Interesting facts

1. The Houston Museum District consists of 19 independent cultural, artistic, and scientific institutions. 2. The district is divided into four walkable zones to help visitors navigate the area easily. 3. The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH) is one of the largest art museums in the United States, spanning multiple distinct campuses. 4. Over 8 million people visit the Houston Museum District every year. 5. The Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS) is consistently one of the most-attended museums in the United States. 6. The HMNS features one of the largest dinosaur halls in the world, the Morian Hall of Paleontology, where skeletons are mounted in dynamic, "in-action" poses. 7. The Menil Collection, though technically just outside the main cluster, is a world-renowned free museum featuring the private collection of founders John and Dominique de Menil. 8. The Rothko Chapel, located near the Menil, is a non-denominational chapel and major work of modern art featuring 14 massive black but color-hued paintings by Mark Rothko. 9. Children's Museum Houston is frequently ranked as the #1 children's museum in the United States by various national publications. 10. Eleven of the 19 museums in the district are free to the public all the time. 11. Almost all institutions in the district offer a "Free Thursday" (usually in the afternoon/evening) where general admission is waived. 12. The Holocaust Museum Houston is the fourth largest Holocaust memorial museum in the United States. 13. The Buffalo Soldiers National Museum is dedicated to exploring the history and contributions of African American soldiers in the U.S. military. 14. The district is connected by Houston's METRORail Red Line, making it easily accessible from Downtown and the Texas Medical Center. 15. The Contemporary Arts Museum Houston (CAMH) is housed in an iconic stainless-steel building shaped like a parallelogram. 16. The Jung Center of Houston, located in the district, was founded in 1958 and offers over 200 classes annually on psychology, art, and philosophy. 17. Hermann Park, which anchors the district, features the Mecom Fountain, one of the most photographed architectural landmarks in the city. 18. The Health Museum features a larger-than-life journey through the human body, including a massive walk-through brain and heart. 19. The district includes the Czech Center Museum Houston, celebrating the culture and art of Bohemia, Moravia, and Slovakia. 20. The massive oak trees lining the streets of the Museum District were planted in the 1920s, heavily championed by early civic leaders to beautify the city.