 Museum of Fine Arts -- Houston Founded in 1900, the Museum of Fine Arts -- Houston is the largest art museum in the Southwest. The encyclopedic collection of the MFAH numbers more than 51,000 works and embraces the art of antiquity to the present. Featured are the finest artistic examples of the major civilizations of Europe, Asia, North and South America, and Africa. Italian Renaissance paintings, French Impressionist works, photographs, American and European decorative arts, African and Pre-Columbian gold, American art, and European and American paintings and sculpture from post-1945 are particularly strong holdings. Admission is free all day on Thursdays. Children (18 and under) with a Houston Public Library PowerCard or any Public Library card receive free general admission on Saturday and Sunday. The Lillie and Hugh Roy Cullen Sculpture Garden Admission is free.
Buffalo Soldiers National Museum The primary objectives of the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum and Heritage Center are to preserve, promote and perpetuate the history, tradition and outstanding contributions of the Buffalo Soldiers toward the development and defense of the United States of America. Pictured: A photo of the 10th cavalry in 1914. Admission is $2 per person. Located at 1834 Southmore. Online: http://www.buffalosoldiermuseum.com
Dunham Bible Museum With an extensive collection of rare American Bibles, the Dunham Bible Museum at Houston Baptist University shows the Bible's influence in American history, government, education and culture. Free admission. Located at: 7502 Fondren Rd. Online:http://www.hbu.edu/hbu/Dunham_Bible_Museum.asp?SnID=1680673765
Houston Arboretum and Nature Center The Houston Arboretum and Nature Center is a 155-acre forest sanctuary in Memorial Park. Visitors can walk the five miles of trails free of charge. Address: 4501 Woodway Drive. Online: http://www.houstonarboretum.org
Holocaust Museum Houston Charged with educating students and the public about the dangers of prejudice and hatred in society, The Holocaust Museum Houston is dedicated to remembering the 6 million Jews and other innocent victims of the Holocaust and honoring the legacy of the survivors. Located at 5401 Caroline. Online: http://www.hmh.org. Admission is free.
Gulf Greyhound Park Gulf Greyhound Park is the world's premier pari-mutuel greyhound-racing complex, offering fast-paced action just south of Houston at 1000 FM 2004 in La Marque. General admission is $1. Online: http://www.gulfgreyhound.com
Buffalo Bayou ArtPark The Buffalo Bayou ArtPark is an artist-run, non-profit organization that places temporary public art in open spaces across Houston and Harris County. The Buffalo Bayou ArtPark brings internationally renowned artists to Houston each spring to develop and install public art works with the assistance of the sculpture students of the University of Houston. These are displayed in public areas across the city for limited periods of time, and you can see them all for free! Located at 100 Sabine Street. http://www.bbap-houston.org
 John P. McGovern Museum of Health and Medical Science
Explore giant sculptures of human organs, including a brain, ribs and mouth, at the John P. McGovern Museum of Health and Medical Science -- the most-visited health museum in the country. Located at 1515 Hermann Drive. Online: http://www.thehealthmuseum.org The museum offers free admission on Thursdays 2-5 p.m. There is an admission charge for special exhibits during these Free Family Thursday hours. The price for Planet You is $3 per person. The price for Backyard Monsters: The World of Insects is $3 per person.
The Heritage Society The Heritage Society is the city's only outdoor, interactive historic museum and park. Nestled in 19 acres of beautiful green parkland in the heart of downtown Houston, The Heritage Society boasts 8 historic structures dating from 1823 to 1905. The museum gallery is always free. Located at 1100 Bagby. Online: http://www.heritagesociety.org
The Kemah Boardwalk The Kemah Boardwalk, on Galveston Bay, is a spectacular waterfront destination with themed restaurants, the Boardwalk Inn hotel, amusement rides, dancing fountains, midway games and retail shops. Located at 8 Waterfront, 701 4th Street, Kemah TX. Online:http://www.kemahboardwalk.com
Houston Center for Contemporary Craft Garden The Houston Center for Contemporary Craft Garden serves as a demonstration garden devoted to plants associated with weaving, dyeing, paper making and basketry. The Garden is open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, and is free of charge. There are periodic demonstrations and classes. Located at 4848 Main Street. Online: http://www.crafthouston.org
Water Wall Water Wall: This 64-foot curved, black obsidian wall is an extraordinary sight and even more amazing when illuminated at night. Designed and created in 1985 by the internationally acclaimed architectural team of Philip Johnson and John Burgee, the Water Wall pumps 78,500 gallons of recycled water every three hours and 20 minutes. What's more, it's free to see it. Located at 2800 Post Oak Blvd
 
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