CultureCastINTELLIGENCE

Predictive Cultural Attraction & Crowd Engine

natural historyEIN: 74-1249688 • Form 990 Filings

Houston Museum of Natural Science

Paleontology Hall of Prehistoric Predators, Cockrell Butterfly Center & Gems

5555 Hermann Park Dr, Houston, TX 77030
Median Dwell: 3.2 hrs
Official Website
Bang-for-Buck Index
84.8/100
Rank #18 NationallyDedicated Crowd Forecast →
Dynamic Paleontology HallFree Tuesday EveningsWorld-Class Gem Vault
Adult Admission$25Child: $16
Net Endowment (990)$115.0M3.0x Annual Op Revenue
Annual Attendance2.0M4.8 ★ (36,800 reviews)
Philanthropic Subsidy$14 / visitUnderwritten by donors & trusts

Curatorial Scope & Collection Architecture

Located in Houston’s Hermann Park, HMNS is one of the most heavily attended museums in the nation, featuring an enormous paleontology hall where dinosaurs are depicted in active predatory poses.

Civic Free Days & Community Policy

Free general admission every Tuesday from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

30-Day Forward Crowd Forecast

Predictive hourly density curves combining search intent, seasonal trends, and local mobility

Low Moderate Busy Peak
Tuesday, 2026-09-01Busy Density (85/100)

Recommended Entry Window: Before 11:00 AM or after 3:30 PM

Forecast StatusClear / Climate Controlled

Hourly Crowd Density Curve (10 AM – 5 PM)

34%
10 AM
64%
11 AM
81%
12 PM
85%
1 PM
78%
2 PM
68%
3 PM
47%
4 PM
26%
5 PM

Total Cost of Visit Calculator

Itemized expense simulation factoring admission tiers, concession markups, parking fees, and pass discounts.

2
1
0
0
Estimated Total Visit Outlay
$131for 3 people
Admission Tickets$66
Parking$20
Onsite Dining$45
Cost / Person:$44
Cost / Dwell Hour:$40.90/hr
💡 Cost Optimizer Tips

• Take advantage of Free general admission every Tuesday from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM..

• Public transit or nearby garage apps save up to $10 on parking.

IRS Form 990 & Endowment Transparency

EIN: 74-1249688 • Fiscal Year 2024 Filings

501(c)(3) Verified
Endowment Size$115.0M3.0x Program Revenue
Philanthropy & Grants$28.0M42.0% Support Ratio
Admissions Revenue$38.5MOperating Gate Intake
Donor Subsidy / Visit$14Philanthropic Underwriting
Total Operating Expenses: $64.0MFiscal Surplus: $2.5M

Houston Natural Science’s endowment covers approximately 22 months of operating overhead. Every visitor admission is offset by $14 in contributed donations, grants, and investment yields.

Institutional Elasticity & Gate Revenue Simulator

Empirical demand curve simulation calibrated to elasticity coefficient (-0.46)

Elasticity: -0.46
Modeled Adult Admission Ticket Price$30
Free ($0)Current: $25Premium ($90)
Price Adjustment
+20%
vs. $25 baseline
Projected Attendance
1.8M(-9.2%)
Annual Foot Traffic
Projected Net Gate Revenue
$54.5M(+$4.5M)
Annual Ticket Gross
Low Risk — Revenue Accretive

Minimal friction on philanthropic conversion pipeline.

Frequently Asked Questions & Visit Logistics

How much does admission cost?

General adult admission is $25, children $16, and seniors $16.

Are there civic free days or discounts?

Free general admission every Tuesday from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

How long should I plan to visit?

Mobility data indicates visitors spend a median dwell time of 3.2 hours to explore the full permanent collection and grounds.

What are the parking and dining options?

On-site garage/lot parking is approximately $20. Dining is serviced by McDonald’s & Element Grill Hermann Park ($15/meal).

Related Peer Cultural Institutions

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V-Score: 85.2

American Museum of Natural History

Titanosaur, Hayden Planetarium, and the Gilder Center for Science

Admission$28
Median Dwell3.5 hrs
Crowd LevelHigh Density
Endowment$850.0M
New Gilder CenterNY/NJ/CT Resident Pay-What-You-Wish
4.5M visitors/yrView Forecast→
Chicago, IL
V-Score: 82.1

The Field Museum of Natural History

SUE the T. rex, Ancient Egypt, and 40 Million Natural History Specimens

Admission$30
Median Dwell3.3 hrs
Crowd LevelModerate
Endowment$420.0M
SUE the T. rexFree Wednesdays for IL Residents
1.4M visitors/yrView Forecast→