The Discovering Life hall at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas.
Who says the highbrow has to be high-dollar? Spending a day at an art or historical museum is a great way to experience culture — and escape rainy days in April or the brutal Texas heat in July. While most museums in Dallas do charge admission, we’re lucky in that a few are free, or have some free days. Here they are:
Always FREE
- The Dallas Museum of Art features more than 22,000 pieces from ancient through modern times and includes painting, sculpture and decorative arts and design. The museum charges for some special exhibitions (up to $16), but you can view the primary collections and exhibitions without paying a dime. 1717 North Harwood, Dallas; 214-922-1200. Closed Mondays.
- The African American Museum offers one of the largest collections of folk art in the United States. 3536 Grand Ave. in Fair Park, Dallas; 214-565-9026. Closed Mondays.
- The Crow Collection of Asian Art hosts a FREE tour of its galleries containing Chinese, Japanese and Southeast Asian art at 1 p.m. Saturdays, but admission is always FREE. 2010 Flora St., Dallas; 214-979-6430. Closed Mondays.
Sometimes FREE
- Bank of America and Merrill Lynch customers can visit two DFW museums for free the first full weekend of every month by simply flashing their debit card at the ticket booth as part of the banks’ Museums on US program. 2013 participants include Dallas’ Perot Museum of Nature and Science (2201 N. Field Street, Dallas; 214-428-5555; on a tickets-available basis at the museum box office) and the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History (1600 Gendy St., Fort Worth; 817-255-9300).
- Not only does Target give a percentage of your shopping dollars back to the community, it also hosts community events. Who knew? In Dallas, you can visit the Latino Cultural Center (2600 Live Oak St., Dallas; 214-671-0045; closed Sunday and Monday) for free on the second Saturday of each month and the Nasher Sculpture Center (2001 Flora St., Dallas; 214-242-5100; closed Mondays) on the first Saturday of the month.
