Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
MAP
GOOGLE MAP
( 512-936-8746; www.thestoryoftexas.com ; 1800 Congress Ave; adult/child 4-17yr $9/6, Texas Spirit film $5/4;
9am-6pm Mon-Sat, noon-6pm Sun) This is no dusty old historical museum. Big, glitzy and still re-
latively new, it shows off the Lone Star State's history, all the way from when it used to be
part of Mexico up to the present, with high-tech interactive exhibits and fun theatrics. Al-
low at least a few hours for your visit.
Ground-floor exhibits re-imagine the Native American experience and later arrival of
French Jesuits, Spanish conquistadores and other frontier settlers. Upstairs, visitors trace
the revolutionary years of the Republic of Texas, its rise to statehood and economic ex-
pansion into oil drilling and space exploration, even Western movies and home-grown
music from Bob Wills to Buddy Holly to the Big Bopper.
The museum also houses Austin's first IMAX theater (check website for listings; adult/
child four to 17 years $8/6) and the Texas Spirit Theater (adult/child four to 17 years $5/4),
both of which offer discounted combination tickets when bought with a museum admis-
sion. The Texas Spirit Theater is where you can see The Star of Destiny , a 15-minute
special-effects film that's simultaneously high-tech and hokey fun.
Museum parking is $8.
AMOA-Arthouse
MAP
MUSEUM
GOOGLE MAP
( 512-453-5312; www.amoa-arthouse.org ; 700 Congress Ave; adult/under 18yr $5/free; 11am-7pm Tue-Sat,
noon-5pm Sun) The love child of the Austin Museum of Art and the Arthouse has a cool new
downtown space and a freshly hyphenated name. AMOA-Arthouse focuses on rotating
exhibits representing fresh new voices - both in its main gallery, the Jones Center, as well
as the museum's original home at Laguna Gloria (3809 W 35th St).
Located on the shores of Lake Austin, Laguna Gloria is an Italianate villa built in 1916
- the former home of Texas legend Clara Driscoll. It still serves as a rotating exhibition
space, plus the grounds are nice for a wander.
Mexic-Arte Museum
MAP
MUSEUM
GOOGLE MAP
( 512-480-9373; www.mexic-artemuseum.org ; 419 Congress Ave; adult/under 12yr/student $5/1/4; 10am-6pm
Mon-Thu, to 5pm Fri & Sat, noon-5pm Sun) This wonderful, eclectic downtown museum features
works from Mexican and Mexican American artists in exhibitions that rotate every two
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Search WWH ::




Custom Search