Select: [A] [B] [C] [D] [E] [F] [G] [H] [I] [J] [K] [L] [M] [N] [O] [P] [R] [S] [T] [U] [V] [W] [X ] [Y] [Z]
Many of the sites listed below have education coordinators as well who can assist you in your planning.
The following document provides valuable information on how to plan a successful field trip experience:
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ACCESS
To join ACCESS
click here.
The Austin Collaborative of Educational Sites and Schools (ACCESS) exists to facilitate experiential learning by promoting opportunities for collaboration between local K-12 schools and the city's many museums and art houses.
Educators who join ACCESS enjoy such benefits as:
- annual summer workshops where they are introduced to the educator resources of local museums and cultural sites
- the opportunity to bring to their campuses ACCESS' Traveling Exhibits program*
*provided through a grant from Humanities Texas
SPRING 2010 Exhibits Announced - Sign Up Now to Participate!
Reservation weeks go fast,
join now to reserve your week on the calendar for one of the following 2010 Traveling Exhibits:
To reserve, contact Sue Soy or Terry Loessin ASAP!!!
Austin Children's Museum
Austin Children's Museum creates innovative learning experiences for children and families that equip and inspire the next generation of creative problem solvers.
The Austin Children's Museum is committed to being an educational resource for teachers and students from pre-school through elementary school. We offer support through professional development workshops and guided field trips for school groups to experience hands-on learning and discovery as a supplement to their classroom experience.
Austin History Center
512-974-7480
As the local history collection of the Austin Public Library, the Austin History Center provides the public with information about the history, current events, and activities of Austin and Travis County.
- VIEW VIDEO about the Austin History Center.
Austin Museum of Art
823 Congress Ave
Tour Coordination:
Michaela Black;
495-9224 ext. 213 Reflecting the unconventional spirit of Austin, AMOA-Downtown offers informative and informal art experiences oriented towards the interests of a broad general audience. The welcoming and centrally located galleries serve as the Museum's principal exhibition site and present continually changing exhibitions and education programs that showcase an array of twentieth-century and contemporary art.
- To complement the art on view, the Museum presents a broad range of accessible, interdisciplinary, and hands-on public education programs for school children, families, and adults. These art experiences include gallery tours, performances, teacher workshops/resources and guest lectures.
Austin Nature & Science Center
Located on the western edge of Zilker Park, the Austin Nature & Science Center is dedicated to the exploration of the natural world.
Its mission aims to provide 
Austin Nature &
Science Center
301 Nature Center Dr
512-327-8181 individuals, families, and groups from the surrounding Central Texas area with educational and recreational opportunities which increase each person’s knowledge, awareness, and appreciation of the Central Texas natural environment and its connection to other world ecosystems. This purpose is best achieved through the ANSC’s role as a "living museum," whose efforts are focused on the creative use of specifically planned interpretive exhibits, programs, collections, and trails.
Since 1960, ANSC has provided nature exhibits, education programs, and recreation resources for countless visitors, teachers, and children of all ages.
Austin Public Library
Austin Public Library
800 Guadalupe,
Main: 512-974-7300
Jeanette Larson;
Youth Services:
974-7405
The Austin Public Library is the central facility for the library system that serves Austin.
The collection of the library contains 1,614,460 volumes. The library circulates 3,230,357 items per year. 
The library serves a population of 692,102 residents with over 20 branch locations throughout the city.
In a 2006 Bond election, a majority of Austin voters voted for Proposition 6 and plans are now in the works for that new 250,000 sq. ft. Central Library.
For answers to FAQs about the new public library, click here.Public input regarding what that building should look like is now being solicited.
Share your suggestions on the APL's website.
Aquarena Center
Aquarena Center
601 University Dr.,
San Marcos, Texas
Educational Tours:
512-245-7540
or 1-800-999-9767
28 Miles south of Austin, the amazing San Marcos Springs discharge 150-300 million gallons of water daily. Texas State University - San Marcos purchased the aging Aquarena Springs Resort in 1994 and began transforming the old theme park into a non-profit nature center.
Today Aquarena Center is a recreation and environmental learning center dedicated to protecting, conserving and educating the public on the important role that water plays in everyone's daily life. It provides scientific diving shows, glass bottom boat rides, and a wide collection of endangered species.
Aquarena offers a variety of exciting opportunities for students of all ages specializing in interpreter led programs, customized to meet specific grade level and classroom learning goals.
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Blanton Museum of Art
The new Blanton is home to an inspiring collection of over 17,000 works of art, recognized for its European Old Master paintings,
modern and contemporary American and Latin American art,
and an encyclopedic collection of prints and drawings.
A great place to take World History / Art History students! Walk students through the Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic periods of Greek history with a guided tour describing the evolution of Greek sculpture.
Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum
Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum
1800 N. Congress
512-936-8746
For School Group information, click here.
A dynamic educational institution The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum tells the “Story of Texas” with three floors of interactive exhibits, the special effects show, The Star of Destiny, in the Texas Spirit Theater, and Austin's only IMAX Theatre, featuring the signature large-format film, Texas: The Big Picture.
On the Educators page, find more information on educator resources including -
- Planning a trip to the Museum
- Homeschool days
- Distance learning
- Professional development
- Adult ESL programs
and much more!
Destiny Guided Tours for Students
Experience the Story of Texas through the 4-D special effects of the Star of Destiny presentation in the Texas Spirit Theater and then Explore the Story in the exhibits with guided learning focusing on "Encounters on the Land" OR "Building the Lone Star Identity" with museum educators that bring the story to life.
Grades 4 and 7
Program maximum is 120 students.
This program includes:
- Educator and student orientation.
- The Star of Destiny theater presentation that takes your students on an epic journey through the history of Texas focusing on stories of perseverance.
- Guided learning in the First Floor exhibits or Second Floor exhibits with Museum educators.
- Object studies, creative drama, demonstrations and more!
- School group rates apply for exhibits admission and Texas Spirit Theater tickets.
Reservations must be made at least 10 business days in advance. Call (512) 936-4649.
Please check museum's website for more information about this program for the 2009-2010 school year.
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George Washington Carver Museum
The Carver Museum & Cultural Center is dedicated to the collection, preservation, research and exhibition of African American historical and cultural material reflecting all dimensions of experiences of persons of African descent living in Austin, Travis County, Texas and in the United States. The museum is a key source of information on the history and celebration of Juneteenth.
HISTORY:
In its early years, the Angelina Street library was simply known as the “Colored Branch”. In 1947, however, it was christened the George Washington Carver Branch Library in honor of the inventor and scientist who brought so much pride to African-Americans. For decades, the Carver Library served the Central-East Austin community. The community imagined a museum and community center that would promote African-American history and achievement in Austin, Travis County, and beyond.
On October 24, 1980, their vision became a reality. What was once Austin’s first library, and what later became Austin’s first branch library, opened its doors as the George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center, the first African-American neighborhood museum in the state of Texas.Today, the museum is housed in a 36,000 square-foot facility that includes four galleries, a conference room, classroom, darkroom, dance studio, 134-seat theatre, and archival space.
Center for American History
Research and Collections Divisions,
University of Texas
Sid Richardson Hall 2.106
Austin, Texas 78712
512-495-4515
The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History has five divisions, located in four different regions of Texas and each serving a unique purpose.
The Research and Collections Division located in Sid Richardson Hall Unit 2, on the main campus of The University of Texas at Austin is the Center’s main research facility and the repository for the vast majority of the Center’s collections:
- The Center's curriculum guides incorporate primary sources that allow students to 'time travel' and be 'history detectives'.
- The Photographic component of the Center for American History’s resources consists of more than five million images.
- The Center houses more than 35,000 printed and manuscript maps which date from 1513 to the present.
- The Media History Archives features the papers of media professionals including Walter Cronkite, Robert Trout, Sig Mickelson, and Andy Rooney; the archives of media industries: New York Times, Newsweek, New York Journal American, New York Herald-Tribune, as well as one of the largest newspaper collections in the United States, and the archives of photojournalists Dirck Halstead, David Hume Kennerly, Flip Schulke, and Diana Walker.
- The Eugene C. Barker Texas History Collection includes books, manuscripts, maps, newspapers, photographs, broadsides, and recorded sound and constitutes the most extensive collection of Texas-related material in existence. Includes: the Bexar Archives, 300,000 pages of Spanish colonial and Mexican Provincial records of Texas; the Texas Declaration of Independence printed in San Felipe de Austin in 1836; Lt. Col. Jose Enrique de la Pena’s eyewitness description of the Texas Revolution, including his controversial account of David Crockett’s death at the Alamo.
- The Center has constituted a prime source for Military History since its founding. With its major strengths in Texas and Southern history, Congressional history, and American news media history, the Center’s resources embrace more than three-hundred years of military affairs, including many aspects of America’s involvement in foreign wars, from Mexico to Iraq. Recently, the Center has deepened its commitment to the field. Building on its experience as joint sponsor of a World War II scholar program since 1998, the Center now has established the Institute for the Study of American Military History, an educational outreach, research, and archival program.
Center for Mexican-American Cultural Arts
Center for Mexican-American Cultural Arts, 600 River St.,
Austin TX 78701
(512) 926-1369
The Center for Mexican-American Cultural Arts is dedicated to the development, preservation and promotion of the Mexican American/Latino heritage and culture, and to facilitate and encourage a greater appreciation of Mexican American/Latino cultural arts by people of all backgrounds through education and research in order to establish an alternative cultural model that simultaneously respects and accepts more than one cultural history in America.
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Dougherty Arts Center
Dougherty Arts Center,
1110 Barton Springs Rd,
Austin TX
512-397-1471The Dougherty Arts Center stands on the same site once occupied by the Naval and Marine Reserve Center in 1947. In 1978 the space was dedicated to the City of Austin and named for the late Mary Ireland Graves Dougherty.
Today the "DAC" offers a variety of visual and performing arts programs. The DAC houses an 1800 square foot gallery, a 150 seat theater, specialized art school, studio/lab space and classrooms and several offices of PARD's Cultural Affairs Division.
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Elizabeth Ney Museum
304 East 44th St
512-458-2255 The Museum is the former studio and portrait collection created by 19th-century sculptor Elisabet Ney.
Venerated as one of the oldest museums in Texas, the Elisabet Ney Museum offers visitors a lovingly preserved glimpse into early Texas history and into the life of a creative and spirited woman who lived life passionately in her own inimitable way. In 1892, the celebrated European sculptress Elisabet Ney built a small neoclassical studio in the remote natural setting of Hyde Park, Austin, Texas. In this studio Ney sculpted the “great men” of frontier Texas, among them life-size figures of Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston that stand today in the national and state capitols. Elisabet Ney was one of the most colorful and influential women in early Texas history. She and her husband Dr. Edmund Montgomery played an active role in the establishment of Texas state universities and the Texas Fine Arts Association.
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French Legation Museum
French Legation Museum,
802 San Marcos St.,
512-472-8180Nestled in a quiet, green corner of the bustling modern capital of the State of Texas, the French Legation was originally built in 1840-41 to be the residence of the charg d' affaires who represented the government of France in the Republic of Texas.
The Legation became the home of Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Robertson in 1848, remaining in their family until 1949, when it was acquired by the State of Texas. Under the custodianship of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, the site has been lovingly restored and furnished with items original to its time period. It is the oldest extant frame structure in Austin.
Guided tours are available Tuesday through Sunday, from 1:00-4:00.
The Social Studies Curriculum Office has available in our media library an excellent pre-visit DVD program.
Click here to request check out.
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Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
Harry Ransom
Humanities Research Center
21st and Guadalupe St
The University of Texas,
Austin, TX
512-471-8944
Considered one of the world's finest cultural archives, the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center houses 30 million literary manuscripts, 1 million rare books, 5 million photographs, and over 100,000 visual artworks.
Highlights include the Gutenberg Bible and the First Photograph, Joseph Niepce's 1826 "View From the Window at Le Gras." Interactive interpretive kiosks offer a wealth of information about these items.
The Center is used extensively for research and presents numerous exhibitions and events each year showcasing its collections.
General Educational resources
TEKS objectives and visiting the Ransom Center
Visiting the Ransom Center: pre-visit questions
Visiting the Ransom Center: questions to ask while you're here
Visiting the Ransom Center: post-visit questions and activities
Ransom Center publications
Other Educational Programs
- Teaching Gutenberg, a similar online resource for teaching about the Gutenberg Bible, its inventor, and its importance. Lesson plans are included.
Please inquire about teacher workshops at the Ransom Center; the Center's staff works with school districts, Regional ESCs, and other education agencies year-round to produce outstanding teacher professional credit experiences. Contact Oliver Franklin, Executive Curator for Public Programs, at ofranklin@mail.utexas.edu
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L.B.J. Presidential Library & Museum
L.B.J. Presidential Library
and Museum
2313 Red River St.
Austin, TX 78705
512 721-0200
The Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library holds more than 45 million pages of manuscripts, an extensive audiovisual collection, and oral history interviews with than 1,000 individuals.
The Papers of Lyndon B. Johnson, which form the core of the Library's holdings, include the White House files of Lyndon B. Johnson's presidency, 1963-1969; and papers from his service as a U.S. Congressman, 1937-1949; U.S. Senator, 1949-1961; and Vice President,1961-1963.
LBJ For Kids WebSite
Student Tours: Judy Davidson-EnglertEducation Specialist: Marsha Sharp
L.B.J. Museum of San Marcos
L.B.J. Museum
131 N. Guadalupe
San Marcos, TX 512-353-3300The LBJ Museum of San Marcos preserves the legacy of Lyndon B. Johnson by focusing on his years spent as a student at what is now Texas State University-San Marcos (then Southwest Texas State Teachers College), his teaching experiences in South Texas, and the impact of these experiences on his role in the development of landmark legislation in the areas of education and civil rights.
Texas State University is the only Texas college to graduate a future President. The museum is open Thurs., Fri., and Sun. 1 - 5 p.m. and Sat. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Group tours are generally scheduled from 9 -12 a.m. on weekdays.
L.B.J. State Historical Park
LBJ State Historical Park
15 miles west of
Johnson City on
U.S. Highway 290
PH. 830-644-2252
Lyndon B. Johnson State Historical Park honors a native Texan who achieved the nation's highest office. To create the unique facility, friends of then President Johnson raised money to purchase property directly across the Pedernales River from the LBJ Ranch. In 1965, this land was accepted by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and the park was opened in 1970. The 269-acre facility was officially dedicated that year in a ceremony attended by the Johnson family and a host of dignitaries. Since the dedication, the park has been expanded to approximately 732.75 acres.
The Visitor Center is the focal point of Lyndon B. Johnson State Historical Park. It contains memorabilia from President Johnson's presidency and interactive displays about the Land and People that shaped a president. Attached to the Visitors Center is the Behrens Cabin, a two-room dogtrot cabin built by German immigrant H. C. Behrens during the 1870s. The furnishings are typical of such homes in that period.
Visitors can further explore the history of these immigrants by viewing the 1860s Danz family log cabin located just west of the Visitor Center. An auditorium in the visitor center complex will accommodate 234 persons for state performances or films. An outdoor amphitheater is used for a variety of programs. A nature trail, including a Hill Country botanical exhibit, winds past wildlife enclosures stocked with bison, white-tailed deer, wild turkey, other native wildlife and longhorn cattle.
Located east of the visitor center and off the nature trial, is a living history farm - The Sauer-Beckmann Farmstead.
Life on the farmstead is presented
by costumed interpreters who carry out the day-to-day activities of a turn-of-the-century Texas-German farm family
as it was in 1918.
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
4801 La Crosse Ave.
Austin, Texas 78739
512-232-0100
Lady Bird Johnson, former first lady, and Actress Helen Hayes founded an organization in 1982 to protect and preserve North America's native plants and natural landscapes. First as the National Wildflower Research Center and later as the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, this special place exists to introduce people to the beauty and diversity of wildflowers and other native plants. Every day, the Wildflower Center brings life to Mrs. Johnson's vision in its public gardens, its woodlands and sweeping meadows as well as in internationally influential research. In 2006, the Center became an Organized Research Unit of the University of Texas at Austin.
The Wildflower Center provides instructors with materials to use both in the classroom and in the field. Most of these lessons and activities apply to field trips to the Wildflower Center, but many can be used in or adapted to a more general setting as well.
To schedule school educational tour, complete the following tour request form.
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Mckinney Falls
McKinney Falls State Park in Travis County, in south Austin, is a 744.4-acre park 
Mckinney Falls State Park,
U.S. Hwy 183 S. to
Scenic Loop Road,
PH 512-243-1643acquired in 1970 from private donation and opened to the public in 1976. The headquarters of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department are near this location.
McKinney Roughs is the home of an Enviornmental Learning Center. This 1900-acre tract between Austin and Bastrop, is owned and operated by the Lower Colorado River Authority. It contains meadows, riverbends, and canyons. It is home to hundreds of species of animals and plants.
The LCRA developed the center for environmental education, recreation, and research. There are 17 miles of hiking and equestrian trails throughout the 1900 acres of the Center.
9 miles west of Bastrop on Hwy 71, Contact 512-303-5073 or LCRA at 1-800-776-5272, Ext. 8041
Mexic-Arte Museum
Mexic-Arte Museum is dedicated to cultural enrichment and education through 
Mexic-Arte Museum,
419 Congress Ave
512-480-9373the presentation and promotion of traditional and contemporary Mexican, Latino, and Latin American art and culture. Since its founding in 1984, Mexic-Arte Museum has emerged as the Official Mexican and Mexican-American Fine Art
Museum of Texas.
The mission of the Museum's educational programs is to expand and advance the standard of art education and broaden the public's knowledge of contemporary and traditional Mexican, Latino, and Latin American art and culture. The Museum is dedicated to providing opportunities for youth to interact with local, regional, and international artists through community-based outreach programs. Mexic-Arte Museum provides unique and innovative outreach programs that help youth in the Latino community gain knowledge, pride, and skills that enable youth to succeed in their future endeavors.
The Mexic-Arte Museum has launched a new digital education program highlighting a special, former exhibit at Mexic-Arte Museum entitled From Revolution to Renaissance: Art from the Renaissance period of Mexico following the Mexican Revolution of 1910.
The exhibit proved to be such a wealth of education and fine art from a pivotal time period in Mexico's identity and history, that the Museum chose to offer it to the community for an extended period. Using an online digital education program called Pachyderm, teachers, students, and the public can access a wonderful resource of images, text, audio, and video. Simply go to the education page of the museum's website www.mexic-artemuseum.org and click on the link Pachyderm. The program will start, and you will have access to navigate through the templates, following the links to the different features, including downloadable activities to use in the classroom, such as art activities!
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National Museum of the Pacific War
National Museum of the Pacific War
340 East Main Street
Fredericksburg, Texas
78624
The National Museum of the Pacific War is the only institution in the continental United States dedicated exclusively to telling the story of the Pacific Theater battles of World War II.
Located on a six-acre site, the Museum includes the George Bush Gallery, Admiral Nimitz Museum, Plaza of Presidents, Veterans' Walk of Honor, Japanese Garden of Peace, Pacific Combat Zone, and the Nimitz Education and Research Center.
Neill-Cochran House Museum
The Neill-Cochran House is considered to be one of Austin's three most important historic residences. Built in 1855 as a suburban estate, this impressive Greek Revival house has survived war, neglect, and the immense growth of the University of Texas area and the capital city.
Neill-Cochran House Museum
2310 San Gabriel Street
Austin, TX
512-478-2335
Today, the NCHM is owned by the National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in The State of Texas and is open to the public for guided tours from 2:00 to 5:00 PM, Tuesday through Saturday.
This historic landmark is the subject of The Story of the Neill-Cochran House,
a student enrichment unit for study by fourth graders. A five-session multimedia curriculum tells the story of the House through its families, individuals, and events important to Austin and Texas history. The second edition was developed by NSCDA-Texas in collaboration with the Elementary Grades Social Studies Department of Austin Independent School District.
Each elementary school library in the district has a boxed curriculum kit in its catalog, and the unit will soon be available online.The students are prepared for the tour with information on 19th- and early 20th-century architecture, decorative arts, Austin history, and Texas heritage, as well as a discussion of "museum manners." The field trip is followed by writing exercises and other activities.
The curriculum is designed to be accurate, interesting, and easy to use. It meets all current instructional standards and guidelines of the State of Texas, including lesson correlation to the TEKS. Tested in the classroom, it receives consistent praise from students, teachers, and parents.
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O. Henry Museum
O. Henry Museum
Noon - 5:00 pm
Wed. - Sun.
409 East Fifth Street Austin, TX 78701
512 472-1903 The O. Henry Museum offers a look into the life of William Sidney Porter, the man who became famous under the pen name O. Henry. Known as "the master of the short story," Porter lived in this 1886 Queen Anne-style cottage from 1893 to 1895. His home has since been restored and now contains artifacts and memorabilia from Porter's life in Austin. The O. Henry Museum is a National Register Property and a National Literary Landmark of the City of Austin.”
During his more than thirteen years in Austin, Porter worked in a variety of occupations. Some of his experiences as a pharmacist, draftsman, bank teller, and reporter would later figure in his short stories. His first nationally known short story, "The Miracle of Lava Canyon", was published before leaving Texas in 1897. His pen name, "O. Henry," first appeared in the short story, "Whistling Dick's Christmas Stocking," published in 1899.
The O. Henry Museum offers writing programs for adults and children. During the school year, the museum offers creative writing workshops as after school programs, to Austin middle school students. This award winning program, known as the O. Henry Museum Writing Club, is a six week workshop that includes an anthology of the students work and a reception at Barnes and Noble Westlake. If your school is interested in participating in this program or would like more information contact the museum.
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Pioneer Farms
Reservations are now open for Friday school field trips in Pioneer Farm's popular "Daily Life on the Rural Prairie" program, where students can experience 1800s life on our three historic farmsteads, staffed with costumed interpreters. Book now to get the date your class wants......See more
HISTORY:
Texas Ranger Lt. James O. Rice, an original Austin settler, laid claim to 1,280 acres at the northward crossing of Walnut Creek in the fall of 1844. Eight years later, in 1852, Frederick and Harriet B. Jourdan settled on the site with eight children and nine slaves, and eventually amassed a 2,000-acre farm. Located on historic Walnut Creek, their farm was located near where the Chisholm Trail once crossed through the Austin area, where Tonkawa Indians once camped and in a culturally rich crossroads of Central Texas where settlers from the Eastern States and Mexico, immigrants from Germany and Europe and Freedmen once built successful lives on the Blacklands Prairie.
In 1956, the Jourdan grandchildren, Laura and Eugene Giles, donated the core of their grandparents' property to the Heritage Society of Austin, Austin's oldest historic preservation organization, for a park to honor early-day settlers. Staffed solely by volunteers and run by a Board of Governors that oversees operations for the Heritage Society, the farm is filled with history. Funded mostly through gate admissions and donations, a new entrance village has been created, new programs and events have been launched, infrastructure and maintenance of historic buildings has been brought to standard and other improvements continue as part of a goal to make the site a destination museum in Texas.
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Republic of Texas Museum
Republic of Texas Museum
510 E. Anderson Lane,
512-339-1997
The mission of the Republic of Texas Museum is to preserve the heritage of the Republic of Texas historic period and to educate the public about the history and culture of that time.
In 1903 the Republic of Texas Museum was housed in one room of the State Capitol. The collection of Republic era artifacts grew rapidly through the dedicated efforts of the DRT, and more space was required. In 1916 the Land Department moved from the Old Land Office Building on the Capitol grounds, and a portion of the structure was turned over to the DRT for use as a museum. The DRT Museum occupied the second floor of the building until 1989 when restoration of the deteriorating structure began. Four years later, during the centennial year of the DRT, the Daughters purchased the current building on Anderson Lane to house the museum and the organization's headquarters.
Museum hours: 10 am to 4 pm, Monday through Friday
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Texas State Capitol
State Preservation Board,
Caretakers of the
Texas Capitol,
201 E. 14th St.
Austin, TX
512-463-5495
Reservations for
Capitol Tour groups
512-305-8400
The magnificent Texas Capitol was completed in 1888 following the winning design from a national competition, the style is Renaissance Revival, based on the architecture of 15th-century Italy and characterized by classical orders, round arches and symmetrical composition.
The structural exterior is "sunset red" granite, quarried just 50 miles from the site. Additional structural support is provided by masonry walls and cast iron columns and beams. The foundation is limestone. Texas paid for the construction not in dollars, but in land: some three million acres in the Texas Panhandle that would later become the famous XIT Ranch.
An extraordinary edifice by any measure, the 1888 Texas Capitol is the largest in gross square footage of all state capitols and is second in total size only to the National Capitol in Washington, D.C. Like several other state capitols, the 1888 Texas Capitol surpasses the National Capitol in height, rising almost 15 feet above its Washington counterpart.
In 1993, the $75 million underground Capitol Extension was completed to the north, doubling the square footage available to Capitol occupants and providing much improved functionality. In 1995, a comprehensive interior and exterior restoration of the original building was completed at a cost of approximately $98 million.
Finally, in 1997, the park-like grounds surrounding the Capitol were given a much needed $8 million renovation and restoration.
- Upcoming Capitol Events
- Tour Information (including lesson plans associated with)
Texas Capitol Visitors Center
The Capitol Visitors Center is located in the restored 1856-57 General Land Office building. The three-story castle-like structure reflects the mid-19th century mock-medieval revival architectural style and is the oldest state office building in Texas.
The Capitol Visitors Center
112 East 11th St
SE corner
of Capitol grounds
512-305-8400
The Capitol Visitors Center encourages educators to bring students for guided tours of its exhibits.
- Teacher's Guides and Lesson Plans are available for downloading.
The Capitol Tour Teachers' Guide provides facts and information to be used as pre-visit classroom activities, vocabulary lists and research topics for all grade levels. The Lesson Plans directly relate to the tours, exhibits and films the students experience at the State Capitol and the Visitors Center. They also cover material from social studies TEKS.
Texas Governor’s Mansion
The 1856 Texas Governor's Mansion is being stabilized since the fire on June 8, 2008.
The first floor is cleared of debris, and interior framing was built to support the ceilings.
Work continues on the second floor to clean and shore the roof and 
Texas Governor’s Mansion
1010 Colorado,
512-463-5518walls.
The steel roof is open in places, but still holding. It will be removed and an interim roof installed to protect the interiors during restoration.
On July 15, First Lady Anita Perry announced the Texas Governor's Mansion Restoration Fund to raise private donations to help restore the Mansion. Friends of the Governor's Mansion supports this effort, and will continue its mission to manage the historic collections, educate the public about the home, and beautify the gardens. The collections will return to the Mansion when the building restoration is complete.
Individuals or groups are encouraged to visit TexasOnline to
DONATE TO THE RESTORATION FUND,
or send a check or money order to:
Texas Governor's Mansion Restoration Fund,
P.O. Box 12878,
Austin, TX 78711-2878.
Texas General Land Office
The Texas General Land Office is the oldest state agency in Texas! Our Social Studies teachers love the agency's web site. It tells the story of how the Texas 
Texas General Land Office
512-463-5001
General Land Office is balancing economic development with preservation of our state's natural resources and is a treasure trove ideas and resources for instructional!
- Mission Statement: The Texas General Land Office serves the schoolchildren, veterans, and all people of Texas by preserving their history, protecting their environment, expanding economic opportunity, and maximizing state revenue through innovative administration and prudent stewardship of state lands and resources.
- GIS Maps & Data: Historically, Texans have turned to the Texas General Land Office for maps and other tools used to organize information about the natural resources this state has to offer.
Besides historical maps, research, and data, the land office today uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Global Positioning Systems (GPS), and Computer-aided Design (CAD) systems to compile, analyze, and distribute the most accurate information possible about the location of natural and human-made resources.
Texas Natural Science Center /
Memorial Museum of Science & History
Texas Memorial Museum of Science & History,
2400 Trinity St., UT Campus,
512-471-1604The Texas Natural Science Center is the home of the Texas Memorial Museum, the Vertebrate Paleontology Laboratory, the Non-vertebrate Paleontology Laboratory and the Texas Natural History Collections. The Texas Memorial Museum is the exhibit hall of the Texas Natural Science Center.
Guided Tours
- To schedule a tour, contact Christina Cid, Education Coordinator.
After you schedule a tour, you’ll receive a confirmation packet with directions, parking map, and information, current exhibit map, and additional information. Tours are tailored to group educational levels, and are scheduled for Pre-K groups, K-12 classes, and community groups. School tours are based on multiple themes from the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills.
- Click here for Teacher Resources.
Texas Military Forces Museum
Texas Military Forces Museum, Camp Mabry,
2200 West 35th Street,
PH. 512-782-6967
The storyline within the Texas Military Forces Museum begins with the Texas War for Independence and extends through all major conflicts.
In addition to the main gallery, separate galleries include the history of the Texas Air National Guard, the history of the 36th Infantry Division, and the “Lost Battalion” (2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery); the Great Hall exhibit of aircraft, weapons, equipment and vehicles; Armor Row (historical armored vehicles) and the new Artillery Park located on the West side of the museum.
In addition, there are exhibits of jet aircraft, helicopters and artillery pieces located around the parade field. A conference center, historical archives collection and a library are located inside the museum building.
Texas State Cemetery
The Texas State Cemetery is the final resting place of Governors, Senators, Legislators, Congressmen, Judges and other legendary Texans who have made the 
Texas State Cemetery
909 Navasota
512-463-0605state what it is today. Efforts to establish the Texas State Cemetery began in 1851, with the death of General Edward Burleson. Burleson served with Sam Houston in the Battle of San Jacinto and as Vice President of the Republic of Texas. Throughout the years other notable Texans have been buried on Cemetery grounds including: Stephen F. Austin, General Albert Sidney Johnston, Governor Allan Shivers, Governor John Connally, and Lieutenant Governor Bob Bullock. Since 1851, the Texas State Cemetery has witnessed many changes. The most significant being when Lieutenant Governor Bob Bullock initiated an extensive restoration project from 1994 to 1997.
Guided tours may be booked by calling the Administration Office.
The cemetery grounds are open 7 days a week 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
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Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum
Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum
605 Robert E. Lee,
512-445-5582
The Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum's mission is to provide educational experiences and programs that encourage the appreciation and understanding ofsculpture. More than 130 sculptures, drawings & paintings by Charles Umlauf, a prolific and internationally known sculptor, are on display at the Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum.
In 1985, Charles and Angeline Umlauf gave their home, studio, and 168 pieces of Umlauf sculpture to the City of Austin. Six years later, in 1991, a new museum was built on adjoining city property with private funds raised under the leadership of Austin arts patron Roberta Crenshaw.
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Westcave Preserve
Westcave Preserve,
24814 Hamilton Pool Rd.
Round Mountain, TX
78663
830-825-3442
Westcave Preserve is a natural treasure of the Texas Hill Country, possessingunique and majestic beauty and ecological diversity. Located adjacent to the Pedernales River in southwestern Travis County about 40 miles from downtown Austin, this 30-acre gem is managed by the non-profit Westcave Preserve Corporation and offers an array of natural science and interdisciplinary educational programs for children and adults from Austin and surrounding communities.
Two distinct ecosystems meet on the Preserve, forming a unique opportunity for students of nature and an unexpected experience for visitors exploring the Hill Country. The Preserve's grasslands are scattered with wildflower meadows, ash junipers, oaks and cactus bordering a sheltered limestone canyon punctuated with rare plants and cypress trees. The highlight of the site is its 40-foot waterfall backed by caves, tumbling over fern-covered travertine columns into an emerald pool.
Student programs include a guided hiking tour of the Preserve and classroom discussion. The length of time for the programs typically ranges from approximately 3 hours to 4 hours.
Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve
Wild Basin
Wilderness Preserve,
805 N. Capital of Texas Hwy
512-327-7622
Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve was founded in 1974 to protect 227 acres of Texas Hill Country. Come and enjoy over 3 miles of hiking trails through woodland, grassland, and streamside habitats. Wild Basin also hosts a variety of family events, concerts, adult workshops, children's and school programs.
School Tours: Students travel in small groups with a trained guide on a two-hour hike through Wild Basin's Hill Country habitat. Texas state science curriculum requirements (the TEKS) are brought to life over the trail. Guided hikes for schools give students a hands-on outdoor experience and can be correlated to classroom studies in the natural sciences. Programs are appropriate for 1st through 5th grades, and can accommodate up to 60 students.
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Zilker Botanical Gardens & Metropolitan Park
Zilker Park /
Zilker Botanical Gardens,
2200 Barton Springs Rd,
512-477-8672
The Zilker Botanical Gardens are a uniquely Austin collaboration of the City of Austin's Parks and Recreation Department and the Austin Area Garden Council features a number of different gardens, including the two newest:
the Hartman Prehistoric Garden, installed in the area where dinosaur tracks were found in 1992, and
the Green Garden, with areas planted by different local designers with native and well-adapted plants that thrive in Austin's challenging soils and climate.
The ADA Trail of Passages meanders back and forth through beds of both native and introduced plantings, leading to the Rose garden.
The Taniguchi Japanese Garden is a unique component of the botanical garden.
The Austin Area Garden Center is a non-profit organization established in 1955 to support Zilker Botanical Garden's mission to promote the education and love of gardening among people of all ages. Its education programs reach thousands of school children and adults every year.
Read more about the Garden Center and its history to find out how it all started.
Other Museums & Field Trip Locations
- Beverly S. Sheffield Education Center, 2201 Barton Springs Dr., PH 478-3170
- Austin Steam Train Association, Dina Walters, 477-6477
- German-Texan Heritage Society, 482-0927, Julia G. Germany, Executive Director
- Heritage Society of Austin, Lara Wolff, 474-5198 (resource trunks)
- Humanities Texas, Kathryne Tovo, Director of Programs and Communications, 1410 Rio Grande St., 440-1991.
© AISD, 2008 /