Bryan Museum
Description
Come to the Bryan Museum and explore the History of Texas and The American West like you have never seen it before. Ranging over a history of 12,000 years, the Bryan Museum houses one of the rarest history collections in the world. During your visit you will view dozens of saddles, thousands of rare books and documents in Spanish, German, French, and English, hundreds of antique firearms and spurs, and countless historical artifacts, documents, and artwork.
Admission
- Adults $14
- Seniors 65+ #12
- Military $12
- Students $10
- Ages 6-12 $5
- Under 6 Free
Membership
- Explorer $50
- Hughes $75
- Franciscan $150
- Alcalde $250
- Empresario $500
- Archer $1,000
- Seniors, active and retired military members, and teachers receive 10% off any membership level
Important facts
- The museum is named For J.P. Bryan, a Texas businessman and philanthropist who has a passion for history and art.
- The museum is housed in what was originally the historic Galveston Orphans Home
- Originally built in 1895 and is a registered National Historic Landmark.
- The museum Displays more than 70,000 items Related to Texas History and the American West
- The museum's exhibits are organized chronologically, and cover the period from the Spanish colonial era to the present day.
- The exhibits are designed to be interactive and engaging, with multimedia presentations, touch screens, and hands-on activities.
- In addition to the museum's exhibits, the Bryan Museum also hosts educational programs, lectures, and special events.
Location Highlights
- 1315 21st St, Galveston, TX 77550
- 51 miles from Houston, TX
Contact Information
- (409) 632-7685
- Buy tickets
What You Will See On Your Visit
First Floor
Each Floor is laid out in chronological order from labeled as rooms from 1 to 4 on your map. The tour starts with the earliest recordings of history to the most recent time. You will start in the Orientation Gallery with a video from the founder of the Museum J.P. Bryan. You can follow the flow of the museum with the Bryan Museum’s Visitor Guide, which lays out a map for each room describing what you will see. Following the Orientation Gallery is the Spanish Colonial Gallery dating from pre-history to 1821, covering mostly Spanish and French exploration, followed by the Texas Frontier Gallery from 1821 – 1848, and lastly the Statehood and Beyond Gallery from 1848 – 1945.
Second Floor
Upon arrival on the second floor, you enter the Rest of the West Gallery, beginning with stunning saddles, artwork, and two large display cases full of long rifles and revolvers from the 1800s. As you make your way to the next room you enter the Texas Masters Gallery with works of art inspired by the people, culture, and landscapes of Texas. The large room at the end of the hall is the Special Exhibits Gallery, with exhibits rotating throughout the year. Currently on display are a collection of saddles from A. Stelzig Saddle featuring a dozen saddles from a company with a history of almost 100 years of saddlery. Also on display are The Mexican Revolution, War on the Western Front, and many others. The last room to visit on the second is the Library, with a sample of the museum’s book and map collection where they also hold lectures and programs.
Ground Floor
The building was originally erected in 1894 by Henry Rosenberg for the orphan children of Galveston. It was mostly destroyed in the storm of September 8, 1900. In 1901 Samuel Clemens, Mark Twain, held a fundraiser in New York to help raise funds to rebuild the structure and raised more than $50,000. Here on the ground floor, you can learn about the building’s history with photographs and other memorabilia on display. There is also the Children’s Center with interactive displays where you can experience some of Galveston’s past as a pirate haven. There are trivia questions aboard the ship and proper answers are met with canon fire, while incorrect answers will have you walking the plank.
Hours of operation
- Mon CLOSED
- Tue CLOSED
- Wed 10AM-5PM
- Thur 10AM-7PM
- Fri 10AM-5PM
- Sat 10AM-5PM
- Sun 10AM-5PM
