Hermann Park: Ground Zero For Houston’s Great Attractions

Hermann Park is a large urban area, just southwest of downtown Houston, Texas in the Museum District. This 445 acre historic park is adjacent to the Rice University grounds and is a central point for several main Houston attractions.

In 1914, Houston Board of Parks Commissioner George H. Hermann donated 285 acres to the city. The following year, the city purchased the adjoining acreage to give the park the boundaries it has today. One of the highlights of Hermann Park is the Sam Houston Monument, a large statue with Houston riding a horse. The monument was sculpted by Enrico Cerracchio and unveiled in 1925.

Of the things to see in Hermann Park and the adjoining neighbourhoods of the Museum District, there are four with entrance fees that can be purchased together in the CityPass Houston package.

Houston Museum of Natural Science

Located directly on the Hermann Park grounds, the Houston Museum of Natural Science was opened in 1909, before there even was a Hermann Park. The museum features exhibits that include gems, wildlife, pre-historic creatures, treasures of ancient Egypt, space science and much more.

The HMNS is open each day of the year from 9am until 5pm. Entrance fees range from $20 for adults, down to $15 for children, students and seniors 62 and older.

Houston Zoo

The zoo is also located right on the Hermann Park grounds, just south of the Museum of Natural Science. Not quite as old as the HMNS or Hermann Park in general, the Houston Zoo has been around since 1922.

The zoo is open from 9am until 5pm every day of the year, except for one. The gates are closed for Christmas Day only. The animal collection includes birds, primates, fish and aquatic animals, wildlife of the African forest, sea lions, elephants, reptiles and amphibians, a children’s zoo and the hoofed run.

The Houston Zoo is a bargain when compared to some other zoos in North America. The adult entrance fee is $15, children from 2-11 pay $11 and seniors 65 years old and over get a real bargain at $8.50.

The Children’s Museum of Houston

The Children’s Museum is located just two blocks north of Hermann Park but quite close to the Museum of Natural Science. The museum was originally opened in 1984 but at a different site. The attraction has been at its current location since 1992 and has been expanded significantly since. In 2011, Parent’s Magazine named the CMH the best children’s museum in the United States of America.

Closed on Mondays, the museum is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm, except for Thursday when hours are extended to 8pm. On Sundays, staff get to sleep in with the museum not opening until noon. Everyone under 65 pays $9 to enter. Grandma and Grandpa, if 65 or older, get a one dollar discount. Unlike most attractions, the entrance fee covers ALL activities and exhibits.

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

Located about 4-5 blocks northwest of the CMH, the Museum of Fine Arts obviously appeals to a different crowd. The museum was established in 1900 and is one of the largest museums in the United States with over 64,000 works collected from six continents.

Like the CMH, the Museum of Fine Arts is closed on Mondays. Hours are scattered throughout the rest of the week, generally open at 10am and closing between 5pm and 9pm. Thursdays are a late day, with the museum being open until 9pm.

Unlike the CMH, one fee does not cover all and there are additional costs to see premium exhibits. General admission prices range from $15 for adults, down to $7.50 for students and youth. The museum is generous to parents with free admission to those 12 and under. However, the museum is free to visit on Thursdays and Bank of America cardholders have privileges throughout the week, including free admission. These are important things to consider when purchasing CityPASS Houston as you have to make some choices between two different attractions.

Houston, Texas

Located in the southeast of Texas, not far from the Gulf of Mexico and not far from the State of Louisiana, Houston is home to around 2.2 million residents with a metro population of over six million.

Houston can be reached via two international airports. George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) is located in the far north end of the city, while Houston William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) is located just seven miles southeast of downtown. Generally, low cost carriers like Southwest Airlines use Houston Hobby while the bigger and international flights use George Bush Airport.

Along with the attractions around Hermann Park, Houston is home to a NASA Space Center and is a Mecca for professional sports with the Houston Texans of the NFL, Houston Astros of MLB and the Houston Rockets of the NBA. The city still sorely lacks a team in the National Hockey League.