Texas Science & Natural History Museum

09/02/2026

September is packed with free events, fascinating talks and opportunities to connect with the community! 🎟️

Sept. 20, 1–5 p.m.: Celebrate Austin Museum Day with free admission and explore prehistoric giants, remarkable Texas wildlife and hands-on exhibits as part of this citywide event from Austin Museum Partnership.

🦇 Sept. 24, 6 p.m.: “The Power of Bat Conservation: kicks off our 2026-27 free Titan Talks lecture series, sponsored by . Dr. Karin Akre of Bat Conservation International will explore bats’ essential roles in ecosystems and efforts to protect them. Registration required.

🏺 Sept. 26, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.: Discover Texas history and heritage during the free Texas Archeology Fair with Texas Historical Commission. Meet experts, enjoy hands-on activities and learn how archeology and paleontology help us understand the past.

🔎 Sept. 27, 1–5 p.m.: Explore the museum for free during Free Fourth Sunday! No tickets or reservations are required.

❤️ Sept. 29, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.: Lend a helping arm during the Mobile Blood Drive with We Are Blood. Each donor will receive a free museum pass to use that day or on a future visit. Appointments are encouraged; walk-ins are welcome.

Visit the link in bio to see event details, register and plan your visit!

08/28/2026

You’re looking at Ice Age predator, 𝘏𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘶𝘮 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘶𝘮.

This extinct cat roamed the grasslands of Texas 20,000 years ago. Commonly confused with 𝘚𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘰𝘥𝘰𝘯, the saber-toothed cat, 𝘏𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘶𝘮 is colloquially known as the scimitar-toothed cat.

While 𝘚𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘰𝘥𝘰𝘯 had larger canines, 𝘏𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘶𝘮‘s canines were serrated like a butter knife. This is one of the differences paleontologists use to tell these two fossil species apart.

Both 𝘚𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘰𝘥𝘰𝘯 and 𝘏𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘶𝘮 are machairodonts, a family of extinct cats which are cousins of, but not ancestors to, modern day cats.

Learn more about 𝘏𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘶𝘮 and other prehistoric animals of the Lone Star State at Texas Science & Natural History Museum.

08/27/2026

Beat the Texas heat with a cool trip through Texas’ natural history! Explore towering fossils, Texas wildlife and hands-on exhibits—all indoors. ☀️❄️

Plan your visit at sciencemuseum.utexas.edu

08/20/2026

08/20/2026

Central Texas teachers: Bring classroom learning to life with a field trip to Texas Science & Natural History Museum! Planning resources include TEKS-aligned activities, grade-level learning objectives and clear connections to state standards.

Plan your field trip today—and make your next learning experience a BIG one!

08/19/2026

We were honored to welcome Dr. William Inboden, The University of Texas at Austin Executive Vice President and Provost, to the museum yesterday. During a tour with Managing Director Carolyn Connerat and Exhibition and Outreach Associate Dr. Liam Norris, he explored millions of years of Texas’ unique natural history and learned how the museum’s immersive learning experiences support UT’s teaching and public engagement missions. Thank you for visiting, Dr. Inboden! 🤘

Photo: Dr. Liam Norris (left) and Dr. William Inboden stand together in front of the Texas Tyrannosaur at Texas Science & Natural History Museum.

08/19/2026

Beat the heat this Sunday, Aug. 23 with FREE admission for the whole family at Texas Science & Natural History Museum, thanks to H-E-B!

Explore towering fossils, prehistoric creatures, Texas wildlife and hands-on experiences throughout the museum. Discover the fascinating world of bats in our newest special exhibit, "Masters of the Night: The True Story of Bats," learn something new and make great memories together.

📍 2400 Trinity St. on The University of Texas at Austin campus
🕐 Open 1–5 p.m. (last admission at 4:30 p.m.)
🚗 Paid parking available in San Jacinto Garage
🎟️ No tickets required

Plan your visit at sciencemuseum.utexas.edu and tag someone you'd like to join you!

08/15/2026

We love hearing from you!

At Texas Science & Natural History Museum, our goal is to inspire wonder and curiosity about our state’s unique natural history—and we’re glad these visitors felt that spark. 🌍🦖

Are you ready to squeeze in one last trip to the museum this summer? Plan your visit at http://sciencemuseum.utexas.edu

08/14/2026

What can fossilized teeth and bones reveal about Texas bats? 🦇

Dr. John Moretti and Dr. Liam Norris explore why caves preserve so many bat fossils—and how these specimens help researchers investigate changes in bat diversity and distribution over time. Thanks to researchers like Dr. Moretti, the Texas Vertebrate Paleontology Collections, Texas’ leading fossil repository, holds an extensive collection of bat fossils from caves across the state.

Learn more about the natural history of bats in our Masters of the Night exhibit.

08/13/2026

There’s still time to make a few more summer memories—and get those back-to-school brains buzzing! 🧠

Discover immersive exhibits exploring paleontology, geology, ecology, astronomy and more, and show kids just how much fun learning can be!

Make Texas Science & Natural History Museum part of your family’s end-of-summer adventure. Plan your visit at http://sciencemuseum.utexas.edu.