22 Dallas-Fort Worth Museums for Kids to Explore

The Heard has indoor exhibits on the Texas natural environment, plus miles of nature trails that wind though the diverse habitats of the 289-acre wildlife sanctuary. Don't miss the Animal Encounters Trail, home to non-releasable animal ambassadors like lemurs and bobcats.

Stephanie W.:  There are Play Street Museums all over Dallas and Fort Worth, with more on the way! Play is such an important part of kids' development, and these museums are meant to encourage that very thing. Each museum has a different theme, such as construction, a farm, the great outdoors, and so many more. You'll find fun, hands on activities at each location, specific to the museum's theme!

Heritage Farmstead Museum is a one-of-a-kind site for living history! This is a wonderful place for children to learn about life in the old west. With 19th and early 20th century exhibits of prairie life, this museum brings history to life for your little one. With a vast array of fun, family-centered events, including their annual easter egg hunt, there is something for all to enjoy!

Stephanie W.:  The Museum of the American Railroad in Frisco is the perfect museum for your train-obsessed little ones! Come learn about the history of the railroads that helped shape Texas over 150 years ago, and helped make cities like Dallas and Fort Worth what they are today! You'll see trains from different eras and learn about and celebrate the people who helped to build them and serve their passengers, like the Pullman Porters. Guided tours are available on scheduled dates.

Stephanie W.:  The Cavanaugh Flight Museum is dedicated to restoring and operating vintage aircrafts (not just limited to planes!) and military vehicles from America's past. Aircrafts from World War I leading all the way to the Vietnam War and 1960s are showcased. It is the perfect museum for children who love planes or American history!

The George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum has exhibits about what it's like to live in the White House, has an exact replica of the Oval Office, and includes the 15-acre Laura W. Bush Native Texas Park which is open to the public daily. You'll also see exhibits about 9/11, gifts from foreign Heads of State to President Bush, and so much more.

One of the most liked aquariums in DFW, Children's Aquarium Dallas was designed for little ones in mind. Everything at the aquarium that the kids will explore is at eye-level for them to enjoy. From rhino iguanas to moon jellyfish & other friends, they'll get to meet many underwater treasures. Visitors will love petting and feeding stingrays and Archer Fish!

christadiserio:  Serving as an active firehouse for almost a century until 1975, this former Dallas firehouse has so much to offer. Kids will find the Dallas Firefighter’s Museum fascinating. They'll get to learn about the evolution of the fire engine, the firefighters who have helped fight fires in the city, and a little bit about fire safety.

Stephanie W.:  Nasher is a sculpture museum with sculptures using many different mediums from all over the world! They have both indoor and outdoor spaces to view the art. Their contemporary garden is a beautiful and unique way for your kids to see art displayed. They offer kids programming each month with demonstrations and the opportunity to create your own art, as well as kids camps for aspiring designers and artists!

General admission to the Dallas Museum of Art is always free. They do require visitors to have a ticket for entry. There's plenty to see and do at DMA! Be sure to check out their family programs. Whether you're looking for quiet time with your baby, messy fun for your preschooler, or an art workshop for your tween, they have something for everyone.

christadiserio:  Experience the history of aviation and space at the Frontiers of Flight Museum - an official affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution. Through multiple historical galleries and impressive collection of artifacts the kids will learn about everything from the Wright Flyer to the Apollo VII spacecraft. While you're touring, you'll even hear today's planes flying right over you!

The Perot Museum of Nature and Science takes the word "interactive" to a whole other level. This museum boasts 11 exhibit halls, which will appeal to dinosaur lovers, stargazers and kids who love space, engineering enthusiasts and literally everyone else. The museum also has its very own children's museum for the little ones 5 and under.

christadiserio:  For older kids who have an interest in history or have learned about the Holocaust in school, this is a museum they won't want to miss. The Dallas Holocaust & Human Rights Museum is founded by Holocaust survivors, who are dedicated "teaching the history of the Holocaust and advancing human rights to combat prejudice, hatred, and indifference." Through a self-guided audio tour, kids will learn about the Holocaust through art, artifacts, and more. Holocaust survivors are sometimes available to provide personal accounts.

Stephanie W.:  The Sixth Floor Museum is an amazing museum about John F. Kennedy and is a fantastic option for older kids who are interested in U.S. and Dallas history. The museum honors the life, assassination, and legacy of President Kennedy in the context of 1960s America. It is a fascinating way for children to learn about this important event in our country's history!

Stephanie W.:  Check out Denton's hands-on children's museum, Explorium, for sensory fun! The Explorium encourages exploratory play and discovery through science, technology, engineering, arts and math. Different traveling programs and camps are available, such as archeological digs, body system explorations and Lego plate tectonics.