Unexpected History of the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History

It’s hard not to love the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History but you’ll appreciate the museum so much more after learning about its storied past.

Although the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History that we know and love today, officially opened its doors in 1968, the museum’s origins date back to 1939. That year, the local council of Administrative Women in Education began a study of children’s museums with the hope of opening a museum in Fort Worth. Two years later, the group filed a charter to establish the Fort Worth Children’s Museum in the state. However, it wasn't until 1945 that the museum finally opened its doors in De Zavala Elementary School in the Fairmount neighborhood. The school became the museum’s first home, occupying two rooms in the building.

In 1947 the museum moved to the R.E. Harding House, where it remained for a few years. In 1952, the museum broke ground on a new facility on Montgomery Street to meet its growing needs and growth in popularity. The museum opened its doors to the public in January 1954. A year later, the Charlie Mary Noble Planetarium, named after the First Lady of Fort Worth, opened inside the museum. This marked the first public planetarium in the region.

In an effort to attract more adults to the museum the Fort Worth Children’s Museum changed its name to the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History in 1968. Today, more than half of museum visitors are adults!

Still, the museum underwent more changes, most notably the addition of the Omni Theater in 1983, which was the first IMAX dome theater in the Southwest.

In May 2006, the museum announced plans for a new 166,000 sq. ft. facility designed by famed architects Legoretta + Legoretta of Mexico City. Construction was completed in 2009. Throughout the museum’s evolution throughout the years, one thing has remained the same - the museum’s dedication to lifelong learning and commitment to engaging our diverse community.

Today, visitors to the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History can enjoy these permanent exhibits: Paluxysaurus jonesi, Innovation Studios, Energy Blast, 9/11 Tribute, DinoLabs + DinoDig, Noble Space Gallery, Plains Cultures Gallery and of course the Children’s Museum Exhibit.

The museum is open Tuesday - Saturday, 10am to 5pm and Sunday, 12pm - 5pm. To learn more about the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History and its upcoming exhibits, visit fwmuseum.org.