Bullock Museum to offer a summer of fun family programs, activities, films and exhibits

MAY 15, 2025 (AUSTIN, TX) — The Bullock Museum announces a summer packed with experiences that invite the community to escape the heat and celebrate Texas history and culture through family activities, exhibitions and opportunities to explore the Museum. 

“We’re excited to welcome everyone to the Bullock this summer, as there is something happening every month for every age group,” said Margaret Koch, Director of the Bullock Museum. “With programs designed for our youngest friends, to free concerts, to amazing films on a screen the size of Texas, visitors can beat the heat and connect with Texas history in new ways every day.”

Complimentary exhibit admission and family-friendly activities are offered to all visitors during H-E-B Free First Sunday, taking place the first Sunday of every month. The 2025 season of the free outdoor concert series Music Under the Star takes place every Friday evening in June on the Capitol Mall, a green space between MLK Jr. Blvd and the Capitol. On July 13, join in a celebration of the Museum’s namesake, Lt. Governor Bob Bullock, with free exhibition admission, family-friendly programming and sweet treats.

Visitors are invited to escape the summer heat in the 62-foot tall oasis of the IMAX® Theatre with visitor favorites Ancient Caves, Lasting Impressions and Cities of the Future continuing daily screenings through the end of the summer. Wild Rescue, the inspiring journey of injured wildlife and the people dedicated to their recovery, begins screening at the end of June.

On view in the Texas History Galleries this summer are unique artifacts, including Bobbie Nelson’s grand piano, a WWII-era AT-6A “Texan” airplane and a NASA Mission Control console. Acts of Faith: Religion & the American West, a special exhibition on loan from New York Historical through August 24, highlights the interaction of religion and U.S. westward expansion in the 19th century through the stories of preachers, pilgrims, and visionaries.

SNAP and WIC participants and their families have the opportunity to gain free exhibition admission every day as a part of the Museums For All program. SNAP and WIC participants will show their EBT card at Ticketing to receive exhibition admission for the cardholder and their family year round. 

The Bullock Museum is proud to once again participate in Blue Star Museums, a program providing free exhibition admission to the nation's active-duty military personnel and up to six family members from Armed Forces Day on Saturday, May 17 through Labor Day, September 1, 2025. The Blue Star Museums program is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in collaboration with Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and more than 2,000 museums nationwide. Qualified members must show a Geneva Convention common access card (CAC), DD Form 1173 ID card (dependent ID), or a DD Form 1173-1 ID. For details about free admission eligibility, visit the Blue Star Museums website. 

For more information and to see a full schedule of programs and events, visit TheStoryofTexas.com/summer.

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Acts of Faith: Religion and the American West has been organized by The New York Historical. Lead support for Acts of Faith: Religion and the American West is provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Major support is provided by the Henry Luce Foundation. Research for this exhibition was supported by the Terra Foundation for American Art. 

Sponsored by the Albert and Ethel Herzstein Hall Fund.

  

Music Under the Star is sponsored by KUTX and Austin Chronicle.

Music Under the Star is presented with support from Texas Commission on the Arts.

Bob Bullock Birthday Bash is made possible by the generosity of Carolene English. Vanilla Custard provided through the generosity of Shake Shack.

H-E-B Free First Sunday sponsored by H-E-B.

IMAX^® is a registered trademark of IMAX Corporation.

Museums for All at the Bullock Museum is supported by Featured sponsor Union Pacific Foundation and Contributing sponsor Chevron.

The Bullock Museum, a division of the Texas State Preservation Board, is funded by Museum members, donors, and patrons, the Texas State History Museum Foundation, and the State of Texas.

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​​The Bullock Texas State History Museum, a division of the State Preservation Board and an accredited institution of the American Alliance of Museums, creates experiences that educate, engage, and encourage a deeper understanding of Texas. With dynamic, award-winning exhibitions that illuminate Texas history, people, and culture, educational programming for all ages, and an IMAX® theater with a screen the size of Texas, the Museum collaborates with more than 700 museums, libraries, archives, organizations, and individuals across the world to bring the Story of Texas to life. For more information, visit www.TheStoryofTexas.com