Science, History, Art and More! See It All at These Plano Museums

Although the bustling city of Plano now bears little resemblance to the former 1870s town on the Blackland Prairie, its humble roots certainly aren't forgotten

 

Visit museums in Plano to connect with the town's historic roots, discover its natural beauty or just renew your sense of childlike wonder.


Big House on the Prairie: Heritage Farmstead Museum

Step back in time as you ascend the stone steps of the Heritage Farmstead Museum. Enter a world of Victorian elegance that contrasts with the rough-and-tumble world of the 1890s Texas Blackland Prairie region. Poke through the outdoor potting shed, gaze at the garden and discover what it took for a single mother and her daughter to run the farm in the early 1900s. Browse the grounds on a self-guided tour or visit on Tuesdays or on weekends for a guided tour through the Victorian home.


All Aboard! Interurban Railway Museum

You may have heard that everything's bigger in Texas, and when it comes to the early railroads of the 1900s, that was definitely true. The Texas Electric Railway provided the longest interurban service west of the Mississippi in 1916 with 226 miles of track. The railroad closed in 1948, but you can visit relics of its past at the Interurban Railway Museum. Step inside the historic brick substation to see what powered the electric railroad, browse displays of artifacts and tour a historic rail car.


Where the Wild Things Are: Heard Natural Science Museum

Visit a swimming sea monster the size of a city bus that could devour you with a snap of its razor-sharp teeth! Fortunately, the Mosasaur is merely one of several fossilized creatures on display at the Heard Natural Science Museum in McKinney. But not all the museum's residents have turned to stone. Visit snakes, butterflies and mammals galore or stroll the 6.5 miles of trails that lead through grasslands, hardwoods and prime birding territory.


Rise Above It: Cavanaugh Flight Museum

If you've ever imagined yourself soaring through the sky in a biplane or warbird, you can give it a try at Cavanaugh Flight Museum in Addison). The museum offers nine in-air experiences in aircraft ranging from fighters to helicopters with aerobatics optional on one flight. If you prefer to stay firmly rooted on terra firma, browse the museum's collection of dozens of warplanes from as far back as World War I. There's even a Sopwith Camel, which doesn't look a thing like Snoopy's doghouse!


Unleash Their Wildest Imaginations: Play Street Museum

Not all Plano museums deal with the past—some help shape the future. Summon up your inner child and join in the fun when you bring the kids to a Great Outdoors experience at the Play Street Museum. This Adirondack-themed play space has cabins and campers, picnic tables and fishing piers. Encounter big spiders—safely enclosed in acrylic blocks, of course—then go hands-on to create creepy crawly artwork. Kids ages one through eight pay admission to the museum, but older and younger siblings, as well as adults, play free when accompanied by a paying child.

 




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