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Houston Museum of Natural Sciences at Sugar Land

13016 University Blvd.
Sugar Land, TX 77479

Details

Overview
The Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS) at Sugar Land opened to the public on October 3, 2009. Housed in the former Central State Prison Farm, the building—once known as “Two Camp”—has been reimagined as a vibrant educational destination offering interactive exhibits in science, nature, and space. The museum brings world-class learning experiences to Fort Bend County while preserving a unique piece of the region’s history.

Historic Significance

  • Located on the site of the former Central State Prison Farm, once part of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice system
  • Operated as a prison facility until 1968 and was used for storage from 1968 through 1999
  • In 1995, the facility was used as a filming location for the movie Powder
  • Many windows that had been bricked in during storage use were later restored during the building’s transformation into a museum

Public-Private Partnership
The museum was developed through a public-private partnership between the City of Sugar Land, the Houston Museum of Natural Science, and Telfair developer Newland Communities.

  • Newland Communities contributed the land and building, along with exterior improvements valued at approximately $2.5 million
  • The City and the Sugar Land 4B Corporation (SL4B) contributed $6 million for interior improvements through a funding agreement established in 2008–2009
  • HMNS committed to leasing the facility for 50 years and investing $3 million in exhibits

Unique Features
HMNS at Sugar Land includes several exhibits not found at the main museum location in Houston, including:

  • The Dig Pit
  • Science on a Sphere
  • Life Science and Space Science exhibits
  • Discovery Works, a relocated exhibit formerly housed at the Houston museum

Ongoing Support & Enhancements

  • On May 30, 2019, the museum amended its lease with the City to support additional improvements
  • The Sugar Land 4B Corporation contributed an additional $100,000 for capital enhancements under the City’s Public Destination Venue Capital Enhancement policy (Resolution No. 2019-04-03)

Why It Matters
HMNS at Sugar Land is a powerful example of adaptive reuse and community investment. Once a symbol of incarceration, the historic “Two Camp” site has been transformed into a center for discovery, education, and cultural enrichment—anchoring Sugar Land’s vision for accessible, high-quality public destinations that honor the past while inspiring future generations.