Museum of Health and Medical Science in Houston

The Museum of Health and Medical Science is one of Houston's most interesting museums and provides a great family-friendly atmosphere where kids can learn about health. The museum is often described as an interactive learning center of science and health. It is located in the heart of the Museum District, giving visitors easy access to the other museums, art galleries, and cultural facilities that are located in the area. Museum of Health and Medical Science has a mission of educating the public about good physical, mental, and spiritual health and does so through its exhibits, programs, and camps. The museum is an educational success in the city of Houston and sees more than 180,000 visitors on an annual basis. Over 40,000 of those visitors are schoolchildren that visit the museum through organized field trips. It is the busiest health museum in the United States.

There are six main permanent exhibits held at the museum. The exhibits are; Sensory Garden, Challenge Gallery, McGovern Theater, You: The Exhibit, Amazing Body Pavilion, and the Limited Engagement Exhibits. The last exhibit to open at the museum was back in 1996 and is the You: The Exhibit. The exhibit is a unique interactive way visitors can explore their physical, mental, and future selves. Some of the exhibit highlights include a body scanner that allows the visit to see their internal organs using modern technology and a global view gives the experience of living in Houston compared to life in other cities. Another area of the exhibit allows visitors to find out how their outward appearance changes how people react to them.

The museum also has its own theater called the McGovern 4D Theater. Feature films in 3D with full surround sound and special weather effects and scents give a jolted sensory experience to visitors who attend the theater. Feature films that are educational and have a concentration on health and science are shown at the McGovern 4D Theater. The museum has a wealth of educational programs that provide resources for both parents and educators. There are four outreach programs which are provided through the museum that target all age ranges. The programs are called Health Adventure, Brainiacs, Perry Medix and the Sirens, and the Outreach Dissection Labs. All programs are run on a first-come, first-serve basis.

There are numerous ways that the Museum of Health and Medical Science raises financial support to keep its facilities running smoothly. Corporate and individual donations are accepted by the museum and the facility also uses events to spearhead fundraising and community awareness. Annually, the museum hosts a Casino Night that brings the energy of Las Vegas to Houston, and an X-Treme Adventure which manages to raise thousands of dollars for the museum each year.

The Museum of Health and Medical Science is open Monday-Sunday from 9AM to 5PM and has an admission fee of $8 for adults and $6 for children. Each Thursday an event called Free Family Thursdays waives the admission charge from 2PM to 5PM.