Today’s post is by Susan Schmaeling, APR. Susan is passionate about the 18 member museums in the Houston Museum District Association (HMDA). As a consultant to HMDA, she is delighted to help facilitate Museum District Day, which introduces the richness of the member museums of the Houston Museum District to thousands of visitors.  

Houston is a thriving cultural hub and at the heart of it all is the Houston Museum District. Come and explore the fourth largest museum district in the nation during Museum District Day!

15th Annual Museum District Day
Saturday, September 17, 2011
10 am – 5 pm

17 museums offer free general admission to their captivating exhibits, special programs, hands-on activities, performances and more. Pack up the car with family and friends and drive yourself to the Museum District – paid and/or free public parking is available at many of the museums.

Or take out the hassle and ride the METRORail to the Houston Museum District stop at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. You can bike it and safely lock your bike in front of The Menil Collection bookstore or on Branard Street in front of one of the distinctive grey Menil bungalows. Then hop on a free Museum District Day Bus Shuttle and take one route which stops at each and every participating museum.

Here’s a sample of the fun, free activities you and your family can participate in on Museum District Day:

Meet anchors and reporters from our title sponsor, KHOU-TV Channel 11, at the Houston Museum of Natural Science from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm.

Take a free Tai Chi class at 3 p.m. by Henderson Smith on the lawn near the Rothko Chapel.

Enjoy a delicious lunch al fresco at the Great Good Hot Dogs Truck for about $5 per hot dog at The Menil Collection.

Contribute a part of yourself to The Jung Center’s Inside-Outside Virtual Parade collage. Free materials like photos, clippings and art images will allow you to express your true self.

Help the Blue Star Moms support our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. Bring a small personal care item to the Holocaust Museum Houston to be sent overseas. Write a note of thanks to the men and women who protect and serve us.

Make Sunprints at the Houston Center of Photography.

Watch the Houston Area Blacksmiths forge steel at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft‘s annual “Gathering of the Guilds.”

Make a Snap Circuit at the Inventor’s Workshop inside the Children’s Museum of Houston.

Witness performances about the life of a Buffalo Soldier every hour on the hour from 11 am to 3 pm at the Buffalo Soldiers Museum.

Watch artist Ana Serrano create her cardboard cityscape, Salon of Beauty at the Rice University Art Gallery.

Share your memories of Hurricane Carla and Tropical Storm Allison at The Weather Museum, as we remember the 50th anniversary of Carla and 10th anniversary of Allison, and learn about how storms are named as you come up with your own list of Atlantic storm names.

You will experience the richness of other cultures, be inspired and celebrate the Museum District’s diverse community.

Get details about Museum District Day!

Please note – the Houston Zoo is not providing free general admission on Museum District Day.