Love to visit my Frida and wander the HRC. I've seen a few different exhibits here and find that regardless of my initial interest, I leave wanting to know more. Fritz Henle's photography? Poe's mistresses? Coronelli celestial globes? Oh yeah, that's all in my google history now. Set up like an intimate museum with progressive library tendencies, the HRC is an absolutely beautiful space. I love flipping through the (electronic) Gutenberg bible and staring up the nostrils of various nostrils in the hallways. Since it's free and phenomenal, there is no excuse not to go. Unless you just hate knowledge, in which case, you have bigger issues, friend. read more

The museum downstairs is filled with beautiful and rare things that you can almost touch. The real wonder, however, is the upstairs reading room, with beautiful and rare things you can touch for as long as you want. Seriously. This is one of the most amazing things in Austin, and if you like to read AT ALL you must not miss this. Here's the procedure: The desk upstairs takes your drivers license and will have you fill out a little bit of paperwork. Then you watch a thirty minute movie and you're in! The reading room is filed with gorgeous busts of literary figures and writers and scholars working on new work. The selection is truly amazing- Pynchon manuscripts with his own notes, the private library of ee Cummings, Sartre's unpublished plays, drawings by Jean Cocteau, thirteen hundred letters by D.H. Lawrence... And the best? The librarians serve the books to your table, like a divinely literary feast. read more

Visual Intellectual and well currated The Gutenberg Bible... a wonderful treat! Illuminated manuscripts and any old rare book are one of my favorite things to look at. And they have lots of stuff for free.. films and the like in the evenings It is also not so large that it is exhausting or daunting.. quite the opposite.. just the right size for visual food for thought read more

Wow, what an amazing place. As others have said, the Harry Ransom Center is chock full of really neat items. My favorite was the Watergate papers section. It felt like someone had transported me back to the scene of the crime. Not a good place for children but an absoute perfect place for visiting parents and friends. Best of all, it's free. Harry Ransom Center is one of UT (maybe even Austin's) best kept secrets. Don't miss Picasso's plate! read more

I've been to the Ransom Center twice: once when I was in 8th grade, and once this past weekend. If you're artsy fartsy and well read then this is a great place to go, if you're a juicehead gorilla then 6th street is 15 blocks south. The exhibits at the center are forever rotating every six months. Until the end of July they're featuring a Tennessee Williams exhibit (which showcases gems such as handwritten letters from Williams to the Directors of The Glass Menagerie and first editions of his many literary masterpieces). Also, they have a collection of Robert De Niro memorabilia in a glass case that has his boxing gloves from Raging Bull. Yeah, the Ransom Center goes hard. Last, but certainly not least, a Gutenberg Bible lives there (one of the last seven existing) as does the first photograph ever taken. The best part is that you can see all of these priceless artifacts for FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! (Donations are encouraged) So if you find yourself bored one day, the Harry Ransom Center would love to host you for an hour or two. read more

The Harry Ransom Center is currently hosting the Norman Bel Geddes exhibit, which is fantastic. Bel Geddes was a VERY futuristic artist and visionary, and many of his original designs are on display, but are leaving soon! The HRC is on the Southwest corner of the UT campus, and is wonderful mainly because it's free! If you're on a low budget or interested in awesome free things in the downtown area, the HRC MUST be a stop for you. Other than the Bel Geddes exhibit, the HRC is packed with other things that are worth the visit, including an original Gutenberg Bible! That alone made the visit worth it for me. WARNING: Their hours are very strange... and they close pretty early in the day. Depending on the exhibit, it may not be open M-F, but only certain days of the week. read more

What makes Austin so great isn't 6th Street, UT, and definitely not the highways--it is all the great things you can do (for cheap) to educate yourself. Can I just interrupt myself and let you know how much I geeked out when I saw that the Harry Ransom Center had a Gutenberg Bible?!?! Regardless of personal faith, you must check this out. There are so few left in existence, I'm shocked that this is out for public display. This is a huge part of the world's history and it is available to the public to look at and come within inches of touching. It is such an important part of our past, that I'm in awe just Yelping about it. Seriously. As for the rest of the museum, it was on par with that grand entrance. Their other claim to fame is housing the first photograph. It is hard not to get excited about such artifacts being readily available just a few hours away. The non-permanent exhibits are always interesting and chock full of goodies (currently, they're doing a whole thing on Arthur Miller). The location is convenient, the grounds are beautiful, and all the employees are helpful and (gasp) knowledgeable. This has to be one of the finest treasures in all of Texas and should not be missed. read more

The collection at the HRC is small by museum standards, but it's filled with some really quality pieces. Lots of small water colors and oils on canvas; pastoral landscapes and studies of farm and wild animals. I was lucky enough to go when The Gutenberg Bible was being housed there. I feel very privileged to have been able to witness such a monumental piece of history. read more

Harry Ransom Center - Museums Near Me - Austin, Texas

MAKING OF GONE WITH THE WIND REVIEW If you haven't ever been to the HRC this is the time to go. Even if you are a luke warm GWTW fan or have just seen the movie once. GO. I am a self confessed GWTW nerd or "Windy" as we like to be called. Don't judge. I live in Atlanta and flew to Austin just to see this exhibit. I had known for years that the HRC had the green velvet curtain dress. When I found out they may exhibit it I knew I had to go. But there was so much more to this exhibit. Photos I have never seen. Trivia I got to learn. And the HRC does tours each day and those are wonderful. I went two days and enjoyed both tours. There is even a very detailed coffee table sized book with all of the info in it plus more (yes of course I bought it). It is worth the flight and defiantly worth a drive if you live within 5 hours! And they have other small things like the original photograph, a Frida self portrait and a Guttenburg Bible. ;) read more

The Ransom Center always seems to reel me in on random afternoons when I am practicing my procrastination. But I ventured there purposefully this time to see "Bonfire of Roadmaps," an exhibit of Joe Ely's sketches and verse from his 30-some years on the road. If you are a fan of his, this is a MUST SEE! And even if you know nothing about Texas musicians, this exhibit is worth a visit. After all, we are living in "the live music capital of the world." A founding member of The Flatlanders, Joe's poetry is at times mournful and evoking ... sometimes downright funny... and at others as unforgiving as a west Texas highway... Above all it is the beauty of a life lived out on 6 panels of paper. Check it out.. its on the 2nd floor... and why not... its free! read more

This is not going to be your typical review of the Ransom Center, but... it makes for a fantastic photo backdrop. I've been using the exterior glass walls, walkways, etc. for years for everything from just-for-fun to bridal sessions. It looks imposing at night, and approachable by day. I attended a special event here during my college years, and the inside is beautiful. I like the library ambiance and silence, the amazing collections we're lucky to have in town, and the librarians are very helpful for any kind of research. read more

We stopped in to see the World War I exhibit happening this week. It was a very enlightening and superbly packaged exhibit with photographs, letters, posters, and tons of information. This smallish museum packs a punch with their exhibits. It's FREE too!!! read more

Harry Ransom Center was a great experience. The Edgar Allan Poe exhibit was still showing, along with Frida Kahlo's self-portrait painting. I loved the E A Poe Exhibit, lots of good information about his life, writings, and how he has affected the literary world over the years. What makes it even great was the price tag... FREE!!! My suggestion are: - if you are the type that loves to go through every detail of an Exhibit, find parking that's good for 2 to 4 hours. ( just depends of the level of detail you like and if you want to visit the reading room) - If you have kids or if you are the type which enjoys some detail and does not need to read every single document shown, I would say a good hour will do. - Street parking by the college is 45 minutes max. - Reading Room was not open when we went, so check for times!. We went the day after Christmas and was able to walk through the college grounds. read more

If you love seeing wonderfully curated paintings, photographs, movie scripts, movie costumes, and theater memorabilia, then you will love the Harry Ransom Center. On permanent exhibit are the Gutenberg Bible and the World's First Photograph taken with a camera. I enjoy seeing these historic pieces every time I go to the HRC. The current exhibition in the main gallery "Mexico Modern". There are beautiful examples of art that was created after the Mexican Revolution (1920-1945). Examples include works by Diego Rivera, Frieda Kahlo, and Miguel Covarrubias. Also make a point of seeing the "Stories to Tell" exhibitions that include Edgar Allen Poe's writing desk and a costume from "Mad Men". It is extremely helpful to have a docent guide your through the exhibits. Tours take about an hour and are offered daily at noon. Check the Harry Ransom Center website for other times that tours are offered. I have found it difficult to understand the exhibitions without the help of a docent, so try to go on a tour if possible. read more

Where else can you see some great sculptures, art, photography (it has THE VERY FIRST PHOTOGRAPH, EVER!), and some of the most important literature ever written? Here in Austin, at the Harry Ransom center, that's where! Believe it or not, you can hold in your very own paws a Gutenberg bible, a first folio of Shakespeare's Hamlet, works by Charlotte Bronte, and the very tarot cards of that most wickedest man in the world, Aleister Crowley. Well worth a visit, and then a return! And what the hell...why not join? read more

I was greeted by two wonderful ladies who explained everything I needed to know about the Center as a first-timer. The layout of the Center was great, I loved the Gutenberg Bible, and the very first photograph ever taken! My only wish is that the center was bigger. But I will be back for future exhibits. read more

You would not believe what UT has wrangled up in this archive. The Gutenberg bible, Edgar Allen Poe's writing desk, The first photograph, the costumes from Gone with the Wind, and more first editions than you could shake a stick at. It is free for all and the docents, if you choose to have a tour, are incredibly knowledgeable. And you can take it all on for free. Now if only they would give me a job... read more

The two coolest things they have here are always on display and easy to get to: The Gutenberg Bible and the World's First Photograph. Both are worth seeing, although, the photograph is hard to see as it's dark and difficult to make out. I've been to several exhibits here as well, like the one on Gone with the Wind and one on Alice in Wonderland. It's completely free and a good way to take in some culture. read more

This little museum is a real gem. And it's free! We checked out On the Road with the Beats and Inside El Salvador. Both exhibits were thoughtfully curated, and I learned things from each. Can't wait for the next exhibit! read more

Yes, as good as it gets. The British may call the UT archivists bodysnatchers, but anyone who visits this place may call them saviors. The present Beatnik exhibit is beyond impressive. I grew out of the beatnik fascination when I came to the realization that the vast majority of the writing isn't very good and the chauvanism that was so pervasive in the counterculture did nothing but reinforce the chauvanism in post-War American life in a (crosses legs, lights cigarette) seperate, imagined cultural space, BUU-ut...it is the most extensive exhibit of its kind (for shame, San Francisco!). Inobtrusive lighting + thoughtfully laid out exhibit + free admission = awesome. read more

What an amazing resource for the students of UT and the city! The Ransom has the largest collection of literary manuscripts in the country and even has more British manuscripts than the brits! They also own the Gutenberg Bible and the first photograph. On my visit, I had the pleasure of seeing a great exhibition on the Beat Generation. Unfortunately I missed the Jack Kerouac "On the Road" scroll. If I was an English major, this place would have been heaven! read more

Small but great & FREE. Has the first photo and one of the few intact Gutenberg Bibles (where handwritten calligraphy morphed to type-set). Always a couple of additional interesting exhibits (this time they were Arts & Crafts Movement, Arthur Miller, & early photographic special effects. We always head here after trips to LBJ library and/or Blanton Museum read more

This is a cute little free museum on the University of Texas campus. I saw a great photography exhibit there on a rainy Sunday.

The galleries are closed for renovations through Aug. 16, 2016. The Gutenberg Bible, the first photograph, and a Frida Kahlo self-portrait are open for viewing. All interesting but perhaps not worth the walk from downtown, especially in the heat. read more

The ransom center is one of many Austin treasures. But in a city of so many cool things to do this ranks up near the top. If you haven't visited this small but significant museum do yourself a favor, plan a trip asap. This is one of those places/things that every time we go we think to ourselves, will this last? UT and the Ransom leadership have put together a world class selection of unique and eclectic items that are worth the trip and once your done, walk over to Players for a great burger. Thanks UT! read more

This is an ATX treasure, provided free of charge by the University of Texas. Unbelievable collections of modern culture, from photography to literature to film. Everyone should go! read more

I thoroughly enjoyed the Alice in Wonderland exhibit at the Harry Ransom Center, even though it was not as large and expansive as the Gone with the Wind exhibit (so I've heard). The items on display were great to look through and read about, they had an interactive area, and little activity books and cards that you could use while making your way through the exhibit. One great plus is that the Harry Ransom Center also has a Gutenberg bible on display - a rare treat indeed! However, i would have to say that the center itself is quite small - I can only imagine how crowded it must have been when showcasing large expansive exhibits. Also, parking around the area is horrible since it's mixed in with the UT campus (definitely opt to pay for parking in a nearby lot or the structure). Still, this is a good venue if you are interested in seeing historical items and viewing their exhibits. You can even make your way through the UT campus or dine in one of many restaurants up the street. read more

Harry Ransom Center - Check out the Alice in Wonderland exhibit until July - Museums Near Me - Austin, Texas

Overall, I would not rate this as one of the best museums I have been to, but it does have some amazing exhibits which you should not miss. For one, it has a complete Gutenberg bible. I got chills looking at it. 2, it has a Frida Kahlo self portrait which was pretty darn neat. 3. It has the first photograph. ever. The other exhibits I didn't find very impressive, though. They were difficult to follow, as far as gleaning information was concerned, and for me, uninteresting. Worth a look, though, if you want to spend 30-45 minutes somewhere. read more

I went here with a group of people for a guided tour of the Alice in Wonderland exhibit. I had never heard of this place and was very pleasantly surprised. Our tour guide patiently and knowledgeably answered our many questions. The exhibit was very interesting. Now I have a new place for my parents to go next time they visit while I'm at work. read more

This IS a true hidden gem of Austin. The bible is awesome ~ thank gawd for Gutenberg (the irony)! The building itself is a treasure, with elaborate etchings representing pieces in the collection. The busts in the corridor are fun, too. I agree that the lighting could be improved, but the free admission makes it worthwhile. This is always on my lists of stops when visitors come to town. Thanks to Hannah for the upstairs info ~ I've been waiting to check that out! read more

Free admission and great exhibits all the time. Check the website for what they have on display.

The Harry Ransom Center is incredible! I have visited the exhibits and done research at the center and it is exceptional on both counts. I have found the Liberians upstairs in the reading room to be immensely helpful in my research. The collections held by the ransom center are phenomenal the Ransom Center holds many original manuscripts by Tennessee Williams and other notable authors. Any serious student, scholar, or person interested in the knowledge of humanity really must stop by! read more

Hidden Gem at UT I've worked or gone to school at the University of Texas for decades and this is one of my favorite places to sneak off to in the middle of the day. It is also a good place to take my students. Right now they have an excellent World War I photography exhibit going on and they always have good exhibits on display. Getting in and touring the main exhibit is always free and the staff is incredibly helpful. When I take my students here I have been able to get permission to see the special collections. I'm not sure how the public gains access but I'm sure there is a way. I usually take my students to see their impressive collection of historic photographs. A lot of students really like seeing the original dresses from Gone with the Wind. If you find yourself on campus or simply want a good tour of Austin's cultural offerings, Harry Ransom is a must. Being free and open to the public certainly doesn't hurt either. Incidentally, if you do join as a member they have a lot of special members-only events that I have heard good things about. Also, two permanent exhibits that are worth seeing in the lobby: 1. They have an original Gutenberg Bible on display (highly significant if you know about the history of publishing) 2. They have the world's first photograph on display (also highly significant although not easy to really see much). read more

One of Austin's true treasures. Drop in any day and you're sure to be amazed.

The Harry Ransom Center is one of the crown jewels of the University of Texas. Many people recognize the HRC as a popular museum in Austin, but within its confines, the HRC houses many more treasures. Of particular value are the collections of rare books and antiquities. Most people are impressed by the Gutenberg Bible on display at the entrance, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. The HRC also offers various lectures throughout the year, including one series called "Poetry on the Plaza." I attended an event in this series about the poetry of Bob Dylan, and I am very glad that I did. Doing a little research into what the HRC offers before you go will make your trip more pleasurable. read more

This museum is beyond impressive. Be sure to take a tour with a docent in order to get a handle on what's really in this place. For some who are not well read or maybe don't have an interest in the subject matter they may find it a bit boring or why would we look at all these pieces of paper sort of a Blank Stare but for those who are well-read for those who study history for those who understand the value of first editions this place will knock your socks off whether you wear socks or not. The first thing that docent brought us to was there a copy of the Gutenberg Bible. It is a complete copy one of only a few existing in the world today oh my this Rarity cost them 30-40 years ago over two million bucks. However it is really priceless. The explanations the descriptions the stories behind it or fascinating and this is just the first thing when you come in the door oh my gosh. As we went around the museum with the dosing he showed us things that are Beyond description my sister-in-law who is very well-read and very well studied in this area had a smile that went on and on and on. It is now her favorite place on the planet. To see things from others that we've read to see paintings bye authors that were very very rare to see first editions to see notes in handwritten that were by famous authors as they created their works. All of this adds up two I'm not going to be a spoiler and tell you all the things we saw but I am going to say for a free museum this is top of the list for educational Museum this place is top of the list strong recommendation go here and take at least two to three hours. Take the docent to her twice if you don't get it it's amazing. Thank you Harry Ransom for making this possible read more

I specifically went to see the Gutenberg (which as someone else commented is not far from the front doors, but is actually inside its' own section - look for the dark circular structure). Seeing one of the surviving Bibles created by moveable type, and knowing how it set mankind on a sort of revolution by giving the world an easier access to books and reading, made as much of a deep impression on me as seeing the Rosetta Stone for the first time. I was also surprised but delighted to see the very first photograph, taken in 1826 or 1827 , and which is also on permanent display. I did spend a little time checking out the Magnum Photos exhibition, and if you are deeply into photography I think you may enjoy it. (The only photos that affected me were from 9/-11). A live poetry reading had also just started in the small theater, but I passed; if it ended up being something I disliked, I wouldn't have left to avoid being rude. Admission to all of this is free, so the price is right, although donations are welcome. (I left one in honor of the Gutenberg and the first photo). My advice: check online to see if it's worth making the trip to visit, and if you're near the UT campus (which it is part of) drop in. My hotel was within walking distance. read more

This is a fabulous place, and it's FREE! The only fly in the ointment, if you're traveling by car, is parking. Little to none on the streets, and $10 in a nearby lot. So spend a long day there to get your parking money's worth! The exhibits are the best-curated that I've seen, and they have lots of free special events, too. Get on their great enewsletter. It's amazing the collections of material they have there, and it's available for viewing by the public. read more

Nice museum area and exhibits with a lot of food options nearby. Air conditioning was a real treat after walking around in the Texas heat. Close to bus stops and lodging. Note special to researchers: be warned if you're coming here for archival research. The heavyset, balding older guy with a mustache who was working the desk needed some serious customer service training. I saw him pretty much yelling at an undergrad (as loud as acceptable in an archive, anyhow), and being generally unhelpful to researchers. Get a grip. Rest of the staff were quite pleasant; just avoid that one. read more

Gracious librarians ready to answer questions and interested in researchers. A very good experience every time I visit!