Families in Houston are in for a royal treat this fall. The Houston Museum of Natural Science reopens its celebrated special exhibition, Warriors of the Imperial Tombs of China: Terracotta Warriors and Horses, on November 14, 2026, after a top-to-bottom refresh backed by a $1.2 million renovation grant.
The exhibition brings the legendary Terracotta Warriors of Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, to the Texas Medical Center. Dating to the 3rd century BCE, the life-size figures were created for Ying Zheng, the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty (259-210 BCE), and today they are UNESCO World Heritage treasures. The warriors were made near modern-day Xi’an, and most of them are still guarded in situ at the emperor’s mausoleum complex there. Only about 140 original warriors have ever traveled outside China as international loans, making Houston’s presentation a rare chance to stand face to face with them.
Beyond the ranks of soldiers, the refreshed galleries gather stone armor pieces, bronze swords and ceremonial objects, archaeological models and reconstructions, photographs and multimedia that tell the story of the First Emperor’s imperial tombs. Hands-on and family-friendly interpretation helps young visitors imagine the artisans who sculpted each warrior with individual features more than 2,000 years ago.
The exhibition runs from November 14, 2026 through May 31, 2027 at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, 5555 Hermann Park Drive. It is a joyful, wonder-filled outing for curious kids and history-loving grown-ups alike.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
