NajeraConstruction  

The Texas Capitol Visitor's Center is the perfect spot to plan and start your tour of the stunning Texas State Capitol. The breathtaking beauty and unusual construction of the Texas State Capitol is truly the stuff of legends in the Lone Star State. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1970, the Texas Capitol is a popular tourist attraction. Besides touring the building, visitors can view artifacts of Texas history including the original flag from the Battle of San Jacinto, historical paintings and the original Senator desks from 1888. At the visitor's center, gallery assistants and travel coordinators can help start you on a self-guided tour. Besides briefing visitors about the exhibits, the staff can also answer any questions. Free, 45-minute tours are conducted daily.

The Cathedral of Junk stands quietly in the backyard of a small house on a suburban street on the south side of Austin that blends with its neighborhood, from the street, it's invisible. Vince Hannemann, built the Cathedral with a hollow framework of improvised trusses, around and within which he has wired and packed with lawnmower wheels, car bumpers, kitchen utensils, ladders, cables, bottles, circuit boards, bicycle parts, brick-a-brack, and a lot of stuff that is unidentifiable.

One “spark” of inspiration is all you need for your next BIG idea at the Thinkery, Austin’s home for “why?” and “how?” Each exhibit is hands-on, play-based learning, with activities and content appropriate for visitors of all ages. It’s never too early or too late to connect with people, share ideas, create experiences, and have a great time. Create colorful works of art, take apart toys or build and launch gliders at the Spark Shop. See, feel and hear the connections between water and sound at the Currents exhibit. Find out how color, light and shadows impact the environment at the Light Lab. Participate in sensory exploration, chemical reactions and edible minerals in the Kitchen Lab. Imagine buying and selling delicious fruits and vegetables, or collecting eggs from a pretend chicken coop in Fresh! Farmers’ Market. Step outside to the Backyard and scale the heights of a universally-accessible, custom-designed climber, or rest under the branches of a native elm tree.

Create a masterpiece at Ceramics Bayou, a paint-your-own pottery studio where you can choose from more than 400 art pieces to decorate and take home. Voted one of the top five family outings in Austin.