Space Center Houston, the Official Visitor Center of NASA Johnson Space Center, is Houston’s No. 1 attraction for international visitors in the greater Houston area. Discover the exciting future and remarkable past of America’s human spaceflight program set among the largest collection of space artifacts in the southwestern United States. There is always something new to see and do. With more than 400 space artifacts including flown spacecraft, the largest collection of moon rocks on public display and at multiple major seasonal exhibits a year, Space Center Houston offers an array of exciting attractions for people of all ages. A must-see is the international landmark Independence Plaza presented by Boeing. It is the only shuttle replica mounted on a shuttle carrier aircraft, and the only place where visitors can enter both vehicles. The eight-story, multiple-exhibit complex gives visitors a rare glimpse into the historic shuttle era and the NASA breakthroughs and technological advances gained from the Space Shuttle Program which impacted future exploration.
Don’t miss NASA Tram Tours, the most popular experiences at Space Center Houston. These tours are your chance to go on-site at NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) and get an up-close look at human space exploration. View where NASA astronauts train and where scientists are developing the next generation of space exploration vehicles. Explore Rocket Park, where one of only three of the remaining actual Saturn V rockets is displayed. Visit Historic Mission Control from which NASA led Gemini and Apollo missions, including the first lunar landing.
Museum District
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Discover a neighborhood packed with world-class museums, galleries, and cultural institutions all within a walkable stretch of the city. Whether you’re exploring ancient history, contemporary art, natural science, or immersive installations, Houston’s Museum District offers experiences for every kind of explorer. The district is home to nearly 20 museums and cultural institutions and welcomes millions of visitors each year.
Featured Museums & Cultural Attractions
- Museum of Fine Arts Houston — 1001 Bissonnet St., Houston, TX 77005
- Houston Museum of Natural Science — 5555 Hermann Park Dr., Houston, TX 77030
- Children’s Museum Houston — 1500 Binz St., Houston, TX 77004
- The Health Museum — 1515 Hermann Dr., Houston, TX 77004
- Holocaust Museum Houston — 5401 Caroline St., Houston, TX 77004
- Asia Society Texas Center — 1370 Southmore Blvd., Houston, TX 77004
- Contemporary Arts Museum Houston — 5216 Montrose Blvd., Houston, TX 77006
You’ve never seen Texas like this! Part honky-tonk and part Texas history museum, Armadillo Palace gets the mood established right off the bat thanks to the towering armadillo sporting longhorns and breathing smoke right out front. Enjoy the sounds of live music. Grab one of the (real) pistol door handles, pass under a thicket of antler horns, and find a huge saloon-style bar with tooled leather bar stools under a tin ceiling. One whole wall is lined with antique saddles. There's a stuffed longhorn, deer head, or cow skull on every wall, and an antler chandelier hangs over the pool table. From live Texas tunes to live-fire barbecue pits, Armadillo Palace pride themselves on going beyond the whole hog. That’s why you’ll find perfectly seared ribeye next to mesquite-smoked redfish, rotisseried cabrito, and veggies lucky enough to be fried in duck fat. And if you’d like a splash of something different before dancing, their specialty cocktails should do the trick.
Goode Co. Armadillo Palace is hosting soccer watch parties in partnership with Lone Star Beer throughout the tournament season. Guests can enjoy live music and DJ sets after select matches, pop-ups from local Houston vendors, and all-day food and drink specials. The venue will also feature fun activations like armadillo races and a custom soccer pitch in the Backyard for community play, making it a go-to destination to watch!
Western Fashion
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Modern western wear has come a long way from rhinestones and Rocky Mountains. Pinto Ranch exemplifies the changes with its array of clothing, boots, jewelry and yes, even saddles, at its Post Oak store (1717 Post Oak Blvd. Houston, TX 77056). Throughout the year, serious cowboys and cowgirls shop at Pinto Ranch for the store's high quality and exclusive boot lines. Socialites abound stocking up on the latest cowgirl gear, and when the Big Show gallops into Houston each spring, rodeo-goers have plenty of options there, too. The jewelry cases are not to be missed no matter what season because of the amazing hand-crafted turquoise, coral, ruby and citrine pieces. Pinto Ranch is also located in Terminal C at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
Tecovas is another greats option if you are looking for Western goods. Walking into a Tecovas Store is always a sensory experience. The smell of fresh leather and a friendly smile are both waiting to greet you as you come in and shop their selection of fine Western goods. So stop by, grab a cold one and let their expert staff set you up with a great pair of boots you’ll enjoy for a lifetime. Two locations in Houston: in Rice Village (2400 University Blvd, Suite 100), and at CityCentre (800 Town & Country Blvd., Suite 103,).
