Where else but in Texas can one glimpse a Picasso original in jail, 1,000 artistic toilet seats or a hat made of barbed ware? And where can visitors stroll through a human body or sit in the middle of a hurricane, pilot the Space Shuttle or see a submarine burst through a front lawn? Texas journalist and novelist Allan Kimball has put to good use his decades crisscrossing the state by creating a guide to one of his passions: The region s most intriguing museums, some world famous, others little-known gems just ready to be discovered. Museums profiled are ones that maintain the state s cultural distinctiveness while displaying some of the nation s best exhibited paintings and sculpture from around the world, or pure Lone Star wackiness. From high brow to ones widely accessible, they are included if they pass Kimball s requirement that they do more than just show things to museum-goers. They must actively engage visitors. So internationally renowned collections like Fort Worth s Kimball Museum of Art and Houston's Menil are included along with the likes of Waco s Dr Pepper Museum and McLean s Devil Rope Museum. It s perfect for families who want to mix high art with just a fun experience.
