Shark Week

Get ready to become a shark expert! 

Join our animal care staff as they make their morning rounds at our saltwater touch tanks and get an exciting peek into the life of a marine biologist. You’ll feed, conduct wellness checks, and participate in training sessions with our sharks and stingrays. 

Ages 6+. All minors must be accompanied by a ticketed adult. Ticket includes entrance to Museum’s permanent exhibit halls. 

Explore the unique adaptations that make Earth’s creatures fearless and fascinating, beautiful and bold. 

Step into a graphic novel aiming to reveal the strange and wonderful specializations animals exhibit to give them a leg up on the competition or evade predators. Extreme Animals Alive invites you to get up close with a variety of critters, both familiar and unknown. Consider the unique characteristics that give animals the advantage from super speed to super stealth. Discover animals with “superpowers” that allow them to shape-shift, glow, or control the minds of other animals. Investigate the physical, behavioral and structural adaptations that allow animals to survive in unique environments. Opportunities to interact with live animals will occur daily! 

Dive into savings with 40% off Shark Lenticular Cups!

Visit the Museum Store in person or shop online to snag this fin-tastic deal and explore more ocean-inspired goodies. 

Join marine biologist Stephanie Bradberry for a bite-sized chat about shark myths vs. Facts–what’s real, what’s ridiculous, and why sharks aren’t the villains Hollywood wants them to be. 

Stop by for this 20-minute tidbit of science! 

Distinguished Lectures are supported by Apache Corporation. 

The Green River Formation is renowned for its exceptionally preserved fossil fish, aquatic life, and plant specimens. Learn the techniques of fossil preparation as you carefully remove the surrounding matrix to reveal the intricate details of your fossilized fish. Experience the thrill of discovery firsthand; the finished fossil is yours to keep as a unique addition to your collection. 

Class includes a tour of the HMNS Paleo Lab. All supplies provided. Eligible for CPE credit. 

Ages 15+. All minors must be accompanied by a ticketed adult. No refunds. 

Dive into the world of sharks as we pit some of the ocean’s most iconic predators against each other in a bracket-style competition. Based on criteria like strength, speed, survival skills, and hunting prowess, each round will narrow down the contenders until one shark emerges as the ultimate ocean champion! 

Join marine biologist Stephanie Bradberry to learn fascinating facts about each species. Then, cast your own votes, and see which shark reigns supreme. 

Eligible for CPE credit. 

Distinguished Lectures are supported by Apache Corporation. 

End your Shark Week celebration by joining us early for Second Saturday, an exclusive perk for HMNS Members! Enjoy a peaceful morning exploring the museum before the crowds arrive, giving you time to take it all in at your own pace.

Visit our amazing volunteers in the Malacology Hall to learn about the vital role shells play in our ecosystems, and explore our fascinating, curated collection. Then, head over to Glassell Hall to create your very own shark face craft beneath our stunning aquatic life exhibit.

Event is subject to change at any time due to unforeseen circumstances.

Kick off your summer with a cool breeze at HMNS! From 90’s jams to vibrant Latin nights, Mixers & Elixirs brings you a season of unforgettable fun. Enjoy cash bars, food tents, and unique interactive experiences at every mixer. Whether you join us for one or all, you’ll see the museum in a whole new light! 

Hey HMNS, Shuffle Playlist – Friday, July 18 | 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm

Prepare to meet some of the ocean’s strangest and most spectacular creatures in the new film Secrets of the Sea, narrated by Joelle Carter, for IMAX® and giant screen theaters! From adorable pygmy seahorses and opalescent squid, to manta rays, tiger sharks, a coconut octopus, and much more, Secrets of the Sea takes you face-to-face with an astonishing array of marine critters, showing the fascinating ways they interact with each other and their environment. Filmed in the Philippines, Mexico, Tahiti, Indonesia, Palau, Hawaii, California and other locations, and featuring more than 70 different marine species, Secrets of the Sea reveals the many wonders and mysteries of our ocean world and demonstrates the critical importance of marine biodiversity to keeping our oceans healthy. 

Experience the awe-inspiring world of sharks like never before with SHARKS 3D, a groundbreaking film presented by Jean-Michel Cousteau. Immerse yourself in a breathtaking three-dimensional journey that brings you face-to-face with the true kings and queens of the ocean. 

Prepare to be captivated as you encounter a diverse array of shark species, including the majestic Great White, the distinctive Hammerhead, and the gentle giant, the Whale Shark. In this extraordinary cinematic experience, witness these magnificent creatures as they truly are – not as the vicious man-eating monsters often portrayed, but as captivating, wild, and endangered animals that have roamed the Earth for millions of years, long before the reign of the dinosaurs. 

With stunning visuals and immersive storytelling, Call of the Dolphins takes viewers beneath the ocean’s surface for an up-close look at how dolphins live, play, and interact—both with each other and with us. You’ll be amazed by what you learn about these intriguing animals and come away with a renewed sense of wonder and appreciation!

A captivating oceanic safari as you unlock the secrets of the mesmerizing “rainforests of the sea” in the awe-inspiring Expedition Reef. Guided by the enchanting narration of Tony Award® winner Lea Salonga, this all-digital experience harnesses the full potential of the Burke Baker Planetarium’s fulldome screen, immersing you in a breathtaking undersea adventure. Prepare to be amazed as you witness the remarkable growth, feeding habits, reproduction, and vital role of corals, which sustain over 25% of marine life on our planet.

You’re busy. We’ve got birthdays & parties down to a science, so leave the planning to us. Party with the dinosaurs in your own party room, learn through a special dino-themed birthday activity, then explore the museum with your guests! 

From selecting a theme and deciding on décor, to securing activities and entertainment—we’ve got you covered. Our parties are intended to match your budding paleontologist’s interests with age-appropriate activities. We know that science and fun are for everyone, so we want to make sure you get to spend your special day in our favorite place: HMNS! 

Birthday Party Packages:

• Party Packages for Ages 1-3
• Party Packages for Ages 4-6
• Party Packages for Ages 7-9
• Party Packages for Ages 10-12

For more information, click below!

Dino Claws & Shark Jaws (Ages 8-9)  

• From sauropods to sabertooths, dig into the past to see what it takes to be a paleontologist. You’ll curate a fossil collection of your own, meet the “residents” of the Morain Paleontology Hall, and much more! 

Get Set to Be a Vet (Ages 10-12) 

• Discover how vets care for the live animals at HMNS. From handling live animals to dissections, come explore the inner workings of an animals! Camp includes dissection. 

Museum District Explorers (Ages 10-12) 

• Explore a different Museum District location each day. Participate in classroom experiments and activities. Then spend the night on Thursday to see what secrets the Museum holds after dark! Dress for the heat. Camp includes dissection. No discounts are available for this camp. 

Shark Camp (Ages 6-7) (Ages 8-9) 

• Make a splash this summer with the world’s fiercest marine predator: Sharks! Explore sharks’ science, history, and mystery and get a chance to touch some live sharks too! 

Waterworks (Ages 6-7) 

• Engage in water-based activities, including creating bubble buildings and bubble art, creating a mysterious diver that sinks and rises, and building a cargo boat that can carry the largest load. 

Amazing Animals (Ages 8-9) 

• From meat-eating predators to the tiniest amoebas, your world is full of interesting creatures! Explore our live animal collection, exhibits and venues as we “hunt” for amazing animals. 

Scouts BSA – Environmental Science (Two-Day Class) 

• Investigate the interactions between air, land, water and life and the human impact on each of them as you complete this badge at HMNS. 

Scouts BSA – Planes, Trains and Subs (Five-Day Class)  

• Badges earned: Aviation, Oceanography, and Railroading Discover how planes fly, the history of railroads, and the wonders of the ocean depths. A field trip to Galveston includes the Railroad Museum, Lone Star Flight Museum, and Moody Gardens Aquarium. 

Scouts BSA – Soil and Water Conservation (One-Day Class) 

• Prerequisites: Requirement 7e Explore the practices of conservation involving soil and water and the care of these natural resources.