Whether you’re visiting Dallas along with kids or looking for family stay-cation suggestions, discover the best kid-friendly museums around Dallas. Whatever your kid is enthusiastic about, there’s a museum for that in the city. From the famous Perot Museum to Dallas Museum of Art, we’ve listed a few of our favorite spots to take curious kids in Dallas. Here is a full Dallas travel guide.
Dallas Contemporary
161 Glass St.
Dallas, TX 75207
Dallas Contemporary is a non-collecting art museum showcasing new and challenging concepts from local, national, and international artists. The institution is devoted to engaging the community through exhibitions, lectures, educational programs, and also events. dallascontemporary.org
Dallas Museum of Art
1717 N Harwood St.
Dallas, TX 75201
The Dallas Museum of Art, founded in 1903, features a world-class collection of more than 23,000 works comprising 5,000 years of history and symbolizing all media with well-known strengths in the arts of the historic Americas, Africa, Indonesia, and South Asia; European and American painting, sculpture, and decorative arts; and American and global contemporary art. The Dallas Museum of Art also features programming for all ages, such as talks and tours, workshops, Late Nights, and Arts & Letters Live.
Crow Museum of Asian Art
2010 Flora St.
Dallas, TX 75201
Trammell and Margaret Crow bought their first item of Asian art in the mid-1960s. In 1998, they opened a permanent museum in the Dallas Arts District. Nowadays, the museum is an affiliate of The University of Texas at Dallas, and its set of permanent and rotating exhibitions is devoted to the arts and cultures of Japan, China, India, and Southeast Asia. Since it started out, nearly a million people have visited the museum to see the exhibitions, participate in wellness yoga and meditation sessions, discover Asian cultures or have fun with festivals and family day celebrations.
George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum
2943 SMU Boulevard
Dallas, TX 75205
The George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum offers exhibits about what it’s like to live in the White House. The museum also has an exact replica of the Oval Office and is decorated as it was during the Bush Administration. The museum includes the 15-acre National Texas Park, which is open daily to the public. You will also see exhibits about 9/11, life in the White House, and much more. Your little ones will enjoy seeing what it’s like to become President, and I’m sure they will learn a lot here too.
Nasher Sculpture Center
2001 Flora St.
Dallas, TX 75201
Situated at the center of the Dallas Arts District, the Nasher Sculpture Center is home to the Raymond and Patsy Nasher Collection, one of the greatest collections of modern and contemporary sculpture in the world, boasting over 300 works of art by Calder, di Suvero, de Kooning, Gormley, Giacometti, Hepworth, Miró, Moore, Picasso, to name a few. Outside in the center’s sculpture garden, you can wander around works of steel, bronze, concrete, and wood from each angle. Every month the museum offers Free First Saturdays when it opens with free admission all day and guided kids’ activities.
Perot Museum of Nature and Science
2201 N Field St.
Dallas, TX 75201
The Perot Museum of Nature and Science is an award-winning architectural gem located in Victory Park, adjacent to the Dallas Arts District. Along with your kids, explore your world thru 11 amazing exhibit halls brimming with impressive prehistoric animals, the wonders of space, and amazing experiences with glistening jewels, wild weather, robots, and more. Race a virtual Trex, experience earthquakes, and build model skyscrapers. Ignite little imaginations in a tiny version of downtown Dallas and experience a variety of touring exhibitions. Thrilling 3D shows, a Wolfgang Puck Café, and outdoor leapfrog woodland complete the day of fun.
Frontiers of Flight Museum
6911 Lemmon Ave.
Dallas, TX 75209
Frontiers of Flight Museum is not just a flight museum but an aviation and space flight museum situated at Dallas Love Field. The dramatically-designed 100,000 square-foot center, started out in June 2004, houses more than 30 aircraft and space vehicles, more than a dozen themed exhibits, a 200-seat auditorium, dedicated classrooms, and conference areas, and a children’s discovery area. Come see the permanent displays or during specific events and STEM camps for children.
Museum of Illusions Dallas
701 Ross Ave
Dallas, TX 75202
Welcome to the Museum of Illusions Dallas! A delightful refuge of wonder and mystique where minds are challenged, and imaginations run wild. Perfect for a tour of exploration or an enlightening family outing, the Museum of Illusions offers a unique learning experience that’s both enjoyable and educational. With wonders galore and surprises abound, you’ll discover a kaleidoscope of captivating sights that will excite your curiosity and broaden your horizons. Prepare to be amazed and explore the unbelievable – because it’s all real here! moidallas.com
The Northeast Texas Children’s Museum
100 Maple St
Commerce, TX 75428
Welcome to the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum, where learning and play go hand-in-hand! Our doors have been open since 2002, and since then, we have delighted countless children with a stimulating array of creative activities and enlightening experiences. Whether you’re two or ten years old—or any age in between—there’s something for everyone here! Explore our great bubble room, ride the hand-propelled train, and get a feel for the bustling city life at our grocery store, bank, vet clinic, and hospital. You’ll also find plenty of opportunities to build your creations using Legos and Lincoln Logs. So what are you waiting for? Let’s play and learn together! netxcm.com
Dallas Firefighters Museum
3801 Parry Ave.
Dallas, TX 75226
The Dallas Firefighters Museum features a fantastic collection of old firetrucks. Kids can indulge their enchantment with firefighters by climbing on a hook and ladder truck and also seeing over 100 years of firefighting history through a collection of suits, helmets, uniforms, extinguishers, etc. From time to time, visitors can hear present day’s Dallas Fire Department’s dispatchers.
