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    The Orange Show

    4.1 (54 reviews)

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    Maria E.

    If you are like me and love weird folk art installations by eccentric locals, you might enjoy this place. It was built by a Houston postman who had a robust appreciation for oranges. It doesn't seem to have a point (other than glorifying oranges) and leaves you with more questions than answers. However, I suppose that's the beauty of it. VISITING: -Open Saturday & Sunday, 10am-2pm -Tickets are about 5 bucks -Advanced reservations are required -- you can purchase tickets on the website (the demand isn't massive, we bought ours the night before) -When you buy the tickets, it tells you that you're signing up for a guided tour. However, when we arrived, we were told the tour is self-guided since they don't have enough docents. A bit disappointing but I get it -- getting people to give tours for free isn't easy. The self-guided tour didn't include any sort of audio or pamphlet or online link. The girls working the counter were nice enough to provide a brief background on the space/creator. So if you don't know much about the site, either do your own research or ask them for an intro. -Bathrooms on site. However, they aren't the best facilities (to be expected). They don't have doors (just curtains) and there isn't enough room for a person to sit on the toilet without pushing out the curtain, haha. Also, paper towels were out. Needless to say, try not to go #2 here. -Finding the place was a little tricky as my GPS got confused and kept sending us in circles. If this happens, just refer to the map. It's a right on Munger, off the Gulf Freeway. Located right next to Smither Park. Once you're on Munger, you can't miss it. -Make sure you stop at Smither Park next door. Small but really cool park with lots of mosaic sculptures. Overall, a cool piece of folk art history in the Houston area. Not going to complain about the lack of docents or amenities as I doubt they have much of a budget. They are managed by the same folks that manage the Beer Can House, Smither Park, and the Art Car Parade. Thankful that there are people working to preserve/create art in the Houston area.

    Vic C.

    The Orange Show was created by Jeff McKissack, a US Postman who decided to create this attraction, based on his favorite fruit (the orange). Mr. McKissack believed that the secret to a healthy and long life was to work hard and eat oranges. You will find slogans or stories that talk about staying positive in your life, which seem a bit hopey and sappy for me. You will also find signs that also encourages eating oranges regularly. Mr. McKissack began working on The Orange Show in 1956. He created it because he wanted to be known for his art, which was different from Mr. John Milkovisch, whom just wanted to to build his home for himself. The Orange Show is built from a mix of bricks, tiles, plates, fencing, etc. This made up of walkways, an arena and balconies. Mr. McKissack worked on this until he died in 1980. It is interesting to know that one person set out to build something to try to leave his mark in the world and achieved just that. The Orange Show Center For Visionary Art (a non profit organization) now looks after this attraction (the same folks that also take care of the Beer Can House and Smither Park). The Orange Show is only open on Saturdays and Sundays, 11:30 am- 5 pm and admission is $5 per person. To be honest, my husband and I just thought this attraction was okay and liked the Beer Can House much more. If there was a guided tour, I think we would have appreciated the attraction more (as we had a guided tour at the Beer Can House). I don't feel that this place is worth the visit, but if you are looking for something outside of the box to do while you are in Houston, and also want to check out Smither Park (free and just a few houses down), then maybe you can consider coming. Parking is street parking only (but free). This place is not wheel chair friendly.

    Alexis B.

    When I lived in Houston, I tried several times to tour the Orange Show, and it never quite worked out! (I was definitely frustrated more than once by it not being open during the hours it was meant to be according to the website.) But that ended this weekend when I visited Houston with a friend. I can now say that I have toured the weird structure that is the Orange Show! So what is the Orange Show? It's a sort of folk art monument/structure/creation of a Houston postal worker named Jefferson Davis McKissack. From 1956 to 1979, he worked on this structure. It's 3,000 square feet that's part maze, part museum, part stage; it was a wishing well and decks, and a gift shop... It's really hard to explain! Basically, McKissack was a little obsessed with oranges. He thought that by eating oranges and avoiding a few other things (stress/cigarettes), we could all live to be 100. The Orange Show is his monument to the orange. For $5, you can enter the Orange Show and explore on your own or take a guided tour. We opted for the guided tour, and I'm glad we did - the Orange Show is all over the place, and the guided tour helped us understand more about McKissack's inspiration for the structure! The Orange Show is unique and strange and kind of wonderful. It's worth exploring for sure. But check their hours and make sure it'll be open when you're planning on heading over! What a weird Houston attraction!

    Orange map (ARE?)
    Barret L.

    This is another interesting and uniquely Houston opportunity. It is only a $5 entry fee (cash or credit) to explore into the mind of the late Houstonian Jeff McKissack. Though definitely very eccentric, we had a fun time exploring this space. The Orange Show is built on the plot of a traditional house in the middle of a neighborhood, and is surrounded by other houses and a park nearby. Essentially this man believed that oranges were just the perfect fruit and wanted to share that information with everyone. He also developed a life-code of sorts that included being stress-free and no drugs or alcohol, and believed that you could live to be 100 years old if you abided by these guideposts. He even wrote a small book about it, which can be purchased at their merchandise booth inside. Anyway, he built this structure, which in his mind would compare to the Astrodome or Disneyworld to become the 9th Wonder of the World, as a sort of homage to all things orange. Everything within this odd collection can be explained back to oranges. The interior is set up as an arena of sorts. Imagine if you told a high schooler to create a stage with seating out of whatever they could salvage...and you will have a pretty good idea of the interior. You can tell that he put a lot of thought and care into how he assembled this space. It took him over the 20 years that it took him to put it together single-handedly. Overall very interesting, though some parts have become very worn down over the years (and have warnings not to go beyond certain points). If you're looking for something different to do, this is it.

    Entrance
    Terri J.

    If you are reading this and have never heard of The Orange Show, please go wiki it, then return. I'll wait... Jeff McKissick was a man possessed by a love of oranges. You heard me. That round fruit that you see on the Chinese buffet or remember as something your mom put in your school lunch was this man's passion. He loved all things oranges and all things humanity. He believed his found art displays would inspire and draw huge crowds, only the world didn't get Jeff McKissick. He was, and sort of, still remains...a man ahead of his time. In order to figure out The Orange Show you'll need a special sociological lens turned to "optimist" and you'll need to really want to be open when you are here. To be honest I had never heard of Jeff or this place up until five years ago. While I won't get into my personal biz on a foodie website, I will say that when sitting during rounds of chemo I had a collection of quotes and passages that helped me through. Think of it as my own personal Rob Schneider in "The Waterboy": "You can do it!" sayings and paragraphs were written down in my notebook and when I was weak and vulnerable all I'd do was read them and feel just a tad stronger. One of my favorites was from Vash Young's book "A Fortune to Share", a book that I had purchased from an estate sale in 2011. I love the smell of old books and they were selling this small trunk of old books for $20. I bought the thing simply because I wanted the smell. I didn't look until later at the actual books. There in the trunk it sat and a page was dogeared about scarecrows. That passage never left my head. A few years later when I was going through life, I saw pictures someone on one of our chemo message boards had taken at The Orange Show. I saw my scarecrow passage. I began to cry because I thought at some moments I had dreamt the whole damn thing, but there it was, in color. Jeff McKissack, thirty five years or so before I needed it had put my quote there. The Orange Show wasn't and isn't just about love of oranges. It's about a love of life, of whimsy, of hope. If you walk around you'll see the same words printed over and over on different items: LOVE, KIND, SUPPORT. These pieces were his way of expressing love for everything. He built a stadium for me, for you, for everyone. If you don't get it, then that's because you didn't look hard enough. There's no great transcendental moment. He just wanted to make you feel happy like he did making it. I wanted to go for several years, but I wanted to make sure I got to take my kids there with me. I wanted to stand in the spot next to the scarecrow because there were times I wasn't sure I'd ever be able to. I ugly cried and felt...gratitude. Look, I'm not sure this place is for everyone but I know it was built FOR everyone. You might go and think it's just junk. Hopefully you go and see that any day alive is a great one...just like the sign inside says.

    From 2008 - Weird... thing
    Danny L.

    The Orange Show is really cool in a eerie sort of way. A man devoted so much time in trying to create something so spectacular that it would rival the Astrodome, however the reality is far from it. Nonetheless, his creativity and efforts are still greatly appreciated by Houston and the art community (probably not his neighbors though haha). His works (among many other local art landmarks) have been preserved carefully by the orange show team and volunteers. Entry is free and donations are appreciated. The entire complex can be take just 15-30 minutes to easily peruse through, however everyone varies. During certain schedules, events and miniature concerts are shown here but I have yet to come to one of these. I hope the team continues to do a great job in preserving these local treasures for many years to come!

    Edgar V.

    Do you like quirky things? If so, you'll get it in spades here - but that's not a bad thing. Heck, pull up a chair and sit by me; I'm sure you'll have some interesting stories to tell me. And, another benefit of oddball places is that it makes your own oddities look more mainstream. Win for everyone! My old college friend, Six Choir Guy, had taken the day off so we started with breakfast at a new place for us then we decided to check out The Orange Show ("TOS") afterward before I dropped him off at Jones Hall for a choral practice and performance. Thus, he lived up to his nickname yet again. The man is addicted to singing. If there was a "Singers' Anonymous", he'd be a founding member. Located off of the Gulf Freeway near the University of Houston, TOS was the brainchild of Jeff McKissack, who collected various castoffs from downtown construction sites and fused them together in a vibrant eclectic mélange to lauding the orange. Now, I love my premium low-acid OJ but I don't think I'd go to the lengths that Mr. McKissack did for one of my favorite fruits. You definitely won't find me inflating the ego of pears since I don't like them. Arriving on a balmy mid-morning in July, the docent (Lennie) spied us from the house across the street, ambled over, collected our $1 admission fee each, and gave us a quick primer. She was very genial and welcoming but, since it was a Texas July morning, I wanted to get on with exploring before the Sun's death rays reached their fullest power. The place is colorful, whimsical, funky, and yet oddly rational in its use of the plot of land (a standard residential size) to maximize its wares. There is an outdoor amphitheater, which would make for some fun movie screenings in the fall. There is an exhibit room in the middle that is both blissfully air-conditioned with a window unit and offers a small paean to donors. And, there are various affirmative slogans laid out with tile along the exterior perimeter walls. Are there words that can describe the ephemeral nature of this place? Yes, but they pale in comparison of just scampering around, climbing up rickety staircases, eyeballing things, and lounging on the various metalwork chairs. The place is definitely not ADA (American with Disabilities Act) compliant and gleefully so. I think both kids and adults would have a great time hosting a party here - every Houstonian should spend an hour here to soak in some goofiness. At the least, it will give you something unique to talk about. I'd gladly go back to The Orange Show as well as show it off to tourists. *Check their website for visitor times since their funky selves are often reflected in odd hours. But, for $1, what do you expect?

    Shana M.

    What's not to love about The Orange Show? It is zany and fun in a special way - something I've never seen pulled off with such support for a such an unusual collection to their name. I can't imagine anything more fun than the organization that backs such local delights as the Art Car Parade and the Beer Can House. For just a dollar for adults (children under 12 are free), you can visit their Orange Show Monument on Munger Street and see the collection they have amassed through the years. It is a tribute to creativity and has surprises throughout that are sure to make for a memorable museum trip. Be sure to check their website for times as they vary throughout the year. Another little tidbit about the Orange Show Monument: it is available for private events. Certainly an unusual place that will generate a lot of interest in your wedding reception or corporate event. This is a place that must be seen to believe.

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    Bittersweet and beautiful. An interactive artistic experience.. I had never seen anything like it and felt it was well worth the money.

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    Ask the Community - The Orange Show

    Review Highlights - The Orange Show

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    Houston Museum of Natural Science - This guy is 25 years old

    Houston Museum of Natural Science

    4.2(825 reviews)
    3.9 miMuseum District

    The museum never disappoints the science lover in me. From the regular exhibits to the special…read moreexhibits on loan, there is always something interesting. The pictures are of the outside of the museum and the butterfly exhibit. There is a nice sloping walkway in the butterfly house. Also they have several benches to sit on if you want to just sit and be one with the butterflies while they fly around you. For $5 you can release a new butterfly into the butterfly house. It might be a cool experience for a child to release a butterfly. Aside from the butterfly house they have an IMAX, planetarium and the regular and special exhibit museums. There is a McDonalds in the lobby and restrooms throughout the museum. They have a parking garage that requires a fee (might be free with a membership). But on a rainy day this extra charge might be worth it. They sometimes run out of parking space though, so you might have to walk from free lots a ways away.

    I visited the Houston Museum of Natural Science with the family and had a decent experience-- but…read moremy wallet felt drained. The museum has a parking garage that is convenient but fills up quickly. The cost is a $30 flat rate and the spaces are tight, so reverse parking is key. General admission, planetarium, butterfly exhibit, and special exhibits are all individually priced. We spent $226 for a family of four to see two special exhibits (including general admission + parking). The Terracotta exhibit was smaller than we hoped -- more smaller artifacts and limited interactive elements and terracotta warriors on display. The King Tut exhibit was more memorable-- more immersive, better videos, and a clear narrative about his life, death, and discovery. Food is the biggest drawback. The Element Grill closes at 3pm, so late-day visitors are left with pre-made café items from the Periodic Table next door. This included cold cut sandwiches, burgers/hot dogs sitting under warmers, canned soda and bags of chips at a premium price. Recommend to visit the HMNS on a Tuesday 5-8pm for free general admission or consider a membership to save on costs. Plan ahead and eat beforehand or bring food and enjoy a nice picnic across the street!

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    Museum of Fine Arts Houston - Christian Louboutin- Louvre Couture Collection

    Museum of Fine Arts Houston

    4.3(583 reviews)
    4.0 miMuseum District

    I visited this museum specifically to view the Friday Khalo exhibit but found myself spending…read moreseveral hours exploring the rest of the museum. MFAH is a vast space that houses an impressive collection of arts and artifacts. Among its renowned pieces are works by Monet, Van Gogh, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Henri Matisse, and many more. The museum also features an Islamic Art Collection, Roman Catholic collection, and African Gold exhibit. Additionally, MFAH offers numerous immersive and interactive experiences for visitors. I particularly enjoyed walking through Ernesto Neto: SunForceOceanLife. A great experience for both adults and kids. Frida: The Making of an Icon, a captivating exhibition, graced the halls of MFAH in January and will leave May 17. This remarkable exhibition showcases over 30 works by the iconic artist. Among the treasures on display are her authentic dresses, back braces, corset, and boot, offering a glimpse into her life and artistic journey. If you are a fan, this is a must visit. You will not be disappointed. Note: Special exhibitions like Frida's is only $10 on Thursdays.

    The MFAH is huge with some works from famous artists and many artworks from around the world. The…read moreexhibits are pretty standard art museum galleries that you could find anywhere, but they sometimes have temporary exhibits that are more interesting and eclectic. They have free admission every Thursday, and we paid $10 each to get the all access pass for temporary exhibits. Parking is $10 in the garage. We went to see a Frida Kahlo exhibit and an interactive playground-like exhibit by Ernesto Neto. They gave us hospital grippy socks to climb on the structure. Kusama's Aftermath of Obliteration of Eternity was cool as well, although one minute of standing in there was definitely sufficient. The least enjoyable "immersive" exhibit was the James Turrell one where we just sat on a bench for one minute to watch something, except that nothing happened. I am not an art person, so I wasn't super engaged by this museum as it is pretty similar to other art museums, but I think it's a good one for patient people who enjoy art.

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    Japanese Garden - Squirrel

    Japanese Garden

    4.6(72 reviews)
    4.1 miMuseum District

    Peaceful, zen, bit of nature within the museum district's Herman Park…read more Parking was free since we went on a Sunday and we were able to find a very close spot within the lot. We want on a day with gorgeous weather, not too hot and plenty of sunshine. We saw squirrels, turtles coyfish and various birds. There was a decent crowd but we were able to move around easily and get some cute pics. This is a beautiful weather day must.

    This was my first visit to the Japanese Garden in Houston, and it left a gentle impression on me. I…read morecame toward the tail end of winter, just as spring was teasing its way in. Here and there, I spotted a delicate cherry blossom and a few early blooms, though I wish I had visited at the peak of flower season. The garden itself is exquisitely designed and every corner seems crafted for peace, and I truly enjoyed the calm atmosphere. It felt like a small escape from the city hustle. That said, I did notice the cleanliness was a bit of an issue; the garden could definitely use some extra care to keep it pristine. Another small drawback was the restroom situation. There are only two available, and both were quite busy, so I ended up waiting a while and eventually decided it wasn't worth it. Still, the park draws a lovely crowd with people come to stroll, reflect, and soak in the beauty. If I'm in Houston again at a better time, I'll absolutely return to see the garden in full bloom. It has so much potential, and with a little more attention to detail, it could be a true hidden gem.

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    The Menil Collection - Front Entrance

    The Menil Collection

    4.2(403 reviews)
    4.7 miMontrose

    how could i not give the menil collection 5 stars?!! i…read morecan't think of another place in town where you can see such an amazing collection of art for free. every menil building is in immaculately curated. whenever you're in the area, please do yourself a favor and visit!! make sure to take your time and visit all of the buildings!

    I have never been to a worse museum. Thank god it was free because I wouldn't pay a single penny to…read morego here again. They should've owned me money for going. The security guards are rude as hell. Apparently you can't point at the art and god forbid you had your PAMPHLET open while you are walking. To the man who told me to close it, you are insufferable. The pamphlets are for the people and they can do whatever the hell they want with it. He must be so bored standing around doing nothing with his life that he decided to make an issue with my PIECE OF PAPER. The art is utter dog sh*t. I don't need to go to art school to say the art was awful. The art looks like someone took their poop and smeared it on canvas with scribbles. I think a toddler can create better art. Everyone looked so depressed to be working there which I can see why if I was staring at bullsh*t all day. I've been to so many art museums over the years and I have never had such an awful experience with the pieces and the staff. Rude staff, crap art. Only people who know nothing about art will enjoy this "collection". Make sure to not take pictures of the trash work, point at it, or have your pamphlet open because they will cause an issue with you.

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    The Menil Collection - BYOBeamer light art event 2025 (inside for restrooms only)

    BYOBeamer light art event 2025 (inside for restrooms only)

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    Art Car Museum

    Art Car Museum

    4.4(105 reviews)
    5.8 miWashington Corridor, The Heights

    I've lived in the heights when I was a kid/teen for like 20 years. Not sure how I never been here…read more I always saw it and wanted to go. Saw the parade from time to time. Out of the the times we come by to this museum it was the showcase for owners collage artwork. Talk about being very lucky! The exhibit was top notch. I got air of ideas for art at this exhibit. Great ideas and pieces. This is a true gem in houston Texas. If you haven't stoped by don't be like me and wait 20 years. So glad I got to see her work. The museum is free. They sell merch so support them that way. I'll definitely keep this one in rotation as they change the exhibit every few months. Very happy we were able to stop by and see her work and mural. I will add the older lady at the front working the ticket booth needs to relax. dropping all these art names and organizations and acting all shocked like we didn't know who they were. Relax lady. We are not absorbed into the art scents like you are! Then she had the nerve to say something about someone winning some 400k award. She emphasized 400k. I wanted to say, is that the first time you seen 400k but I was trying to be more like god and let her make it.

    This was my first time here! It's been on my list of museums. It's a unique, albeit small, museum…read more It fits only about 3-4 cars inside and other artwork among the small and larger rooms. When we went, the artist was also there talking about his art pieces. It's like when you visit the art galleries at Sawyer Yards. Pretty cool. You can leave donations for this free museum. There's a painting of Mrs. Jones, chihuahua, which she was introduced to us when we came in during our appointment time. For same-day appointments, you call to schedule. Anyway, she was so cute walking around the museum. We were told that the art changes every 4 months, so it'll be nice to come back and see what's new. I also want to see the art car parade next time. There's parking in front of the museum about 4 spaces like when you park in a driveway at home or street parking within walking distance that fits about 7 vehicles.

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    Art Car Museum
    Art Car Museum

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    The Health Museum - Get a heart @ the HCMS Medical Student Mixer

    The Health Museum

    3.5(153 reviews)
    3.7 miMuseum District

    I found this to be a very interesting museum if you are interested in all elements of the human…read morebody. Parking was free across the street, but on a weekend, there wasn't any available spaces. We had to stop and wait on the lot for someone to move. We only had to wait a few minutes, but I presume there are arguments over spaces because there is a sign upon entry that says no holding spaces. When we walked to the museum, we noticed that there was a paid museum parking lot right in front of the main entry. The cost is only $8.00 and there were half of the spaces empty. We'll do that next time. All in all, it was a good experience and I encourage others to visit.

    I've lived in Houston for years and never made it to The Health Museum until today. I decided to…read morevisit at the very last minute remembering that many of the museums offer free admission on Thursdays. Take note that admission is free on Thursday but you must make a reservation in advance, available in 30 minute reservation time blocks. These blocks allow you a 30 minute timeframe to enter but once inside, you're welcome to stay until close. After arriving, I was not surprised but still a little overwhelmed with the number of small children and families with baby strollers. As several other reviewers mentioned, this is really a Children's Health Museum with the exhibits featuring larger than life organs and elementary interactive displays geared towards a child. I'll admit I did enjoy walking around the displays such as the enormous human eye and massive beating heart, but wished there had been more information on modern medicine and some of the advances like prosthetic joints and transplantation. They did have a current exhibit featuring the rise of microplastics with a focus on the waste collection efforts at Buffalo Bayou and some statistics about Houston plastic usage. This was a nice touch to have a local feature. For logistics, the museum is located right in the middle of the museum district making it super easy to walk to other surrounding museums and some of the great parks and gardens in the area. It's just two or three blocks from the metro rail line and they do have parking onsite for $8 for all day parking. This is convenient but I honestly recommend just going with metered street parking. I paid just over $2 for an hour. Overall, a great spot for kids.

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    The Health Museum
    The Health Museum - Heart exhibit

    Heart exhibit

    The Health Museum

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    The Orange Show - museums - Updated May 2026

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