Museum of Natural Science, Houston

The exhibit halls here include:
The Pendulum
Paleontology
Chemistry
Energy
Gems and Minerals
Texas Wild Life
The Serengeti
Malacology
Americas
Discovery Place
Space Science
HMNS Earthcam

There is a planetarium, an observatory, an Imax theater, a butterfly center (pictured here,) a challenger center and all kinds of special events.

Houston Museum of Natural Science
Fun for adults as well as kids. The permanent exibits and planatarium are fairly interesting, but the Butterfly Center and IMAX are the real reasons to go. The IMAX shows are 'educational' and usually last one hour. This is a great place to take the kids. If it's not too hot, pack a picnic lunch to eat in the park or nearby Rose Gardens.

This museum contains an impressive collection of natural exhibits. Highlights include the Cockrell Centre, filled with butterflies and tropical plants and featuring a 12m (40ft) waterfall, a rainforest environment, a planetarium and a permanent exhibition of dinosaur skeletons. There is also an IMAX theatre.

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FOR A MODEST ENTRY FEE, you can visit the world of beautiful, live butterflys. They will land on your shoulder if you're lucky.

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Go and look at all the pretty butterflys in an enclosed area where they are free flying. Good photo oportunities. Has an IMAX inside which was fun. Gem exhibit and dinosaurs. The usual musuem stuff.

This is located in the Museum district, next to the statue. It holds interesting exhibitions, a collection of dinosaurs, a geology exhibit, butterfly garden, IMAX theater.