Bullock Texas State History Museum Tours
Greeting visitors with a 34-foot (10-meter) bronze star, the Bullock Texas State History Museum invites you to learn about the story of Texas. Its three floors of historical exhibits are as entertaining and engaging as they are informative. Also here are Austin’s only IMAX theater and a separate 4-D theater.
The Basics
Located right in downtown Austin, the Bullock Museum offers you a greater understanding of Texas history. Your tour begins with the museum’s earliest indigenous artifacts, starting Texas’ historical journey over 14,000 years ago. As you climb each floor, you learn about the state’s journey to independence, the Battle of the Alamo in 1836, NASA Mission Control, and more.
You can purchase tickets to see one of the historical films in the Texas Spirit Theater, which engages your senses with seat vibrations, wind, and other 4-D features. Various documentaries and first-run films are also screened daily at the IMAX theater. And you don’t have to visit the museum in order to see a show.
Things to Know Before You Go
- The Bullock Museum is a very family-friendly venue and great for anyone interested in learning more about Texas history.
- Admission discounts are available for military members, senior citizens, students, and children.
- Museum admission does not include movie tickets or special exhibitions.
- The first floor features a gift shop, with unique Texas gifts, and there’s a café on the museum’s second floor.
- The museum is accessible to wheelchairs and strollers. Wheelchairs are available for no fee.
How to Get There
The Bullock Texas State History Museum is located on Congress Avenue at 18th Street in downtown Austin, about a 10-minute walk from the Texas State Capitol. The museum has a paid parking garage, and there is also paid parking in nearby lots and on the street. Several CapMetro buses stop within two blocks of the Bullock; city bike rental is another option.
When to Get There
The Bullock Museum is open 9am to 5pm Monday to Saturday and 12pm to 5pm Sunday, except for major holidays. The first Sunday of every month, admission is free—which means the museum may be more crowded than usual. Weekdays are much quieter and offer a more relaxed way to explore the museum. Note that on home-game days for the University of Texas at Austin, parking is more expensive and harder to find.
Who Was Bob Bullock?
The Bullock Museum is named in honor of Texas’s 38th lieutenant governor, Bob Bullock, who made it his cause to preserve and honor Texas history. As part of this effort, he helped establish the museum in 2001. Bullock served two terms as lieutenant governor and is remembered for his bipartisanship and the way he insisted on a government that worked best for Texas.
Address: 1800 N. Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas 78701, USA
Admission: Varies
6 Tours and Activities to Experience Bullock Texas State History Museum
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Austin and Hill Country Sightseeing Tour
...If you don’t see availability-call or message for current availability...
This whistle-stop style tour is "The best way to see the city". It's Austin in a nutshell. It's the most comprehensive overview tour of Austin’s rich culture and history, with a little bit of that famous Central Texas Hill Country as well. The tour covers 30 miles, 50+ points of interest, in 90 minutes. We give you the big picture, while still leaving you with plenty of time to go back on your own to explore the places that interests you most. Gratuities are not included in ticket price, but we encourage tipping your guide.
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Face masks required for travelers in public areas
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Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Austin Like a Local: Customized Guided Tour
With our walking tours, you’ll skip the mundane historical tours and discover the city through a local’s eyes. Experience a tour that will transform the way you travel to make it as much about the people you meet, as it is the places you see. Our local guides (Lokafyers) are passionate about their city and eager to share their knowledge and perspective. Since Lokafyers are not professional guides and tour occasionally, they provide an experience that’s authentic and personal, like a friend showing you around their city. By the end of the tour, you'll feel comfortable navigating the city and confident that you have all the information you need to make the most of your stay.
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Face masks required for travelers in public areas
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24-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Blue Line Pass in Austin
Enjoy the sights and sounds of Austin aboard our luxurious double-decker buses. Learn all about Austin’s rich history as we guide you through some of the most sought-after locations the city has to offer. With the availability to hop-on and hop-off you can take your time and explore the various districts of the city at your leisure. Not sure what you are looking at? Rest assured when you hop on that our on-board guides will provide commentary along the way, then feel free to hop off to explore even further. Our goal is to provide an extremely comfortable experience while offering a day or two of memories, culture, education and fun.
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48-Hour Austin Hop-On Hop-Off Blue Line City Tour
Enjoy the sights and sounds of Austin aboard our luxurious double-decker buses. Learn all about Austin’s rich history as we guide you through some of the most sought-after locations the city has to offer. With the availability to hop-on and hop-off you can take your time and explore the various districts of the city at your leisure. Not sure what you are looking at? Rest assured when you hop on that our on-board guides will provide commentary along the way, then feel free to hop off to explore even further. Our goal is to provide an extremely comfortable experience while offering a day or two of memories, culture, education and fun.
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Double Decker Austin Single Loop Sightseeing Tour
* You will learn all about Austin and it’s rich history while enjoying an awesome view of the city from atop of a double decker bus.
* Locally owned and operated family business
* You get the best views of Austin from an unobstructed upper deck of a double decker bus
* The best tour for taking photographs.
* People on the street love to interact with people on the upper deck.
* Climate controlled lower deck
* Goes by more downtown attractions that any other Austin tour.
* Every Tour Has Driver and Tour Guide
* Austin’s best tour guides solely focus on making your experience fun and interesting. They don’t have to worry about driving.
* Absolutely No Audio Recordings. We feel that you will enjoy your Austin experience much more by interacting with our guides instead of a listening to audio recordings.
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Face masks required for travelers in public areas
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Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Panoramic Mini Bus Tour of Austin
Take Austin’s only panoramic bus tour! Our 90 minute 360° Panoramic tour with stops is perfect for exploring more of the city limits of Austin. We will be taking in major sights, having a few chances to hop off the van and explore beautiful views and historic sites, as well as take in some iconic murals along the way. This tour is good for those who want to get all the details and all the views. You will have time in the vehicle and on foot to see the city. It’s great if you want to explore every side of Austin, be it history, murals, the river that cuts our city in half, and the growing downtown scene. You will see every side of Austin, from the towering architecture of downtown, the humble yet active expanse of the south side, the quaint and historical east, and the perpetually awe-inspiring capitol and campus. Along our route, we will be taking in many of those murals that Austin is famous for.
*Subject to change due to events or closures
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Face masks required for travelers in public areas
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