Permanent Exhibits at The Health Museum Houston

We headed straight to the Amazing Body Gallery—mainly because at the entrance is a giant colon that kids can actually crawl through. (And yes, the poop jokes followed.) But the oversized anatomy doesn’t stop there: walk through a giant brain, stand beneath an enormous ribcage, or race the “Heart Wheel,” a human-sized hamster wheel that gets kids moving while teaching how the heart pumps blood.

This exhibit offers a larger-than-life tour of the human body, featuring around 30 interactive audio and video kiosks that answer curious questions and dive deep into how our major organs function.

We also spent a lot of time at the brain teaser station in the center of the museum—it’s a big hit and honestly, the kids solved more puzzles than we did. There’s also the McGovern Theater, which was showing a kid-friendly animated film during our visit. We skipped it in favor of exploring more, but it’s a great spot for a break if needed.

Special Exhibits Worth Seeing in Houston's Health Museum

The Health Museum also hosts rotating exhibits throughout the year, so there’s often something new to check out.

During our visit, we explored BODY WORLDS 101, a fascinating and slightly more mature exhibit featuring real preserved human specimens. From full-body plastinates to cross-sections of organs, it gives visitors an up-close look at how the body functions. It sparked great conversations with our kids—but heads-up: it may not be ideal for more sensitive or squeamish visitors.

We also loved Reclaimed Creations, a vibrant art-meets-science exhibit by artist Sayaka Ganz. Using discarded plastic utensils and tools, she creates large, dynamic animal sculptures that seem to move before your eyes. The exhibit includes interactive activities and explores plastic waste’s impact on the environment—beautiful and meaningful all at once.

Know Before You Go

Expect to spend: 1–2 hours

Location: Right next to Children’s Museum Houston—great for a double-feature museum day

Extras: Camps, science labs, dissection demos, and more are offered throughout the year

Admission:

Members & children under 2: Free

Children (3–12): $10

Adults: $12

Seniors (65+): $10

Free Family Thursday: Thursdays from 2:00–6:00 PM (must reserve tickets online in advance)

Parking:

$8 onsite

Pro tip: Hermann Park Lot C across the street offers free parking (3-hour limit)

All photos by author Elizabeth R.