Dallas’ Best Museums — the Ultimate Guide to the City’s Cultural Wonders

Whether you’re eager to learn something new, need to mix it up on date night, or want to get the kids out of the house for a bit, Dallas is filled with great museums to check out. From dinosaurs and flight to art and history, the city has got it all.

Here are 10 must-visit Dallas museums. After all, everyone could use a Dallas museum guide.

Perot Museum of Nature and Science

2201 N. Field Street

The Perot is Dallas’ premier museum for nature and science — and one of the best in America. Built in 2012, the “rock-looking” building added something new to the Dallas skyline. The museum has 11 exhibit halls filled with dinosaurs, space, gems and minerals, and more. You can even race a dinosaur.

There’s also a rotating special exhibit. Currently “Becoming Jane: The Evolution of Dr. Jane Goodall,” is on display through the summer.

Along with various kids activities, The Perot hosts Thursdays on Tap events just for adults. A $25 non-member ticket includes after hours access to the entire museum for ages 21 and up, live music, drinks, and food trucks.

Regular hours are Mondays through Saturdays from 10 am to 5 pm and Sundays from 11 am to 5 pm.

Dallas Museum of Art

1717 N. Harwood Street

Known for having more than 24,000 works of art on display, the DMA is one of the best places to see art in Dallas. From contemporary and classical to Latin American and European art, they have it all. It’s free to go in and browse, but if you want to see a special exhibition, you can buy tickets online.

Hours are Tuesdays through Sundays from 11 am to 5 pm, except for Thursdays, when it stays open until 9 pm.

Frontier of Flight Museum

6911 Lemmon Avenue

This aerospace museum was founded in 1988 by William E. Cooper, Kay Bailey Hutchinson and Jan Collmer. Aptly located at Dallas Love Field Airport, the museum explores the stories of aviation and space flight. From the Wright Flyer to Flying Pancake, the Apollo VII spacecraft, 13 historical galleries, and more than 35,000 artifacts, this place will teach you everything you’ve ever wanted to know about flight.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for kids. Visiting hours are Mondays through Saturdays from 10 am to 5 pm and Sundays from 1 pm to 5 pm. Most importantly, parking is free.

Nasher Sculpture Center

2001 Flora Street

Opened in 2003, the Nasher is home to a collection of modern and contemporary sculpture. You can take a stroll through the outdoor sculpture garden or check out the exhibitions inside. From Willem de Kooning to Pablo Picasso, the Nasher has tons of cool works on display.

Hours are Tuesdays through Sundays from 11 am to 5 pm. It costs $10 for adults, but is free on the first Saturday of the month.

Crow Museum of Asian Art

2010 Flora Street

The Crow family opened the Trammel and Margaret Crow Collection of Asian Art in 1998. Since then, it’s been inspiring and promoting learning and dialogue about the arts and cultures of Asia.

Current exhibitions include Hands and Earth: Contemporary Japanese Ceramics, The Art of Lacquer, Our Asian Art Museum, Immortal Landscapes: Jade from the Collection, and Fierce Loyalty: A Samurai Complete. 

Hours are Tuesdays through Sundays from 11 am to 5 pm and admission is free.

Dallas Contemporary

161 Glass Street

Since the 1970s, the Dallas Contemporary museum has been presenting new exhibitions of artists from Texas and around the world. Current artists on display at the Design District location include Francesco Clemente, Mario Sohrenti and Yelena Yemchuck.

It’s free to check out and there are tours on one weekend per month at 1 pm.

The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza

411 Elm Street

Built around the shocking assassination of President John F. Kennedy, this museum gives an in-depth look into the life and presidency of JFK. The multi-media experience includes video, recording and artifacts from the 1960s. You can spend hours here learning everything JFK did for America, as well as the tragedy of his loss.

Tickets cost $18 for adults and $14 for kids. Hours are Mondays from 12 pm to 6pm and Tuesdays through Sundays from 10 am to 6 pm.

George W. Bush Presidential Center

2943 SMU Boulevard

Located at Southern Methodist University, the Bush Center is home to the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum. As the 13th presidential library, the museum examines the specific time during which President Bush served. Highlights of the permanent exhibit include “A Nation Under Attack,” which remembers the events of 9/11, and The Oval Office replica.

Tickets are $21 for adults and $15 to $19 for kids of different ages. Hours are Mondays through Saturdays from 9 am to 5 pm and Sundays from 12 pm to 5 pm.

Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum

300 N. Houston Street

In 2019, the new Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum opened in the West End. You may have seen the shiny copper building on Houston Street. It’s 19 times bigger than the former museum and an incredible experience.

Dedicated to teaching the history of the Holocaust and developments of human rights, the museum includes three wings — Holocaust/Shoah Wing, Human Rights Wing, and Pivot to America wing. A highlight includes a wooden, wartime Nazi rail car on the third floor.

Tickets are $16 for adults and $12 for students. Hours are every day except Tuesday from 10 am to 5 pm.

Meadows Museum

5900 Bishop Boulevard

This art museum is also located at SMU. Their founding collection was Spanish art and current collections include paintings, works on paper, sculpture and decorative, and contemporary art. From Salvador Dali and El Greco to Henry Moore and Ignacio Zuloaga, Meadows has quite the collection.

Ticket are $12 for adults. On Thursdays after 5 pm, there is free admission. Hours are Tuesdays through Fridays from 10 am to 5 pm, Saturdays from 10 am to 5 pm, Sundays from 1 pm to 5 pm, and Thursdays until 9 pm.