Originally founded for the 1936 Texas Centennial, the Texas Science & Natural History Museum (formerly the Texas Memorial Museum) is Austin’s premier destination for dinosaurs, fossils, and Texas’ rich natural history. Located on the University of Texas campus, the museum was established after early Texas researchers sounded the alarm that major fossil discoveries—like the Texas-native Dimetrodon—were being shipped to museums on the East Coast due to a lack of collection facilities in the state.

Inside, visitors can explore giant dinosaur skeletons, Ice Age fossils, rare gems, and meteorites that have fallen on Texas soil. The museum’s standout exhibit is the 17-foot Quetzalcoatlus, the largest flying creature ever discovered, found in Texas’ Big Bend region.

After closing for extensive renovations in 2022, the museum reopened in 2023 with refreshed exhibits and a new name, continuing its mission to preserve Texas’ prehistoric wonders for future generations. Whether you’re a science enthusiast or just love dinosaurs, this museum is a must-visit for exploring Texas’ ancient past.