PERMANENT EXHIBITION
Farish Hall of Texas Wildlife
Celebrating Texas’ Diverse Biomes & Species
Explore the Piney Woods, Coastal Prairie, Guadalupe Mountains, and More
The Farish Hall of Texas Wildlife at the Houston Museum of Natural Science presents the diverse biomes of the Lone Star State, including Piney Woods, Oak Motte, Coastal Prairie, Wetland South Texas Dry Forest, Guadalupe Mountains, and High Plains. The exhibit’s unique scenes change from dawn to dusk, accompanied by specific lighting and soundscapes. Over 425 specimens, representing around 250 species, illustrate native wildlife before human colonization, with a focus on more than 50 rare, endangered, and extinct species, including those that have recovered from near extinction.
The museum’s dedication to Texas wildlife dates back to its early days when it was located across the street from the zoo. In 2014, several vintage murals were renovated and relocated. These antique displays, along with the adjacent Hamman Hall of Texas Coastal Ecology, can now be explored in the Albert and Margaret Alkek Education Center on the museum’s lower level.
The museum’s dedication to Texas wildlife dates back to its early days when it was located across the street from the zoo. In 2014, several vintage murals were renovated and relocated. These antique displays, along with the adjacent Hamman Hall of Texas Coastal Ecology, can now be explored in the Albert and Margaret Alkek Education Center on the museum’s lower level.
Open Today: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Plan a Visit Adults $25, Children $16
See Admission Located in Level 2
See Accessibility Please Note:
Admission price includes access to all HMNS Permanent Exhibit Halls except certain Special Exhibitions and the Brown Hall of Entomology. Access to the Brown Hall of Entomology is included with admission to the Cockrell Butterfly Center.
Admission to the Permanent Exhibits is FREE Tuesday evenings from 5:00-8:00 p.m.
Members: HMNS Permanent Exhibits are always free!
Admission to the Permanent Exhibits is FREE Tuesday evenings from 5:00-8:00 p.m.
Members: HMNS Permanent Exhibits are always free!
Exhibition Highlights
Texas Tapestry
Explore Texas Wildlife Through Dioramas
Step into the Farish Hall and embark on a journey through Texas’s diverse habitats. From Gulf Coast beaches to Hill Country caves, these dioramas bring the state’s rich wildlife to life. Birds, mammals, reptiles – they’re all here, waiting to tell their story.
Winged Wonders
Protected Birds: Texas’s Feathered Treasures
Texas’s protected winged wildlife offers a unique insight into ecological preservation. These birds, ranging from migratory species to native inhabitants, are a living testament to successful conservation efforts. Their survival is a symbol of harmony between human intervention and nature’s resilience.
Meet the Curators
Our curators’ combined expertise ranges from A to Z… from archaeology to zoology!
Daniel M. Brooks, Ph.D.
Curator of Vertebrate Zoology
Dr. Dan Brooks is the curator of vertebrate zoology at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. He oversees a collection of over 5,000 specimens of birds, mammals, herps, and fish from the Texas coastal bend, Africa, Latin America, and select taxonomic groups.