Located just one block north of the Texas State Capitol Complex, anyone interested in immersing themselves in Texas culture and history should check out the Bullock Texas State History Museum.

Image of a boy looking into a glass display case with his parents standing behind him.
Courtesy of Bullock State History Museum.

Exhibits

More than 9 million visitors from around the state and all over the world have explored Texas history and culture at the Bullock Texas State History Museum since it opened in 2001. In addition to the permanent exhibits that explore various periods and important influences in Texas history, the museum features several rotating galleries throughout the year. These galleries have ranged from art depicting Texas wildlife to collections by African American artists in honor of Black History month to artifacts from the U.S.-Mexico War. See what’s currently on display and upcoming exhibits here.

Within the museum, each floor is geared to walk you through the history and story of the state, with the first floor discussing the division of the land, cultures who developed the area and colonizing battles. Moving up to the second floor, visitors see how the identity of Texas was built, and how bringing together different divisions across the land helped build our unique state culture. Once you make it to the top floor, the museum approaches more modern history, and how the state functions within the nation. Insider Tip: Plan your visit around the monthly Free First Sunday, where admission is free for visitors on the first Sunday of the month.

Film

The museum contains three floors of exhibit space, the Texas Spirit Theater and an IMAX Theatre which seats more than 400 guests at a time. In addition to screening current and popular films, the Spirit Theater regularly hosts presentations about the history and destiny of the Lone Star State and the IMAX Theatre projects in both 2-D and 3-D films.

Image of the plane hanging on the top floor of the Bullock State History Museum.
Courtesy of the Bullock State History Museum.

Cafe & Shop

Take a break from your history lesson at The Star Cafe. The space offers breakfast and lunch, including pastries and parfaits in the morning, and farm-to-table salad bar, gourmet sandwiches, and more in the afternoon. Look for the Chef's Weekly Special, focusing on seasonal ingredients from farms around the state like Just Peachy Farm in Palestine, Markley Family Farm in New Braunfels, G&S Groves in McAllen and Rain Lily Farm in Austin, among others.

Bring a bit of the Lone Star state home with you – check out the on-site museum store after lunch or on your way out. Didn’t get to it during your visit? Visit their online store anytime.

Hours & Accessibility

The museum is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission includes access to all special exhibitions and Texas History Galleries. Visit the website for the latest information on hours and admission.

From the underground parking garage, with accessible spaces and elevators, to the wide-open Lone Star Plaza, the Museum offers easily accessible routes and helpful, readily available staff. Exhibitions feature open captioning and/or written transcripts. Rear Window® and descriptive listening devices are available for all Museum-produced films. Each floor is accessible by elevator. Wheelchairs are available for check-out and accessible restrooms and water fountains are available throughout the museum. Find further accessibility information online.

After visiting the Bullock Museum, there is still plenty to do in this bustling area of town. Walk south along the newly completed Texas Capitol Mall, a pedestrian green space from the Capitol Complex to MLK Blvd., and take a tour of the Texas State Capitol Building. Or, cross the street just north of the Bullock Museum and visit the Blanton Museum of Art, the largest public collection of contemporary and modern art in Central Texas.