5 Best Sights in Austin, Texas

The 38th lieutenant governor of Texas, Bob Bullock—a potent political force in his day—lobbied hard to establish a museum of state history during his years of public service. Bullock didn't live to see it happen—he died in 1999—but his dream came true in 2001 with the opening of this fascinating museum just a few blocks north of the Capitol. Now, over 9 million visitors from around the world have toured the museum's 34,000 square feet of exhibit space that showcases "The Story of Texas." See exhibitions of archaeological objects, historical documents, and touring shows from regional museums throughout the state. You can also check out educational and family-friendly programs, or get tickets to a show at the 400-seat IMAX theater.

Named in honor of former governor Dolph Briscoe, the Briscoe Center at the University of Texas is a go-to scholarly resource for 750,000-plus photographs, thousands of archival documents, hundreds of handmade quilts, and over 50,000 music recordings. The staff are expert researchers who sift through these artifacts to chronicle a fascinating stockpile of American and Texas history. While much of the center functions as a research facility (available by reservation only), frequently changing exhibits of items from the collections are open to the public on weekdays.

The artifacts and documents on exhibit here provide some insight into the 36th president's mind and motivations, and though his foibles are downplayed, a clear sense of the man—earthy, conniving, sensitive, and wry—emerges. In an age when the average car is loaded with digital gadgets and 12-year-olds with cell phones are commonplace, Johnson's black Lincoln limousine and clunky, command-central telephone seem quaintly archaic, though they were state-of-the-art during his presidency. If you schedule your visit to the reading room in advance of your arrival, you can listen to recordings of conversations Johnson had using that telephone. The 30-plus hours of tape recordings include ruminations on Vietnam, economic inflation, and a New York City transit strike. Gordon Bunshaft designed the monolithic travertine building that houses the library; like the limo and the phone, it's a bit of a period piece. There are rotating temporary exhibits on the ground floor.

Be sure to check out the second floor, where a life-size audio-animatronic figure of LBJ spins humorous anecdotes; it's a hoot.

French architect Paul Cret's 1936 plans for Texas Memorial Museum called for north and south wings to extend from a central building, a tailored limestone box with subtle art deco flourishes. The wings were scuttled because of funding difficulties, leaving only Cret's alabaster midsection. But the chic interior, with brass doors, glass embellishments, and blood-red marble walls, floors, and ceilings, mitigates any sense of abridgement. Among the popular draws at the museum are the dinosaur models (including a 30-foot-long mosasaur and a 40-foot-long pterosaur) and the life-size dioramas, which depict buffalo, roadrunners, cougars, mountain lions, and flying squirrels.

Here you’ll find exhibits dedicated to preserving the history of the military in Texas, from the inception of the Texas Militia to the modern war on terror. Artillery, a half-track, and tanks are on permanent display in the 45,000-square-foot museum. They also host living history events, including World War II reenactments, on certain weekends throughout the year.

Remember to bring your valid photo ID—you'll need it to get on the Camp Mabry grounds.