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The 14 Best Museums in Fort Worth to Visit

If you plan on museum hopping in Fort Worth, you are in luck! There are so many great museums in Fort Worth that you can’t go wrong. Today we’re sharing our top favorite museums to visit!

Thirty-two miles west of Dallas, Fort Worth is often outshined by its massive sister city, even though it has many major tourist attractions. Every year, nearly nine million people come to the city for work or fun.

Fort Worth is known as “Cowtown” because of its long history in the cattle ranching business. It also has a long and rich cultural history. And going to the best museums in the area with historical pieces is a great way to learn about this history.

The art scene in the city is one of the finest in the country. Here, you can find a lot of collections that are only available in Fort Worth. There are also places for science and nature enthusiasts and museums that tell the tales of the American West.

A bonus is that most of the city’s best museums are in the Cultural District, which makes it simple to spend days exploring. There are attractions you can reach near these spots to uplift your experience in the city even more!

So without further ado, let’s dive into the 14 best museums in Fort Worth!

14. National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum

2029 N Main St, Fort Worth, TX

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This museum is small but worth visiting if you’re in the Historic District of Fort Worth.

The National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum was once called the National Cowboys of Color Museum. It honors the diverse range of African, Asian, European, Hispanic, and Native American men who helped settle the Old West and continue to motivate people today.

Their tales are via historical items, journals, and photos, and the museum provides a great glimpse into the lives of these individuals who helped to shape the American West.

There are also permanent exhibits like the Buffalo Soldiers, Native American Indian Chiefs, Tuskegee Airmen, and the Vaquero. This museum hosts events like meeting Buffalo Soldiers and golf tournaments. Concerts are on schedule each year.

The museum store has several cool items for sale. It includes many books, DVDs, CDs, posters, hats, and other unique historical items that help tell the museum’s story.

This museum is accessible Wednesday to Saturday from noon to 5 pm. Ticket prices are free for children under 5, $8 for military, students with ID, and seniors over 62, and $10 for adults.

13. Fort Worth Museum of Science and History

1600 Gendy St, Fort Worth, TX

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Visiting Fort Worth’s Museum of Science and History is fun, hands-on, and inspiring. Since its opening in 1945, this Fort Worth museum has been a great place to learn about science, technology, and natural history.

This site has several highlights, all under one roof. It has features like the Children’s Museum of Fort Worth, a place for children under 8 to play and learn.

Families also enjoy the DinoLabs and DinoDig exhibit, which tells the story of dinos in the state and has a replica of a dig site. It’s fun learning about dinosaurs that lived in your yard many years ago and bringing them alive with your creativity and imagination.

Speaking of dinosaurs, one of the museum’s permanent displays is a substantial paluxysaurus jonesi skeleton! The skeleton on display is of four Paluxysaurus structures encountered in the same area.

You can check out the museum’s Noble Space Gallery next. Here, you can learn about astronomers’ instruments to investigate the universe today and determine where you want to go next. You can see a few highlights of the immense universe and even find out what it’s like to travel to the moon!

On the other hand, the Energy Blast shows the exciting story of North Texas’s energy resources. You will like it a lot if you like physics, technology, and new ways of thinking.

With lots to see and do, this museum will surely make visitors hungry. Luckily, its Stars Cafe is a great place to stop to satisfy your hunger. The menu has pizzas, chicken tenders, sandwiches, salads, and sweets.

Afterward, try the Omni Theater and Galaxy Park Playground next if they are open.

12. American Airlines CR Smith Museum

4601 Hwy 360, Fort Worth, TX

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This next one is a haven for people who love flying!

American Airlines staff members spent two and a half years raising money and building the museum before it opened on July 3, 1993. You can find it at the American Airlines Federal Credit Union.

CR Smith Museum’s name was from Cyrus Rowlett Smith, a pioneer in the aviation field. In 1934, when he was 35, he became president of American Airlines. For the next 34 years, he ran American Airlines and helped shape the airline industry.

The museum’s most famous piece is a retired Douglas DC-3 from 1940. C.R. Smith had the idea for this plane, which changed commercial air travel.

Since the summer of 2018, the museum has shown how airlines work and how the individuals who manage American Airlines daily do their jobs.

No matter how old you are, you’ll want to participate in the brand-new interactive exhibits. There are also hundreds of historical items, photos, and full-size aircraft engines, so keep your eyes peeled.

A short movie called “Why I Fly” is also displayed in the Museum’s 4K digital theater. It tells the inspiring stories of some people working for American Airlines.

But the number of hands-on displays makes this museum different from others. Here, you can see what it is like to fly a jetliner or sit in one of the first planes that American Airlines ever made.

We are certain that you will have a great time here. Before you leave, we recommend checking out some souvenirs at the museum shop.

11. Stockyards Museum

131 E Exchange Ave, Fort Worth, TX

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The Stockyards Museum is all about how Fort Worth helped the cattle business.

The livestock sector was and still is a big part of Fort Worth’s success. And at this museum, run by the North Fort Worth Historical Society, you can learn more about the history of stockyards, where massive amounts of cattle were purchased and sold for nearly a century.

Also, it’s a tiny museum, but for just $2, you can get in and see a lot of artifacts, files, and photos that tell the tale of Fort Worth.

One of the exciting things in the museum is the Silver Spurs Award, which John Wayne got in 1949. It was to honor the Western movie star whose movies kept the Western spirit alive. He was the first to win this award for his roles in She Wore a Yellow Ribbon and The Red River.

This site also lets you see the Palace Theater Bulb. As of September 21, 2015, it has been burning for 106 years and is in the Guinness Book of World Records as the second longest-burning bulb in the world. See for yourself!

What’s more? This museum has the “Bad Luck Wedding Dress.” This dress was from 1886, and everyone who has chosen to wear it or planned to wear it has had bad things happen to them.

Though this museum doesn’t have a gift shop or restaurant, there are a few places close by that you can visit.

The Lonesome Dave Western Bistro is one of these places. This restaurant serves American and Southwestern dishes 0.2 miles from the museum. Alternatively, the H3 Ranch provides excellent steakhouse foods for a memorable experience.

10. National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame

1720 Gendy St, Fort Worth, TX

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The National Cowgirl Museum opened in 1975 in Hereford, Texas, but it only moved to its 33,000-square-foot residence in Fort Worth’s Cultural District in 2002.

The museum recognizes the brave, strong, and independent women of the American West. It’s the only museum on earth that shows how brave and adventurous these women were.

Here, you can check out interactive galleries with artifacts, a gallery for traveling exhibits, two theaters, a souvenir shop, a research library, and archives. This vast museum tells the tale of over 750 women from the West.

One past exhibit here was the “Dare to Wear.” It honors cowgirls of the past and present who keep the traditions of western wear alive. If you like fashion, this colorful but exciting show is perfect.

Artifacts from the Hall of Fame Honorees are also a hit here. Some of the most exciting things are Annie Oakley’s engagement ring and gun, Dale Evans’s Bohlin saddle, clothing, and a saddle designed by Nudie Cohn.

On the other hand, the museum’s photograph collection has over 6,000 old and new pictures, mainly of National Cowgirl Hall of Fame Honorees and other historic cowgirls. It is the surest option to see historical documents and rodeos from the 20th century.

The library and archives at the museum have more detailed information. This museum is home to over 2,000 books and titles that cover more than 150 years of history.

Its second floor, which just reopened, features a Western Design Room and a Bucking Bronc Room that you can also check out.

Everything in this spot is available every day except Monday. Admission costs between $6 and $12. Seniors, members of the military, and groups can get discounts.

9. Military Museum of Fort Worth

1726 Green Oaks Road Ridgmar Mall Lower Level West Entrance between Dillard’s and Penny’s, Fort Worth, TX 

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The Military Museum of Fort Worth is the only museum in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex dedicated to showing service members’ history. It is a free-standing museum.

This museum recently moved to a bigger space inside Ridgmar Mall, which allows it to show more items from the nearby army community.

By expanding its size and reach, the museum aims to become a central place to learn about military history in North Texas and beyond.

This museum is a way to keep history alive so that people won’t ignore the sacrifices the army made to fight for the country’s freedom.

It currently holds more than 2,500 artifacts belonging to different military members and tells various stories about them. And there is more room to grow.

You can see a WWI trench and the Camp Bowie military base on the west side of Fort Worth during WWII. There are also jeep rides, a cut-apart engine of a B-36, and the cockpit from an EF-111.

Plus, there are exciting things for kids to do, like a hunt to find the identities of 5 Veterans. As a reward for completing the scavenger hunt, kids get to try on various military gear from different times.

Most of all, they share the stories of war vets through the critical things to them—a remarkable museum run by a group of dedicated volunteers.

If you are going to Fort Worth, you should check out this place. It is well worth the journey. 

Admission is free for people in the US military and kids under 10. All other visitors cost $10 per person. The museum is available from Thursdays to Sundays. This is definitely one of our favorite free museums in Fort Worth that’s worth a visit!

8. Sid Richardson Museum

309 Main St, Fort Worth, TX

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The Sid Richardson Museum is a must-see for art lovers and fans of the Wild West. It has artwork that collector Sid Richardson put together between 1942 and 1959.

It is in a building that looks like it was from the 1880s. Most of the pieces are by the famous American painters Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell, who painted the spirit of the West in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

The pieces in the collection show the acts, drama, and everyday life in the old West. Many of the best ones are by artists who are not as well-known.

Intriguing exhibitions are also on display here. There are creative past exhibits like “Picturing the American West” and “Saddles on Parade: The Artistry of Edward Bohlin.” If you look forward to seeing these, we suggest checking out their website to know what exhibit to expect.

This spot is also amongst the top free things to do in Fort Worth. Join a themed guided tour or a museum’s fun educational program. There are activities for kids, teens, and adults, so you can have fun here regardless of age.

If you have more time, you can get to other places of interest from here. The Bass Performance Hall and the Jubilee Theatre are next to each other.

You can also walk to Sundance Square, where there are places to eat. We recommend you try the excellent cuisines at the Capitol Grille.

If you’re looking for free museums in Fort Worth, this is a top pick.

7. Texas Civil War Museum

760 Jim Wright Fwy North, Fort Worth, TX

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The Texas Civil War Museum opened in 2006. It is a super interesting museum where you can learn about the Civil War.

This museum is the most extensive Civil War gallery west of the Mississippi River. The Texas Division of United Daughters of the Confederacy loaned many exciting artifacts to the museum’s galleries.

There are three different galleries, each with many things related to the war, such as a fantastic collection of Victorian dresses, uniforms, rifles, flags, cannons, and much more.

The Ray Richey Civil War Collection is one of the most exciting things in the museum’s collection. With more than 10,000 items, this personal collection of artifacts from the North and the South gives a broad perspective of the time.

From the Infantry, Cavalry, and Artillery to the Navy, each piece of art gives a detailed look at the Civil War. Some parts of the war, like the medical division and musical instruments, are shown in different parts of the gallery. 

You’ll know why Ray Richey’s collection is one of the most extensive private collections of Civil War items in the world once you visit.

Best of all, along with the displays, there is a 75-seat theater. It is where the movie “Our Homes, Our Rights: Texas in the Civil War” was made for the museum. This movie is an excellent way for everyone in the family to learn a lot, regardless of your viewpoint.

Children aged between 6 and 12 pay $4, while adults over 13 pay $7 to get in. Those who are five years old or younger can get in for free. The museum is accessible from 10 am to 5 pm on Thursday through Saturday.

6. Fort Worth Aviation Museum 

3300 Ross Ave, Fort Worth, TX 

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The Fort Worth Aviation Museum is a military aviation museum with jets, helicopters, and other types of planes on display. This museum is within Meacham International Airport, so it’s a great place if you’re interested in the history of flying.

This museum has more planes you can touch than any other in Texas. About 33 military aircraft are displayed there, from a BT-13 trainer from 1943 to a Blue Angle F/A-18 Hornet. Every boy’s dream comes true here!

The F-14D Tomcat is one of the warplanes in this museum. It may be the most well-known Navy fighter because it was the star of the movie Top Gun. This F-14D Tomcat was a high-tech interceptor and fighter for air supremacy.

Another warbird on display is the F/A 18. It was made by the US Navy when plans came together to replace older fighters. 

The F/A-18 is a tactical plane with two engines and a mid-wing. It can do more than one job. It is easy to turn because it has a good ratio of thrust to weight, a digital fly-by-wire control scheme, and leading edge extensions (LEX).

The exciting flight simulator is another great thing about coming here. A flight sim is a high-tech machine helpful in looking and feeling like an airplane’s captain. Whatever your age is, you are sure to enjoy this.

You can buy tickets to this museum online or when you get there. The price is usually between $4 and $10, and kids under 3 get inside for free.

The Veterans Memorial Air Park, Vintage Flying Museum, and Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District are all within reach from here. Feel free to visit them if you have spare time in your itinerary! 

5. Log Cabin Village

2100 Log Cabin Village Ln, Fort Worth, TX

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The Log Cabin Village is not your typical museum; it is a captivating living history museum. It has a variety of original 1800s buildings that were saved and moved here from other parts of the state.

Among these beautiful old buildings are a liquid gristmill, a one-room school building, a blacksmith store, and several old log homes. Each has its theme and is with authentic artifacts.

One of the cabin constructions is the Marine School. It is a good illustration of a classic one-room school building built in the 1870s. This facility was originally in what is now Fort Worth’s Northside neighborhood. It is still a place where people of all ages can find a love of learning.

The Blacksmith Shop was established on-site in the 1980s to look like a typical forge on the Texas frontier.

Historical specialists use the area to show blacksmithing and the skill needed to make the ironwork that pioneer ancestors required. If you like blacksmithing, you should take advantage of this structure!

Log Cabin’s Shaw Cabin and Gristmill, on the other hand, is a one-pen cabin built around 1854. During its life, it has been a home, a bunkhouse, a storage barn, and livestock sheds.

At the village, history interpreters utilize the Shaw Cabin to show how gristmills worked and how important they were on the Texas frontier.

There are further cabins in the area that you can see. Each invites visitors to try their hand at the 19th-century and pioneer chore and hobby.

4. Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth

3200 Darnell St, Fort Worth, TX 

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Fort Worth’s Modern Art Museum is a beautiful place to see art from 1945 to the present day. This modern art museum first opened in 1892, but its latest building throughout the Cultural District rose in 2002.

This museum is all about international contemporary and modern art. The 53,000 square feet of exhibition hall usually shows up to 150 pieces of work at a time.

The collection has all kinds of art made after World War II, from canvases by Jackson Pollock to sculptures by KAWS. All major international movements are covered, like Abstract Expressionism, Minimalism, or Neo-Expressionism.

Expect to see works by famous artists like Pablo Picasso, Gerhard Richter, Cindy Sherman, or Richard Serra here on any given day.

You’re also in luck if you are searching for a unique exhibit. This place has numerous exhibitions, but the FOCUS exhibits are some of the best. It has three solo art shows each year, an excellent way to learn about new and upcoming artists.

The building itself is a masterpiece. It has an elegant construction made of concrete, glass, and steel, designed by the well-known Japanese interior designer Tadao Ando. Some features include a reflecting pond, a theater, graceful private event facilities, an education center, and a souvenir shop.

Plus, the museum is home to a great restaurant. Cafe Modern is a brilliant stop if you get hungry while overlooking thousands of works. It offers creative food based on Texas ingredients. You’ll find delicious meals with global influences and a drinks list highlighting local spirits on the menus. 

You can access everything the museum offers from 10 am to 5 pm every day but Monday. Admission ranges from $10 to $16.

3. Fort Worth Botanic Garden

3220 Botanic Garden Blvd, Fort Worth, TX

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The Fort Worth Botanic Garden is a great place to visit that is spread over 109 acres and is one of the city’s most popular tourist spots. Even though this isn’t a typical indoor museum, you can still learn a lot.

It opened in 1934 and is the oldest place in Texas. It has 23 different gardens with 3,500 different types of plants.

There are wooded areas and a 10,000-square-foot conservatory with impressive tropical showcases of orchids, bromeliads, and trees.

A seven-acre Japanese Garden with three koi ponds, waterfalls, bridges, a teahouse, pagodas, a Zen garden, cherry trees, and Japanese maples are also available. 

There is even an oval rose garden showcasing hundreds of roses. The Rock Springs boasts ponds, waterfalls, herb collections, and more.

With numerous things to do, this is an excellent place for the entire family to take a walk or relax and enjoy the peace and fresh air.

After that, you can have a picnic or eat at the garden’s restaurant, which is well-stocked. The Rock Springs Café is in the Rock Springs Building. You can eat and drink at the café, on the covered patio, or take it to go. Whether you want a latte, a bottle of wine, or a lunch made with ingredients from the garden, the café is the spot to go.

The garden also has three shops with gifts. Each sells different gifts, like tea sets, figurines, chopsticks, jewelry, puzzles, and more.

What’s more? No matter the season you visit, the magnificent scenery will treat you.

2. Amon Carter Museum of American Art

3501 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX

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Amon Carter Museum of American Art within the Cultural District should be on your list of places to visit because it offers such a valuable experience.

The Amon Carter Museum opened in 1961 to hold a collection of paintings by Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell. Over the years, it has grown a lot to include all kinds of American art.

This museum has an extensive collection of art made by North American artists, mainly from the 1820s to the 1940s. The Amon Carter’s collection of paintings, sculptures, photographs, and paperwork is particularly potent in art about the Old West.

Two of the best Western illustrators, Frederic Remington and Charles Russell, have made more than 400 works you can enjoy. 

This museum holds the best photography collections in the country. It has more than 350,000 photographs, which will keep you busy for hours as you explore the postmodern architecture of this vast building.

One of the past exhibits is Thomas Moran’s Mount Superior. It looks at the different views of the American scenery through photographs, drawings, and other items from the time. The Great Falls of the Snake River and Mount Superior (seen from Alta) are two highlights.

This museum is a place where a variety of events happen. There are events for adults, families, and teachers that give visitors a chance to have fun.

There is also a shop worth looking in at the museum. It has art kits, books, and many other things that people of all ages can enjoy. And before we forget, everything we’ve mentioned (and more) is free. It is open every day but Mondays and holidays.

1. Kimbell Art Museum

3333 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX  

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Go to this next Fort Worth museum if you are keen to see a piece of art that is on par with the finest in the world.

The Kimbell opened in 1972, and architect Louis I. Kahn was responsible for its design. This place is famous for many reasons, but its collection gets the most appreciation.

Its permanent art collection is small compared to the other museums in this post (only about 350 pieces of art are in its two buildings), but all of them are world-class. These include Egyptian artifacts, Renaissance paintings, and French Impressionists works.

The main building contains three galleries.

The east gallery tells visitors about the building’s history. Here, you can look at models of the facility, including Kahn’s plans for the vaults. One part of the permanent collection, European art after 1800, is displayed in the north gallery. Rotating temporary exhibits are in the south gallery.

The gallery walls are movable, allowing for various ways to show off the art.

A highlight along these galleries is “The Torment of Saint Anthony.” It is Michelangelo’s first known painting, the only one of his paintings on display in the Americas.

Outside the building is where you can find astonishing sculptures. “Figure in a Shelter” will capture your attention. Alternatively, the “Walking Flower” will make you loved France in the 20th century.

This museum has a cafe and a shop that can add to your experience. The Kimball Cafe serves in-house meals and lunches, and the museum shop lets visitors take a piece of the Kimbell home with them in the form of merchandise like postcards, notecards, and banners of their favorite tunes.

Admission is free, but when there are special exhibits, the price range from $14 to $18.

In Closing

That tops our list of the best 14 museums in Fort Worth to visit!

We hope this entices you to pack your bags and go to Fort Worth to see all the great museums there.

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