Our Dallas kids museum guide collects all of the best family museums around town, along with parent reviews.

Discover the children's museums Dallas-Fort Worth families love, plus all-ages picks with interactive exhibits and hands-on experiences that make them especially kid-friendly.

Visit our list of Dallas museum free days to see when you can visit some of these favorites for nothing!


 
    Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary

     (1385.4 mi)

    Closed Mondays

    Admission $12/adult, $9/child

    christadiserio:  The Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary is the place to be for your nature-loving kid(s). Kids will enjoy the various trails, where they can run wild and free, or go bird watching. There are several exhibits, including Dinosaurs Live!, Animal Encounters Trail, Magic Planet, Native Texas Butterfly House & Garden, and more!

    Play Street Museum

     (1387.9 mi)

    Stephanie W.:  There are Play Street Museums all over Dallas and Fort Worth, with more on the way! Play is such an important part of kids' development, and these museums are meant to encourage that very thing. Each museum has a different theme, such as construction, a farm, the great outdoors, and so many more. You'll find fun, hands on activities at each location, specific to the museum's theme!

    Heritage Farmstead Museum

     (1395.9 mi)

    Open Thursday-Saturday

    Admission $5-$10/person

    Sarah D.:  Heritage Farmstead Museum is a one-of-a-kind site for living history! This is a wonderful place for children to learn about life in the old west. With 19th and early 20th century exhibits of prairie life, this museum brings history to life for your little one. With a vast array of fun, family-centered events, there is something for all to enjoy!

    Museum of the American Railroad

     (1400.2 mi)

    Closed Mondays & Tuesdays

    Admission $5-$15/person

    Stephanie W.:  The Museum of the American Railroad in Frisco is the perfect museum for your train-obsessed little ones! Come learn about the history of the railroads that helped shape Texas over 150 years ago, and helped make cities like Dallas and Fort Worth what they are today! You'll see trains from different eras and learn about and celebrate the people who helped to build them and serve their passengers, like the Pullman Porters. Guided tours are available on scheduled dates.

    George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum

     (1402.7 mi)

    Admission $26/adult, $20/child

    Stephanie W.:  Not every city can boast being the hometown of one of our Presidents! The George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum has exhibits about what it's like to live in the White House, has an exact replica of the Oval Office, and includes the 15-acre National Texas Park which is open to the public daily. You'll also see exhibits about 9/11, gifts from foreign Heads of State to President Bush, and so much more. Your kids will love seeing what it's like to be President, and hopefully they'll learn a lot, too!

    Children's Aquarium Dallas

     (1402.9 mi)

    Admission $13.95/adult, $9.95/child

    christadiserio:  One of the most liked aquariums in DFW, Children's Aquarium Dallas was designed for little ones in mind. Everything at the aquarium that the kids will explore is at eye-level for them to enjoy. From rhino iguanas to moon jellyfish & other friends, they'll get to meet many underwater treasures. Visitors will love petting and feeding stingrays and Archer Fish!

    Dallas Firefighter’s Museum

     (1403.2 mi)

    Open Wednesday-Saturday

    Admission $6/adult, $4/child

    christadiserio:  Serving as an active firehouse for almost a century until 1975, this former Dallas firehouse has so much to offer. Kids will find the Dallas Firefighter’s Museum fascinating. They'll get to learn about the evolution of the fire engine, the firefighters who have helped fight fires in the city, and a little bit about fire safety.

    Cavanaugh Flight Museum

     (1403.7 mi)

    Open Friday-Sunday

    Admission $12/adult, $6/child

    Stephanie W.:  The Cavanaugh Flight Museum is dedicated to restoring and operating vintage aircrafts (not just limited to planes!) and military vehicles from America's past. Aircrafts from World War I leading all the way to the Vietnam War and 1960s are showcased. It is the perfect museum for children who love planes or American history!

    Nasher Sculpture Center

     (1405.3 mi)

    Closed Mondays & Tuesdays

    Admission $10/adult, Free for children under 12

    Stephanie W.:  Nasher is a sculpture museum with sculptures using many different mediums from all over the world! They have both indoor and outdoor spaces to view the art. Their contemporary garden is a beautiful and unique way for your kids to see art displayed. They offer kids programming each month with demonstrations and the opportunity to create your own art, as well as kids camps for aspiring designers and artists!

    Dallas Museum Of Art

     (1405.3 mi)

    Closed Mondays

    FREE admission

    christadiserio:  Within this incredible art museum, there are two areas for kids that will stimulate their artistic side. Arturo's nest (for ages 0-4) is an interactive space for children to experience art. The kids can participate in activities such as looking at nature in works of art and playing with tree blocks. The Young Learners Gallery (for ages 5-8) offers hands-on activities, such as connecting infinity blocks and creating a story line based on information the kids extract from works of art in the museum's collection.

    Perot Museum of Nature & Science

     (1405.8 mi)

    Closed Tuesdays

    Admission $20/adult, $13/youth

    christadiserio:  The Perot Museum of Nature and Science takes the word "interactive" to a whole other level. This museum boasts 11 exhibit halls, which will appeal to dinosaur lovers, universe fanatics, engineering enthusiasts and literally everyone else. The museum also has its very own children's museum for the little ones 5 and under. Parents are guaranteed to enjoy this museum as much as the kids.

    Dallas Holocaust & Human Rights Museum

     (1406.0 mi)

    Closed Tuesdays

    Admission $16/adult, $12/student

    Age 12+

    christadiserio:  For older kids who have an interest in history or have learned about the Holocaust in school, this is a museum they won't want to miss. The Dallas Holocaust & Human Rights Museum is founded by Holocaust survivors, who are dedicated "teaching the history of the Holocaust and advancing human rights to combat prejudice, hatred, and indifference." Through a self-guided audio tour, kids will learn about the Holocaust through art, artifacts, and more. Holocaust survivors are sometimes available to provide personal accounts.

    The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza

     (1406.0 mi)

    Closed Mondays & Tuesdays

    Admission $18/adult, $14/youth

    Stephanie W.:  The Sixth Floor Museum is an amazing museum about John F. Kennedy and is a fantastic option for older kids who are interested in U.S. and Dallas history. The museum honors the life, assassination, and legacy of President Kennedy in the context of 1960s America. It is a fascinating way for children to learn about this important event in our country's history!

    Frontiers of Flight Museum

     (1406.4 mi)

    Admission $10/adult, $7/youth

    christadiserio:  Experience the history of aviation and space at the Frontiers of Flight Museum - an official affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution. Through multiple historical galleries and impressive collection of artifacts the kids will learn about everything from the Wright Flyer to the Apollo VII spacecraft. While you're touring, you'll even hear today's planes flying right over you!

    Ripley's Believe It or Not!

     (1419.3 mi)

    Tickets start at $29.99/adult, $21.99/child

    christadiserio:  "Is this real life?" With all of the unusual objects hosted at Ripley's Believe It or Not, the kids will be asking themselves that very question. From rare animal skeletons to shrunken human heads, the kids will thoroughly enjoy all that this venue has to offer. Additional attractions are available, such as a mirror maze and a palace of wax.

    Explorium, Denton Children's Museum

     (1420.6 mi)

    Closed Sundays & Tuesdays

    Admission $5/person

    Age 12 & younger

    Stephanie W.:  Check out Denton's hands-on children's museum, Explorium, for sensory fun! The Explorium encourages exploratory play and discovery through science, technology, engineering, arts and math. Different traveling programs and camps are available, such as archeological digs, body system explorations and Lego plate tectonics.

    CR Smith Museum

     (1421.7 mi)

    Open Friday & Saturday

    Admission $9/adult, $6/child

    Stephanie W.:  The CR Smith Museum is an awesome way to spend a day in Fort Worth learning about the history of American Airlines! CR Smith was a chief executive of the airline for many years and helped transform it into the company it is today. See gigantic plane engines, airplane models, and learn about how airplanes fly in the Flightlab. What's more, the museum offers summer camps for kids of different ages who are interested in a career in aviation!

    Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame

     (1441.4 mi)

    Admission $5/person

    Stephanie W.:  The Cowboy Hall of Fame honors over 140 men and women who have excelled in rodeo and the western lifestyle of Texas. Each honoree has a station with personal memorabilia for families to enjoy. It also has exhibits about the history of the cowboy and an exploratorium for children opened in 2007, where kids can learn about how a cowboy would pack his horse and wagon for a trail ride. You'll love learning about Texas's history at this entertaining museum!

    Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth

     (1443.2 mi)

    Closed Mondays

    Admission $16/adult, Free for children under 18

    Stephanie W.:  The Modern is dedicated to preserving post-World War II art in its many mediums. With over 3,000 pieces of art, all movements are represented. The art comes mainly from American and European artists. Tours focused on the art as well as the structure they reside in are available, and families of all ages are encouraged to attend. Camps and drawing lessons with an artist are also available to kids and teens!

    Kimbell Art Museum

     (1443.3 mi)

    Closed Mondays

    FREE admission

    Stephanie W.:  Kimbell's art not only lies within its exhibits but also its architecture. Louis Kahn designed this world-renowned structure that people from near and far come to admire. With art from all over the world, spanning from Ancient America to Asian and African exhibits, your family will love exploring this gorgeous museum in Fort Worth. Be sure to check the website for upcoming Children's Workshops!

    National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame

     (1443.7 mi)

    Closed Mondays

    Admission $12/adult, $6/child

    christadiserio:  As Texans, many of us dream of meeting those real-life cowgirls and cowboys. Through the history collected in this museum, your kids will meet some real-life and important cowgirls! Over 5,000 artifacts are held in the museum's collection - standout artifacts include Annie Oakley's wedding ring and gun, as well as Nudie Cohn designed clothing and saddle. You and the family will love it all - saddle up, friends!

    Fort Worth Museum of Science and History

     (1443.7 mi)

    Admission $16/adult, $12/junior

    Stephanie W.:  This museum is so tailored to kids, you know it was created with them in mind! With many unique exhibits, planetarium and Innovation Studio, a notable section of this museum is the Children's Museum, for children ages 8 and under. They have an indoor block building site where children can construct a train and innovative water play stations. Also check out the DinoDig where children can dig for fossils! Your kids will love this interactive museum!

Primary photo:   frank mckenna on Unsplash

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