This Sunday, September 22, 2013, the Austin Museum Partnership is proud to host the 16th annual Austin Museum Day.  Area museums open their doors to the public for FREE in an effort of re-discovery of all the amazing institutions we have here in Austin.

I love this initiative and wish it was a week-long, not just a day!!  Having only one day and so many museums to choose from, I wanted to provide you with a few ideas of what museums your family might enjoy best.

Here are 5 Family Museums to Visit for Free for Austin Museum Day:

Bullock Texas State History Museum
One of our families’ favorite Austin museums, the Bullock Texas State History Museum is a vast collection of rotating Texas artifacts.  Every time we visit, we see something new on display.  The museum also houses an IMAX theatre and an interactive theatre.  This Sunday, the museum will host hands-on learning activities for families from 12 – 3 pm.

Sunday Hours: 12 – 6 pm
Location: 1800 N Congress Ave.

Jourdan-Bachman Pioneer Farms
Take a step back in time at the Jourdan-Bachman Pioneer Farms in Northeast Austin.  Five individual settlements with working docents provide families with hands-on experiences that really show what life was like in the past.  We loved the animals and talking with the docents. 

Texas Department of Public Safety Historical Museum
This fun museum is a treasure trove of historical DPS vehicles and artifacts, one my son really enjoyed. It’s not as well known as most of the museums in town, so I wanted to highlight it for Austin Museum Day.  Last year, they had vehicle demonstrations and a canine unit as part of the day. This year, they will be hosting a DPS scavenger hunt!

I bet you are wondering why I haven’t mentioned the Austin Children’s Museum.  They would have made our list for sure, but they are currently moving to a new building, not scheduled to be open until December 2013.  I can’t wait!!

For a full listing of all the Museums participating in Austin Museum Day, click here.