10 Best Museums in Fort Worth

The Kimbell Art Museum showcases magnificent works dating from the third millennium B.C. to the mid-20th century. Located in the heart of Fort Worth’s Cultural District, this free museum has around 350 paintings, sculptures, and ceramics, including beautiful masterpieces by Michelangelo, Cézanne, Monet, and Picasso.

This is a great place for families as you can pick up free picture cards and stickers for kids. There’s also a playroom, as well as special programmes for children to learn about art, with colouring fun based on artworks in the museum. The café here is popular with locals who like to come on Friday evenings for Happy Hour, with half-price admission to the special exhibitions and live music in the café.

The Amon Carter Museum of American Art is home to thousands of impressive works, including lithography, watercolours, sculptures, and photography. Known locally as The Carter, this beautiful museum offers free admission, as well as free tours of the galleries from Friday to Sunday each week.

The Carter is famous for its “Second Thursdays” event. Each month, the museum has a different theme, and you can participate in a cocktail evening, attend a talk by a well-known artist, or even try a workshop to make your own art. These events are very popular and they’re free. Don’t forget to take your camera as the museum’s grounds have great views of city centre Fort Worth, so you can take some fantastic photos too.

Fort Worth Aviation Museum lies north of the city centre, next to Fort Worth Meacham Airport. You’ll love visiting this fascinating museum as there are lots of interactive exhibits and a flight simulator too. There are over 25 aeroplanes, including fighter jets and a TF-102 Delta Dagger President George W. Bush flew during his time with the Texas Air National Guard.

This museum is a great choice for aviation enthusiasts and families. The focus here is on educating children in a fun and hands-on way. You can examine the aircraft, open doors and hatches to see how things work, and the team are known for being friendly, knowledgeable, and ready to answer any questions you may have.

Fort Worth Museum of Science and History is known for its dinosaurs. The statuesque Paluxysaurus jonesi is the official State Dinosaur of Texas and you’ll see a replica measuring an impressive 60 metres long and 12 feet high. You can learn about dinosaurs who lived millions of years ago and even dig for fossils in the mock field site.

Another popular exhibit is the Plains Cultures Gallery focusing on the Indigenous people of the Great Plains. It’s a fascinating insight into the history of the region and the importance of the American bison to the people who lived here. Arrive early if you can as the parking is limited near this museum and it gets busy.

The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth is a magnificent building with a beautiful reflecting pool in its grounds. Commonly referred to as “The Modern” by locals, it displays a permanent collection of modern art in different mediums, including paintings, photographs, prints, and sculptures. There are also temporary exhibits which change every few months and often include pieces by American, English, and German artists.

It’s a stunning building with impressive artwork and a great place to visit on Fridays when admission is free. Locals like to visit the Café Modern for brunch on Sundays and you can also get half-price tickets to tour the museum then too. Parking is also free in the museum car park.

The Noble Planetarium is in the grounds of the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. If you love discovering new facts about our solar system, this is an amazing place to visit. There are interactive exhibits to learn about the cosmos, as well as daily shows including popular films about the Texas night sky and stunning images of the Milky Way. Some of the shows are reserved for schools only, so be sure to check the schedule on the website first.

There are regular exhibits at the planetarium on topics such as meteorites and astronauts, and the Noble Space Gallery is dedicated to space travel. It even has a small piece of the Apollo 11 spacecraft on display.

John Wayne: An American Experience lies in the Fort Worth Stockyards, north of the city centre. This vibrant museum dedicated to “The Duke” has over 400 pieces of memorabilia on show from John Wayne’s personal and professional life. You can take a guided tour to learn all about this famous actor’s life, with lots of family photos and letters in the collection.

The museum has many fun sections, including an opportunity to have your picture taken in a scene from one of his films. You’ll be awestruck by the Academy Award he won for “Best Actor” in 1970 too. Make sure you check out the huge shop before leaving for some original John Wayne gifts.

The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame is in the Cultural District of Fort Worth, close to several other museums and next to the Alice Walton Cowgirl Park. This museum is dedicated to women who have demonstrated the pioneering spirit of the West, and includes stories about famous ranchers, rodeo cowgirls, artists, athletes, and musicians, such as Patsy Cline.

There are over 5,000 artefacts relating to remarkable women and their accomplishments. You can see Annie Oakley’s wedding ring and gun, as well as saddles, clothing, photos, and clothing from cowgirls and ranchers. You can even try a Bucking Bronco and have your clip superimposed on real rodeo footage for a unique souvenir of your visit.

Log Cabin Village is a charming cluster of 9 buildings dating from the mid-19th century. It’s a living history museum set in leafy woodlands, just south of Fort Worth Botanic Garden. Enjoy a peaceful stroll through the park whilst learning how life used to be in Texas in the mid-1800s. You can visit the Blacksmith Shop and watch a demonstration of this traditional ironwork craft or try the Howard Cabin for a woodwork display.

This is a great place for photos as the forest backdrop is spectacular and the log cabins are delightful. There’s also a lovely park adjacent to the free car park, so why not bring a picnic and make a day of it?

Stockyards Museum is in the historic Fort Worth Stockyards complex, to the north of the city. It provides an interesting insight into local history and how Fort Worth became known as “Cowtown” due to its cattle industry – a nickname which still exists today. You can browse through several exhibits and a popular one is devoted to the livestock industry and cowboys, with many original photos and artefacts.

After touring the museum and discovering the rich history of the Stockyards, why not stroll around the rest of this site? The Livestock Exchange is a magnificent building and there’s a wonderful rodeo shop full of souvenirs and western wear too.