The Moody Foundation started Moody Gardens in 1986, and its glass pyramids are Galveston's most recognizable skyline. The Rainforest Pyramid, opened in 1993 and 10 stories tall, is warm, humid and alive: birds fly free overhead, a waterfall runs beside the path, and you'll find giant river otters, a Komodo dragon, an ocelot and a bat cave. The taller Aquarium Pyramid, opened in 1999 and rebuilt in 2017, holds 1.5 million gallons and moves through the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean, the North and South Pacific and the South Atlantic, with penguins, seals, sharks and a jellyfish gallery. The third pyramid, Discovery, is closed for now while it becomes the Galveston Children's Museum, due to open in November 2026. Add a 3D or 4D film to round out the day, and parking is always free.
What to expect
- Strollers rent for $15 at the Visitors Center, first come, first served.
- Free wheelchairs at the Visitors Center and Aquarium Pyramid, with a license deposit.
- Packed lunches are fine at the outdoor benches and tables around the grounds.
- Service animals are welcome but not in the Rainforest Pyramid, where animals roam free.
- Covered parking is $30 and valet $40 if you want more than the free self-park lot.
What to do
- Look for the giant river otters and free-flying birds in the Rainforest Pyramid
- Watch the penguins in the Aquarium Pyramid's South Atlantic habitat
- Catch a 3D or 4D film between pyramids
- 1986Founded
- 10 stories, opened 1993Rainforest Pyramid
- 1.5 million gallonsAquarium
- Always freeParking