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Home / Education / Woodlands
The Woodlands Xploration Station
A terrible lizard has taken up residence in The Woodlands Mall. Meet Stan, a full-sized Tyrannosaurus rex crouching over the entrance to The Woodlands Xploration Station, the newest satellite educational facility of the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Inside, thirteen prehistoric beasts and a multitude of fascinating science exhibitions – from spectacular minerals to live frogs from around the world – await discovery. There’s something for everyone to explore.
Learn more about:
Special Exhibitions
Discover National Geographic Crittercam: The World Through Animal Eyes on display at The Woodlands Xploration Station through February 2009. Crittercam, a scientific video- and data-gathering tool safely worn by wild animals, was invented by National Geographic marine biologist Greg Marshall to capture unique insight into animal behavior and clues to help protect animals and the world we share. Through interactive displays, firsthand footage, and evocative environments, visitors can explore the stories of animals all over the world, including seals and sea lions, sharks, sea turtles, whales, penguins, bears and lions. Learn more.
We ROCK! Explore Geopalooza, an unparalleled array of amazing geological wonders. Marvel at massive amethyst and citrine geodes taller than a person jammed with gleaming purple and golden crystals. Admire an array of huge mineral crystals, intricately crystallized slices of petrified wood, and an amazing collection of fossils, including trilobites with astonishingly delicate antennae perfectly preserved. Then, step into the pitch black of a mine tunnel and marvel at the rainbow-colored glow of hundreds of fluorescent minerals from Franklin, New Jersey.
Permanent Exhibitions
Be a paleontologist for a day at the Xcavation Station, where you can uncover cast dinosaur bones. Join in on the action as the HMNS paleontology team uncovers a real fossilized skeleton of the fierce pre-dinosaur Dimetrodon in the Paleontology Prep Lab. Then, walk among dinosaurs and other creatures in our Paleontology exhibit, featuring full-sized specimens, including one of the world’s largest juvenile Triceratops, Raymond; a fighting Protoceratops and Velociraptor; and a full sized Acrocanthosaurus skull.
Marvel at vibrant, multi-ton geodes in an exhibit on Mineralogy. Discover insects, arachnids, and other spectacular live insects from around the world in our Bug Zoo. Navigate an interactive Woodlands Maze that introduces visitors to local plant and animal life. Explore the principles of physics through interactive exhibits in the Fondren Discovery Center and then relax with a film in our mini-theater.
Hop on over to our new collection of living frogs, featuring everything from the aptly named Giant African Bullfrog, to tiny, vibrant Strawberry Dart Frogs, to an array of local American Bullfrog Tadpoles and many more. Don’t miss your chance to see these colorful croakers from around the globe!
Educational Programs
There are lots of ways to explore science at the Xploration Station. Teachers, make science fun for your students with an on-site field trip; or, book any of our exciting Xplorations To Go and we’ll bring the field trip experience to your classroom.
Dig into science with our family festivals and special events, including biannual paleontology field trips and holiday events, and discover our weekday classes, birthday parties, private parties, scouting classes, VIP overnights, and corporate meeting rooms. For more information on any of these programs, please call 281-364-7200 ext. 108.
Membership
Support The Woodlands Xploration Station and the Houston Museum of Natural Science by purchasing a membership in our gift shop; you’ll help us reach our mission of science education – and you can come back to visit us all year for free! Your membership includes free admission to all of our exhibits at the Xploration Station, the Xcavation Station, and discounts and discounts for summer camps, birthday parties and items in our gift shop.
Memberships purchased at The Woodlands Xploration Station include full membership benefits at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, located at One Hermann Circle Drive.
Gift Shop
Take some time out of your museum adventure to browse our store. Our gift shop has a wide range of toys and experiments for children as well as unique gifts for people of all ages.
Whether you’re looking for butterfly displays, fascinating fossils and minerals for your collection, space science kits and astronaut ice cream, fun science experiments, flavorful rock candy, science books to inspire your young Einstein, grow-your-own mineral kits, or a toy dinosaur, you’ll find something for everyone at The Woodlands Xploration Station Gift Shop.
Directions & Admissions
The Woodlands Xploration Station is located within The Woodlands Mall. Please call 281-364-7200 ext. 108 for more information.
Admission
| Hours |
| Monday - Saturday: |
10 a.m. - 6 p.m. |
| Sunday: |
noon - 5 p.m. |
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| Admission |
| Members: |
Free |
| Adults: |
$10 |
| Children: |
$5 |
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| Dig Pit |
| Members: |
Free |
| Nonmembers: |
$5 |
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Click image for larger map
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Directions from Houston:
Take I45 North
Take a right onto the overpass at Exit 76B, Woodlands Parkway.
Take a right onto Six Pines
Take a right into The Woodlands Mall circle
If you are with a school group, pull up behind the museum in the Cheesecake Factory parking lot and you will be met at our curb.
If you are not with a school group, park in the Sears parking lot, lower level and enter into the mall. Proceed through the mall past the Children’s Play Area to Stan, the only Tyrannosaurus rex in the mall, to our gift shop entrance.
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