Austin isn't short on history and its museums are a way to experience every bit of that history. Whether you're a history buff, have children or just want a nice way to spend an afternoon in Austin, give these museums a try. They are but a small sampling of the variety of museums in this city.
AMOA - Downtown (located at 823 Congress Avenue)
Art
The Austin Museum of Art - Downtown (AMOA) is a branch of AMOA which has a few locations around town. This version was opened in 1996. It has over 12,000 square feet of gallery area and features mostly 20th century art. In addition to permanent installations, the museum has tours, lectures and live events.
Austin Museum of art at Laguna Gloria (located at 3809 W. 35th Street)
This museum is one of the best local art museums. The collections are showcased in a Mediterranean-style villa that was originally built in 1916. There is lots of art from the 20th century, including many pieces from local Austin artists. The museum also features traveling exhibits that bring new art to the area.
Blanton Museum of Art (located on the University of Texas campus at 200 E. Martin Luther King Blvd.)
This is the nation's largest university art museum and is well recognized throughout Austin as one of the best to visit. It features more than 17,000 pieces of artwork dating back hundreds of years. Among the many galleries you'll find work from European, American and Latin American masters. There is always something new in the museum, so be sure to visit often.
Lyndon B. Johnson Library and Museum (located on the University of Texas campus at 2313 Red River Street)
For those interested in the history of one of the famous presidents from Texas, this museum is a interesting stop. This is a ten story building on the University of Texas's campus, It includes papers, gifts of state, displays about Johnson's upbringing and even a replica of the Oval Office when he was president. This museum is free, based on the former president's wishes.
Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center (located on the University of Texas campus at Guadalupe and 21st Street)
Another one of the University of Texas museums, the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center is one of the most unique museums in all of Austin. It has a wide variety of exhibits, including an original Gutenberg Bible, the first photograph ever made and the recreation of the office where Erle Stanley Gardner wrote the "Perry Mason" stories.
Mexi-Arte Museum (located at 419 Congress Avenue)
No town in the southwest would be complete without a museum that exhibits art from Mexico and Latin-American countries. The Mexi-Arte museum is one of the most popular in Austin. It has several permanent exhibitions and also traveling shows that come through the museum from around the country. It is also host of cultural enrichment programs and live events.
Again, these are just a few of the many, many museums located within Austin. After exploring these, you're bound to enjoy the dozens of others in the city.
Museums in Austin
Joe Cline writes articles for Austin real estate. Other articles written by the author related to Austin realtor and Westlake Hills real estate can be found on the net.