Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History

The Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History is a natural history museum in Bryan that displays dinosaur fossils, archaeological artifacts, and specimens of local plants and animals. The collections are arranged across multiple galleries, presenting materials from different time periods and environments.

The museum was founded in 1961 as the Junior Museum of Natural History by the American Association of University Women. In 1970 it received the Texas A&M Museum Collections, which significantly expanded its holdings.

The Discovery Room features living animals including snakes, turtles, fish, tarantulas, and scorpions that visitors can observe directly for hands-on learning. Families use this space to encounter real creatures and understand how they behave in the world.

The museum is located on Briarcrest Drive and opens Tuesday through Saturday during morning and afternoon hours, with no admission fee to a small fee. Visitors should check in advance for any special events or closures that might affect their visit.

Within the museum's Boonville Heritage Park sits an 1856 log house furnished with authentic period items from the Texas frontier era. This historic structure reveals how early settlers lived and arranged their homes in that time.