fancy historical museums in New York or D.C., even much smaller…read morethan the Bush library in College Station. The reason why I gave it 5 stars is because the lady works there really love this tiny museum and really want you to feel it worth a stop! And she made it! We spent 1 hour in a museum only have three rooms and she explained everything so well and I feel like I learn the history of World War II again! If you are a liberal art major and you happen to be somewhere around Hearne, you should go and visit sometime!

Really impressive to step into an archaeological dig site. Nicely air conditioned, short outdoor…read morewalk to the dig site. Nice gift shop. Didn't realize there was a national park service thing in Waco!

As a National Park enthusiast, I was really excited to learn this site wasn't too far from my…read morefriend's house and so I was ecstatic to visit Waco Mammoth National Monument while in Texas. I'm also glad I happened to bring my National Park passport (you just never know!) Anyway, Waco Mammoth is definitely one of the more unusual units of the National Park System I've visited but also worth the visit!!! The history behind the site is fascinating. After two men discovered bones in 1978, researchers from Baylor University and other institutions began excavating the area and quickly realized they had uncovered something incredible! More and more fossils were found and in 2015 my guy President Obama established the site as an official unit of the National Park System. Though, one thing visitors should know ahead of time is that even though this is a National Park Service site, our America the Beautiful passes do NOT work here. General entry to the park grounds is free, but there is a separate fee to enter the dig shelter because it is operated in partnership with the City of Waco to help support preservation efforts. The actual dig shelter is absolutely the highlight of the experience, though you'll need to join a guided tour led by a docent. Hopefully you end up with one who is especially knowledgeable and enthusiastic because that really makes the experience come alive. I loved seeing the nation's first and only recorded evidence of a nursery herd of Colombian Mammoths from the Ice Age! So neat. At least 19 mammoths were discovered and the jury (err, scientists) are still out on how exactly these mammoths came to be trapped at this site/the reasoning for their passing. Anyway, this is a fascinating stop and absolutely worth visiting if you're in the Waco area, especially if you enjoy history, science, paleontology, or just visiting National Park units. It's not a full-day destination by any means, but it's definitely educational, memorable, and offers something very different from the typical national park experience!

Mom and I finally made it to the Memorial Museum. After paying our $5 (each) admission, we spent…read moreabout 45-minutes looking at all the exhibits. Not every exhibit dealt with Texas Independence. There is an amphitheater in the rear of the building, and a great reflection pool at the front of the museum. Definitely very worthwhile checking out the museum. While there, be sure to also check out the nearby Veterans Plaza and Horace Eggleston House.

I'm a huge history buff (especially when it comes to Texas and early American history.) So when I…read morefound out the original "Come and Take It" cannon was in Gonzales, you best believe I made a beeline for the museum. There are two wings, but it definitely feels smaller once you're inside than it looks from the outside. The other wing on the opposite side of the building houses artifacts documenting local life of the families in the community including jewelry, clothing, dolls, household equipment, etc. But of course - it's the cannon that everyone is there for. I'll start with the good: the cannon itself is super cool to see in person. It's a bit smaller than the dramatic image most of us likely have in our heads, but it's still incredibly interesting knowing it's the real deal. The story of how they authenticated it was actually one of the most interesting parts things I learned in the museum (which I'd been wondering that exact thing as I learned about its history before I got to that exhibit). That said - I did walk away a tad disappointed. Aside from the main display with the cannon and a few small exhibits and video, the museum quickly shifted into a general "war museum." There are guns, uniforms, and donated artifacts from local families. For a museum built around one of the most iconic symbols of Texas independence, I just expected little more storytelling, more context, and more artifacts from that era. if you're a history lover, it's worth a stop just to see the cannon. Just don't expect a full deep dive into the revolution. It's def more of a general walk through of local history but with one heck of a legendary artifact as its centerpiece.