John P. McGovern Museum
August 1, 2005 by Assistant Editor
Filed under Edit
With summer coming to an end, school starting again and things returning to somewhat “normal,” scheduling family time can be almost impossible. Luckily, the John P. McGovern Museum of Health &Medical Science, an interactive health and science center for all ages, offers Free Family Thursdays with education and exciting happenings throughout August.
The museum opened in 1996 and is known today as the most-visited health museum in the country. It is also a member of the world-renowned Texas Medical Center. With more than 100,000 visitors annually, the museum aims to promote understanding and appreciation of the human body, mind and spirit and inspires a lifelong commitment to health.
Free Family Thursdays are offered to give families a chance to experience exclusive aspects of the museum. “Family Fun Thursdays provide the opportunity for families to learn together in a group setting,” says Gayle Barnett, director of community relations and partnerships.
Visit the McGovern Theatre to view exciting and educational movies. Experience “Bill Nye the Science Guy: Heart,” and you’ll learn just how important the heart is and its functions. “Osmosis Jones” is a live-action, animated adventure about a white blood cell’s journey to stop a virus.
Through hands-on activities, puppets, stories and much more, youngsters can become aware of Houston through By Your City. Primarily for younger children, this exhibit gives kids the chance to shine through creativity while also learning essential details about Houston. According to Barnett, By Your City encourages the importance of learning about the environment and how to protect it.
Admission is $6 per person, $4 for seniors 65 years and older and is free for children younger than 4 years old and for those who are museum members. (Children with a Houston Public Library Power Card are admitted free, too.) Summer hours include Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. The museum, located at 1515 Hermann Drive, will continue its summer hours until Labor Day. For more information, call (713) 942-7054 or visit www.mhms.org. H
