The 15 Best Museums in San Antonio

The San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA) is a staple in the Texas art world, showcasing thousands of years' worth of art and historical artifacts from across the globe. SAMA has the most comprehensive collection of ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman art in the entire country. The Asian art wing features incredible works from countries like India, Japan, and Korea, including an important collection of Chinese ceramics that should not be missed. Exhibitions in SAMA also include contemporary pieces made by living artists, giving you plenty of modern artwork to enjoy.

To visit the San Antonio Museum of Art, purchase your tickets ahead of time online and choose the hours that best suit your plans for the day. Give yourself several hours to take in this exceptional collection's majesty.

The Alamo is a true Texan cultural touchstone and one of the most popular museums in San Antonio. Once a fortress and, before that, a Catholic religious outpost, the Alamo is a historic landmark remembered for the 1836 battle between the Texas revolutionaries and the Mexican army.

If you're interested in American history, the Alamo is a must-visit. Visitor options include self-guided tours of the historic buildings and the Alamo Church, as well as a fully guided battlefield tour. There are also hands-on demonstrations about daily life in the early 1800s, with costumed guides showing you the ropes. Don't forget to stop by the souvenir shop on your way out of the building to grab your own Alamo Flag, photo book, and Texas-themed gifts.

The San Antonio Witte Museum is a natural science and anthropological museum home to plenty of cultural artifacts, with collections that include World History, US History, Anthropology and Archaeology, Texas Art, Natural History, and Paleontology and Geology. It's an enormous museum you could spend days exploring, so plan your visit accordingly and give yourself enough time to see everything that interests you.

While you're there, consider joining the tour to visit the White Shaman mural in Lower Pecos near Seminole Canyon State Park. The mural was painted thousands of years ago and shows life during the "hunter-gatherer" days. Warning—the tour is rated "strenuous," with a difficult 1.5-mile hike featuring steep trails in the scorching desert heat.

Artpace is one of San Antonio's premiere art and culture venues. They offer a highly curated Artist-In-Residence program that provides up to three artists a studio/exhibition space, a small stipend, transportation, and a place to stay, with a $10,000 budget and a full-time staff to help. This gives the artists the time and space to create freely. There's one international artist, one national artist, and one local artist from Texas every year, working hard to create new works.

Come to Artpace to see up-and-comers and well-established artists do what they do best.

The San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum, or SAAACAM, is a place dedicated to telling the stories of San Antonio area African Americans and their descendants, with the ultimate goal of preserving American history. Growing from a grassroots movement, SAAACAM has become an essential archive of the true stories of African Americans, collecting and safeguarding the region's cultural heritage.

Join the Black History River Tour for a fun and educational experience on the water, browse the digital community archive, or share your personal story if you're from the area. There's a lot of local history within the walls.

The Holocaust is just as important a topic today as it was in the 1930s and 1940s. This somber reminder of its victims is an educational foray into past and contemporary social issues, expanding the patrons' knowledge while honoring those who died.

When you come to the Holocaust Memorial Museum of San Antonio, you'll see photographs, hear testimonies from survivors, and view artifacts from the time. All artifacts have been provided to the museum by survivors or their heirs to ensure all items were acquired legally and ethically. While it's a heavy topic, it's also an important one, making this museum more than worthy of a visit.

Need a place to take the kids on a rainy day? The Do-Seum is one of the best art museums in San Antonio for kids of all ages. It utilizes the power of play to give kids hands-on experience with science, art, and fun. Exhibits like the Semmes Foundation Spy Academy promote imagination and strategy, while Pop! A Bubble Lab shows kids the science behind soap suds as they play with real bubbles. The Zachry Innovation Station gives kids the tools they need to build their creations.

Exhibits are indoors and outside, offering children opportunities to explore, experiment, and try new things in a safe place. The Do-Seum even offers Spring Break, summer, and holiday camps, keeping kids busy and engaged when school's out.

The Dinosaur George Natural History Museum is free for all visitors. This must-see museum features Tinker, the 30-foot-long Tyrannosaurus skeleton found by Bob Bakker. It's the only known teenage T-Rex on display in the world. Kids and adults alike love this popular museum, named for "Dinosaur" George Blasing, a dinosaur-obsessed public speaker who educates people on dinosaurs, hosts events, gives talks at schools, and even co-hosts a 12-part series on The History Channel called Jurassic Fight Club.

The gift shop is almost as popular as the exhibits, showcasing authentic fossils, crystals, rocks, minerals, and educational toys the whole family will love. To find the Dinosaur George Museum, enter Traders Village and head to the first set of covered buildings on the left.

Need somewhere fun to take the kids today? The McKenna Children's Museum is the perfect place to bring your little ones. They're encouraged to be noisy, laugh, and have fun exploring the various exhibits, which have been crafted to encourage learning, imagination, and healthy growth.

Kids can enjoy this hands-on environment with their parents, learning about science, technology, healthy lifestyle choices, art, gardening, and more in exhibits like the Lend-A-Hand Ranch, the Grocery Store, the Aquarium, and Destination Space. No matter where your little one's interests lie, they'll find something they love in this interactive space.

Check out a museum filled with haunted dolls at the Retro Fun Store & Museum on W. Hildebrand Avenue. Visitors of the Haunted Dollhouse Museum can get a taste of the macabre, with exhibits featuring hundreds of vintage dolls and other curiosities, as well as antique jewelry and old books. Some dolls are said to be haunted, or perhaps they're simply beautiful porcelain antiques. You be the judge!

While this place may not be everybody's cup of tea, those who are into the paranormal or who just like the look of vintage toys will love visiting the life-sized Haunted Dollhouse. Schedule a self-guided tour on a weekday, or come in for general admission on Saturdays and Sundays after 12. It's creepy fun for the whole family.

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