The Economic Impact of the Houston Museum District

Since 2004, Joel A. Bartsch has served as the president and chief executive officer of the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Alongside his responsibilities in this position, Joel Bartsch headed the Houston Museum District Association as its chairman for six years. This organization joins together 19 total museums in a single cultural district.
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The Houston Museum District is a primary attraction for tourists, as it ranks among the largest walkable cultural districts in the United States. Altogether, 10 of the member museums offer free admission every day, and the remaining nine have free admission times. These museums cover a wide range of subject matter and feature several iconic landmarks and pieces of architecture. Guests can experience everything from local heritage to avant-garde art.

In terms of impact on the surrounding city, the district has created 2,300 employment opportunities and annually attracts about 7 million guests. This number of visitors translates into an economic impact of more than $370 million for the City of Houston. The district remains one of the primary draws of tourists to the city and provides equal opportunity for everyone to engage in cultural exploration.