The scientific society
The Houston Museum and Scientific Society was founded in 1909. Much of the museum’s first collection was acquired between 1914 and 1930, and it was renamed the Houston Museum of Natural Science in 1960.
Hermann Park
The museum’s present home on the northern edge of Hermann Park was built between 1964 and 1969. The Burke Baker Planetarium opened in 1969, the giant-screen theatre in 1989 and the Cockrell Butterfly Center in 1994.
A museum for many
The Morian Hall of Paleontology wing opened in 2012. In 2024 the museum welcomed about 1.5 million visitors, which made it one of the most visited museums in the United States.



