Museum of Fine Arts Houston
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH) is one of the largest art museums in the United States, attracting over a million visitors annually. Founded in 1900, it was the first art museum in Texas and has grown into an encyclopedic institution with a collection of nearly 70,000 works spanning 6,000 years of history.
The museum campus includes two main gallery buildings — the Audrey Jones Beck Building and the Nancy and Rich Kinder Building (designed by Steven Holl, opened 2020) — connected by an underground tunnel with James Turrell's immersive light installation. The Lillie and Hugh Roy Cullen Sculpture Garden, designed by Isamu Noguchi, features major works by Auguste Rodin, Henri Matisse, and Alberto Giacometti in a serene outdoor setting.
The permanent collection ranges from ancient Egyptian artifacts and European Old Masters to Impressionist paintings and contemporary Latin American art. The museum is particularly strong in American decorative arts, photography, and works from the Bayou Bend Collection housed in the former Ima Hogg estate.
Visitor Tips: Admission to the permanent collection is free on Thursdays. The museum cafe offers excellent lunch options. Allow at least 3-4 hours for a thorough visit, and don't skip the sculpture garden.
