When you’re planning a trip to Galveston, there’s a good chance you’ve scheduled plenty of time for outdoor fun and adventure. However, Galveston is packed with great museums to check out when you’re looking to balance it out with indoor stops that are equal parts educational and engaging. If you have a heart for history, art, and culture alike, you won’t want to miss out on some quality time enjoyed at The Bryan Museum the next time you’re here.
A Must-Visit Museum for the Entire Family
The Bryan Museum is located at 1315 21 Street in Galveston and opened to the public in 2015. The museum is open Friday through Sunday and Wednesdays from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm with extended hours on Thursdays until 7:00 pm. A visit here is a chance to enjoy one of the largest collection of documents, historical artifacts, and art related specifically to the American West and Texas anywhere on the planet! The museum has a purposeful mission to bring history to life for locals and visitors alike through world-class exhibits, displays, and interactive learning opportunities.
Museum History
Before The Bryan Museum was an exhibition space, it functioned as the Galveston Orphans Home. It was purchased by J.P. and Mary Jon Bryan in 2013 and carefully restored to maintain its original historic structure. It opened as a museum to the public in June of 2015 and offers guests access to more than 20,000 square feet of exhibit space to enjoy. There are also manicured grounds and gardens to explore around the museum making a visit even more intriguing.
Galleries and Collections to Enjoy
In total, the permanent art collection on-site at The Bryan Museum spans more than 12,000 years. A visit this way gives guests a chance to browse everything from Native American cultural artifacts to twenty-first-century marvels. The collection has about 70,000 items to its name including 20,000 rare books. Other notable items on display within the galleries and permanent collection include historic firearms, fine art, folk art, portraits, religious art, spurs, maps, and cowboy chaps too! From arrowheads to a Spanish mission bell, the displays are vast and varied. When you head to the museum to enjoy the exhibits, be sure to check their calendar before you arrive. The museum hosts a variety of educational programs throughout the year as well as holiday events and lectures on-site.
Planning Your Visit
General admission tickets to the museum are $14 for adults and $12 for those 65 and older. Students can enjoy a $10 entrance while children ages 6 to 12 can enter for $5. Drop-in tours are available at The Bryan Museum on Thursdays at 5:30 pm and Saturdays at 11:00 am. Private group tours are available for groups of 10 or more with a reservation.
Book Your Getaway Today
Enjoy every moment in Galveston and make sure you have accommodation in place that let you live in style too when you book through Porter. Reach out today to learn more!
