6 Best Museums In Waco That You Should Actually Visit
Honesty, there are a few museums in Waco that are a “swing and a miss” that probably aren’t worth your time. But there some museums in Waco that are actually worth a visit!
Note that I’m using the term “museum” really loosely here. 😉 Waco is very small, so it’s a pretty small pool of museums to start with! But if you’re a big museum person and you really want to check one out during your stay in Waco, here’s where to start.
About me: I’m Kelsey, a bestselling travel book author and the creator of 3 Texas travel websites. As a native Texan, I spend my own time and money exploring this state to help millions of readers find the best food, things to do, places to stay in Austin and beyond. Check out my other sites: TheSanAntonioThings.com and TheAustinThings.com!
6 Best Museums In Waco, TX
1. Waco Mammoth National Monument
More of a “monument” than a typical “museum,” but remember how I said I’m using that term loosely? And this is actually a really cool place to visit if you find yourself with a free hour or two in Waco!
The Waco Mammoth National Monument is a site in Waco, TX where they found 24 Columbian Mammoths. It’s the only nursery herd of Columbian Mammoths in the United States, and it’s right here in Waco!
I wrote all about my visit right here, if you want more details.
Cost of entry to the Waco Mammoth National Monument
$6 for adults, $5 for children.
How much time should I spend at the Waco Mammoth National Monument?
About 1-2 hours.
WEBSITE | 6220 Steinbeck Bend Dr, Waco, TX 76708, United States
2. Dr Pepper Museum
Again, we’re not really zoning in on “serious” museums here. Mostly because Waco doesn’t have a ton of them, so they excel in the more quirky spots! And the Dr Pepper Museum is definitely quirky. Read my full review of it here!
The Dr Pepper Museum has been around since 1991. It's where you can literally see where Dr Pepper was created in the 1800s! It tells the story and the history of this iconic beverage, and there are lots of interactive, hands-on displays.
It’s not a shiny and fancy place (it's been around since 1991, after all) but it definitely does a good job of sharing the Dr Pepper story. And if you weren’t already a Dr Pepper fan before visiting, you’ll probably become one!
You can enjoy all the interactive exhibits and bits of history, and you even get a free soda fountain drink with your admission. Plus, you can choose to add on the make-a-soda experience for $10, which is where guests can mix different flavors to create their own custom Dr Pepper drink. Kind of fun!
Cost of entry to Dr Pepper Museum
$12 for General Admission, Free for ages 4 & under
How much time should I spend at the Dr Pepper Museum?
1-2 hours, which includes time for the make-a-soda experience if you add that on. It’s a pretty small museum!
WEBSITE | 300 S 5th St, Waco, TX 76701, United States
3. Mayborn Museum Complex
The Mayborn is Baylor University’s on-campus museum, so it’s the most academic of all the museums in Waco. It’s not “about” the University, but it is owned and sponsored by Baylor. It’s all about natural science and cultural history, but (pro tip) this is a great kid-friendly museum in Waco!
The Jeanes Discovery Center is sooo cute, and it’s full of fun stuff for the younger museum audience. They have a walk-on piano, light displays, bubbles and energy and all sorts of stuff to explore, and even “Play Waco,” a little town for tots!
Of course, adults can enjoy the Mayborn, too. There are all sorts of natural history exhibits, like an exhibit about the Cretaceous period when Waco was underneath a shallow sea (hence the abundance of sea life fossils in Waco!) Read my full review of the Mayborn Museum here.
Cost of entry to the Mayborn Museum
$10 for adults, $9 for children 2-12 years old, free under 2
How much time should I spend at the Mayborn Museum Complex?
Between 1-4 hours…which I realize is kind of vague! But it depends on how much you love reading every little thing, and how long your kids are able to focus.
WEBSITE | 1300 S University Parks Dr, Waco, TX 76706, United States
4. Texas Ranger Hall Of Fame And Museum
I’m including the Texas Ranger Museum in this list of the best museums in Texas with one major caveat…it’s an old museum! You’ll walk in and think, “wow, holy 1960s!” and that’s because it was built in 1968. Think: a bit dingy with low ceilings and lots of brown and buttery yellow colors.
But if you want to learn more about the Texas Rangers law enforcement agency (no, this is not about the Texas Rangers baseball team, y’all!), how they came to be formed, and what they’re known for doing, there’s nowhere else better on the planet to get all that information.
You can read my honest thoughts about the Texas Ranger Museum right here.
Cost of entry to the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum
$10.50 for adults, $4 for children 6-12, free for children 5 & under
How much time should I spend at the Texas Ranger Museum?
About one hour! Unless you are SUPER into the history of Texas law enforcement, you’ll probably get bored after about an hour.
WEBSITE | 100 Texas Ranger Trail, Waco, TX 76706, United States
5. Texas Sports Hall Of Fame
The fifth idea of the best museums in Waco is the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, which is located right across the street from Baylor University.
It was built in 1993, and if you absolutely loooooove Texas sports (mostly Texas high school and college football, y’all) you will 100% geek out over this place. Here are my honest thoughts about the Texas Sports Hall of Fame and Museum.
(Not into sports? This museum probably isn’t for you!)
Cost of entry to the Texas Sports Hall of Fame and Museum
$8 for adults, $6 with a college ID, $4 for children 6-18
How much time should I spend at the Texas Sports Hall of Fame and Museum?
About 1-2 hours.
WEBSITE | 1108 S University Parks Dr, Waco, TX 76706
6. Armstrong Browning Museum and Library
And finally, I have to recommend this insanely beautiful museum at Baylor University. It cost the equivalent of $50 million to build in today's dollars. This museum and library is where you can find the largest collection of works Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
Need more convincing? Here are 5 great reasons to go to the Armstrong Browning Library and Museum.
Cost of entry to the Armstrong Browning Library and Museum
FREE!
How much time should I spend at the Armstrong Browning Library and Museum?
30-60 minutes
WEBSITE | 710 Speight Ave, Waco, TX 76706
About me: I’m Kelsey, a bestselling travel book author and the creator of 3 Texas travel websites. As a native Texan, I spend my own time and money exploring this state to help millions of readers find the best food, things to do, places to stay in Austin and beyond. Check out my other sites: TheSanAntonioThings.com and TheAustinThings.com!
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