9 of the best educational museums for kids in San Antonio

The DoSeum

Originally founded as the San Antonio Children’s Museum, The DoSeum is a hands-on children’s museum filled with interactive exhibits designed to foster connection between STEM, the arts and literacy. The museum moved into its current wow-worthy, 68,000-square-foot interactive space in 2015. Force Course, a hands-on exploration of force and motion with simple machines, and the Spy Academy, an interactive digital spy mission focused on digital literacy and citizenship, are a few of their permanent exhibits.

One of the museum’s perks is that all exhibits are included in the admission price; check their website for their latest traveling exhibit. Preschool programs are also offered during the school year, while camps are available during school holidays. And be sure to check out their Family Night events which take place on the first Monday of the month and are free, but do require advanced tickets.

Find it: 2800 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78209

San Antonio Museum of Art

The former Lone Star Brewery complex now houses the most comprehensive collection of ancient Roman, Greek and Egyptian art in the southern U.S. On the first Tuesday (from 4-6 p.m.) and Thursday (from 10 a.m.-12 p.m.) of each month, the San Antonio Museum of Art hosts an Art Crawl program for infants geared to connect sensory development and artwork. At the program, each child receives a baby swag bag, which changes monthly, and includes items like a ring book of laminated flashcards, looking exercises and other tactile resources for use in galleries.

Downloadable museum scavenger hunts and at-home art activities are a few of the additional family-focused resources offered at the museum. Check their website for more details. 

Find it: 200 W Jones Ave., San Antonio, TX 78215

Science Mill

For a fun and educational day trip, head out to the Science Mill, a STEM museum located in a former 1880 steam grist mill in Johnson City. Located 64 miles north of downtown San Antonio, this 17,000-square-foot space is filled with state-of-the-art science and technology exhibits that ensure all students have access to STEM programs.

Start your visit with the Jurassic Flight 4D virtual reality experience using a headset and motion board to simulate flying before visiting Tortilla and Miss Jiff, the resident African Spurred Tortoises. And don’t miss the chance to operate the 30-foot stainless steel robotic hand in the museum’s outdoor Science & Art Park.

Find it: 101 South Lady Bird Lane, Johnson City, TX 78636

Texas Air Museum at Stinson Field

San Antonio, known as Military City, USA, is home to one of the largest military bases in the country and is often considered the birthplace of American military aviation. The Texas Air Museum pays tribute to this history with a collection of vintage aircraft located at Stinson Field, the second oldest airport in the nation, which is still used as a control tower today.

The volunteer-staffed museum exhibits focus on the city’s role in developing military air power and the story behind the air field’s namesake — the Stinson family, who trained World War I pilots. (Katherine Stinson was the fourth licensed female pilot in the country and a famous daredevil stunt aerialist.)

Find it: 1234 99th St., San Antonio, TX 78214

San Antonio Museum of Science & Technology

STEM education is the focus of this interactive museum and education center housed in two buildings in Port San Antonio. The San Antonio Museum of Science & Technology contains the personal collection of curator and founder David Monroe along with donated items, including the first personal computer and Thomas Edison lightbulbs. But one of the main highlights of the museum are the Tesla coil demonstrations which shouldn’t be missed. 

The museum’s education department hosts a series of camps as well as online programs including the Boeing STEM Academy and Microsoft GetDigital where students can earn digital badges.

Find it: 102 Mabry Drive, San Antonio, TX 78226

Texas Transportation Museum

Every weekend, kids and families can hop abroad one of the many trains at the Texas Transportation Museum for a short ride down a private rail line built and maintained by the volunteers who run and operate the museum. Choose between a seat in the red Missouri Pacific caboose or flat car. Visitors can also explore a series of static cabooses and other railcars along with four model railroad displays. A 1924 Ford Model TT and a 1925 Buffalo Type 50 firetruck are a few of the operating vehicles in their collection that often appear in local parades and are available for rent.

The museum hosts a series of special events throughout the year, including an Easter Eggspress egg hunt, a Halloween scavenger hunt and a Christmas-themed adventure. Check their website for more details. 

Find it: 11731 Wetmore Road, San Antonio, TX 78247

The Witte Museum

This 10-acre riverside campus is the most visited museum in the Alamo City. The Witte Museum’s collection focuses on the intersection of nature, science and culture of South Texas with exhibits ranging from dinosaurs to cowboys. Join one of the daily demonstrations to interact with scientists and check the museum’s website for special featured events. 

Founded in 1926 by a school teacher and botanist, the Witte is also a research museum with archeology, history, geology and paleontology labs. Free museum entry is offered every Tuesday from 3-6 p.m.

Find it: 3801 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78209

McNay Art Museum

This world-renowned modern art museum features a stunning collection of artwork and an action-packed events calendar with a series of family-focused activities. Storytime, youth photography workshops and craft-focused programs are a few of the kid-friendly monthly events at the McNay Art Museum.

Don’t miss Second Thursdays, a weekly series of free family-fun events with live music, art and food that take place every spring and fall. Admission and events are always free for children under 12.

Find it: 6000 N. New Braunfels Ave., San Antonio, TX 78209

San Antonio Fire Museum

The only place in San Antonio where kids can climb on a 1953 international firetruck is at the San Antonio Fire Museum located just steps from the Alamo. This unique museum is housed in the city’s original Central Fire Headquarters with displays of antique firetrucks and equipment dating back to the mid-1800s.

Admission to the volunteer-staff museum is free on the first Tuesday of the month from 12-4 p.m.  

Find it: 801 E Houston St., San Antonio, TX 78205