Housed in a blocky Art Moderne building designed by Paul Cret—for a while, the supervising architect of the UT campus—this 1939 museum is devoted to natural history and geology. The most impressive display is the one you can’t miss when you come in: a skeleton of the Texas Pterosaur, the largest flying creature on record, suspended from the ceiling. With its 40-foot wingspan, it looks very threatening—the better to thrill dino-loving kids. Other dinosaur skeletons, fossils, and rocks will impress geo-geeks of all ages. And in a state where many textbooks present creationism as one side of a complex issue, displays on evolution and the HIV virus are standouts. The staff is very knowledgeable too. Several exhibits, including taxidermied animals, look outdated and worn, however. For many years, there was no admission price, making this worth a quick visit. Now that there’s a fee, albeit a reasonable one, consider beforehand whether the subject matter really matches your interests.