We understand. By now you probably have a good amount of cabin fever still burning from the inside out after being cooped up all of 2020 and you’re itching to get back into the exhibit halls. Yet with announcement after announcement of this renovation and that opening exhibit, you may be a bit overwhelmed and that’s okay.

Allow me to be your personal travel guide through space and time to help you see our latest and greatest must-see attractions.

Ramses the Great and the Gold of the Pharaohs

The city of Houston is still a-buzz with the opening of Ramses the Great and the Gold of the Pharaohs this Fall. It truly is a sight to see. If you only have a couple of hours to spare, trek up to the third floor and make this one your priority since it will be moving to its next location come March 23, 2022.

The exhibit gates open to welcome guests into what feels to be the closest experience to touching the sands of Egypt without ever leaving the museum. From magnificent artifacts to jaw dropping virtual spectacles, the tale of Egypt’s greatest architect and even those who carried on such an impressive legacy springs to life in Ramses the Great.

Purchase tickets here.

The Hall of Ancient Egypt

The reopening and reimagining of the Hall of Ancient Egypt hits home with staff and museumgoers alike. This is one we have all been anxiously checking the social platforms for any updates on.

Now the time has come to step back through the sacred temples, revisit the beloved mummies (both human and animal) and take a moment to soak up the atmosphere and imagine yourself as an ancient Egyptian in beautifully adorned, photography encouraged rooms.

This exhibit works a bit differently during the run of Ramses the Great. The Hall of Ancient Egypt is now included in the special exhibit ticket. It’s actually cleverly connected to the hall physically. So you are able to get a well-rounded look at the life before, during and after this great pharaoh.

Admission included in purchase of Ramses the Great and the Gold of the Pharaohs.

Treasures in Gold & Jade: Masterworks from Taiwan

Take the elevator back downstairs to the first floor and find the Brown Gallery next to Museum Services. Tucked within is the beautifully serene art exhibit Treasures in Gold & Jade: Masterworks from Taiwan.

Witness the intricate works of two of Taiwan’s premier artists. Huang Fu Shou carves from a spectrum of jade while Wu Ching transforms gold into life-like masterpieces. This exhibit of serene moments in nature stem from natural minerals never before seen as such.

See this exhibit now through February 6, 2022.

Included with admission to the permanent exhibits.

Trains Over Texas

Just outside the Brown Gallery and situated under the prized Glassell fish is a Houston holiday favorite, Trains Over Texas.

Travel Texas by rail without leaving the museum thanks to the return of our seasonal favorite Trains Over Texas. This special exhibit crisscrosses the state by O-scale model railroad to visit important places in Texas’s geology and physiography. Trek along the winding tracks and see just how many Texas landmarks you can spot. From the big cities to hidden treasures of the South, there are so many miniature wonders to find.

See this exhibit only at HMNS until January 2, 2022.

Included with admission to the permanent exhibits.

BODY WORLDS & The Cycle of Life

It’s back! In case you missed it, BODY WORLDS & The Cycle of Life has returned to The Houston Museum of Natural Science. One of the most enthralling exhibitions to land at the museum in recent history is returning for an encore engagement.

This special exhibit is a celebration of the human form through high points of health to the struggles of disease, from life’s beginnings and well into life’s later years. Over 100 preserved human specimens, some of which include whole-body plastinates, demonstrate the wonder of the human body’s complexity, resilience and vulnerability through artistic display.

See BODY WORLDS & The Cycle of Life today. Purchase tickets here.

So there you have it. Your very own curated guide to the halls this holiday season. Enjoy these highlights and other HMNS favorites along your merry way. See you in 2022 with new and exciting adventures.

Other curated reads: Horrific Haunts

*Ramses the Great and the Gold of the Pharaohs is presented by World Heritage Exhibitions and Cityneon, this world premiere exhibition is now open in its limited run at the Houston Museum of Natural Science through May 23, 2022, before embarking on a multi-country, world-wide tour.

*The Hall of Ancient Egypt is generously supported by Apache Corporation and Paula and Rusty Walter.

*Local support for Treasures in Gold and Jade is provided by The Harriet and Truett Latimer Endowment Fund and the John P. McGovern Foundation.
Treasures in Gold & Jade: Masterworks from Taiwan is organized by the Bowers Museum and the Houston Museum of Natural Science and supported by the Taiwan Academy in Houston, an arm of the Taiwan Ministry of Culture.

*Trains Over Texas was organized by the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Local support provided by the Carruth Foundation, Inc., Glen A. Rosenbaum, and Union Pacific Foundation.

*BODY WORLDS & The Cycle of Life is supported by Woodforest National Bank.