The Menil Collection houses the nearly 16,000 works of art that connoisseurs John and Dominique de Menil, the museum's founders, amassed beginning in the 1940's. Italian architect Rienzo Piano designed the building, which contains, among other objects, paintings, rare books, decorative objects, sculptures and photographs. The works are as eclectic in origin and period as they are in medium; they range from the Paleolithic era artifacts to Medieval relics to 20th century pop art and come from places as remote as Russia, Asia Minor, Africa and the Pacific Islands. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is free.
The Menil Collection
1515 Sul Ross St.
Houston, TX 77006
713-525-9400
menil.org
The Contemporary Arts Museum Houston's motto, "Always Fresh, Always Free," succinctly expresses its mission of making contemporary art accessible to the public. The museum focuses on regional, national and international artwork from the past 40 years and offers lectures, talks and other events in conjunction with its exhibitions. On the last Friday of every month, the museum hosts Steel Lounge Underground, a social event during which visitors can enjoy music and cocktails while viewing artwork. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is free.
Contemporary Arts Museum Houston
5216 Montrose Blvd.
Houston TX, 77006
713-284-8250
camh.org
From March through October, the Miller Outdoor Theater, which occupies 7.5 acres in Houston's Hermann Park, offers free dance, musical and theatrical performances, including Shakespearean plays and shows for children. Admission to all of the performances is free, but some events offer ticketed seating with a limit of four tickets per person. Theatergoers can also bring their own blankets and lawn chairs and watch performances from a hillside seating area.
Miller Outdoor Theater
100 Concert Drive
Hermann Park
Houston TX, 77030
281-823-9103
milleroutdoortheatre.com
With the hope of preventing future genocides, the Holocaust Museum Houston seeks to educate the public about the atrocities committed during the Holocaust, an attempt by Nazi Germany to wipe out the European Jewish population during World War II. Photographs, film footage, documents and artifacts depicting the life of European Jews before and during the Holocaust are part of the museum's permanent exhibiton. A railcar the Nazis used to transport Jews is also on permanent display as is rescue boat Danish Christians used to save many Jews from execution. The museum is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free.
Holocaust Museum Houston
5401 Caroline St.
Houston, TX 77004
713-942-8000
hmh.org
