The Health Museum
Walk through a giant body in the Museum District, a 22-foot backbone, a 40-foot 'Colossal Colon' and a real cell lab, at a low-cost Houston museum.
The Health Museum, officially the John P. McGovern Museum of Health & Medical Science, is the Museum District's hands-on take on the human body and medicine. It's compact, indoors and one of the more affordable museums in the district, which makes it a great pairing with the neighboring Children's Museum or Hermann Park.
Where it is
The museum is at 1515 Hermann Drive, Houston, TX 77004, right in the Museum District. Parking in the museum lot is about $10 (less for members). Phone: (713) 521-1515.
The Amazing Body Gallery
The signature permanent exhibit lets kids explore an oversized human body up close:
- A 22-foot-long backbone with floor-to-ceiling ribs.
- A 12-foot heart and a 40-foot-long 'Colossal Colon.'
- A giant walk-in eyeball and a 10-foot brain with memory games.
- A throat with vocal cords in action, plus about 30 interactive kiosks.
More to see
Beyond the body gallery, look for You: The Exhibit, where a body scanner shows your organs in real time and an 'Age-O-Matic' ages your face by 30 years. The DeBakey Cell Lab lets visitors over age 7 do real, hands-on science experiments (it's a small add-on fee, a few dollars). Exhibits rotate, so check what's on before you go.
Tickets and hours
Admission is modest, roughly $15 for adults and $12 for kids 3-12, with children under 2 and members free; seniors get a discount. Hours generally run mid-morning to late afternoon with a later close on Thursdays and a noon open on Sundays, and Mondays open seasonally. Prices and hours change, so confirm at thehealthmuseum.org.
Good to know: The DeBakey Cell Lab has a 7-and-up age minimum and a separate small fee; pair it with the free Children's Museum Thursday night a block away for a budget Museum District day.
Frequently asked
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