Fair Park’s natural history museum in Dallas has reopened to the public on Sundays, aligning its limited hours with the ongoing FIFA Fan Festival and the park’s weekly farmers market. The Fan Festival, attracting up to 35,000 visitors daily, will run through July 19, providing a timely opportunity for Fair Park to increase visitor engagement.

The museum, located across from the Leonhardt Lagoon, will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays, free of charge. Its reopening marks the first time in over a decade that the facility has been accessible to the public. Park officials have indicated that attendance numbers during this period will guide decisions about potentially expanding the museum’s schedule. Although the building’s air-conditioning system is currently nonfunctional, temporary measures are being implemented, with hopes to resolve the issue fully by early July.

Brett Wulke, Fair Park’s general manager, emphasized the importance of raising awareness that the museum is active again. “The biggest thing for us is starting to get the word out that, hey, we’re open and there are things to do,” he said. Wulke expressed aspirations to eventually make the building active on a daily basis, viewing the Sunday reopening as a foundational step toward that goal.

The museum features dioramas portraying different Texas environments, complete with hand-painted backdrops and taxidermied animals. Walt Davis, a volunteer with the Texas Master Naturalists who contributed to reopening the exhibits, highlighted the opportunity for visitors to experience a tour of Texas through the museum’s displays. Davis, who worked at the museum for 25 years before its closure in 2012, noted that volunteers are present to engage with guests, providing educational support. The initial Sunday reopening saw about 25 visitors, a mix of newcomers and individuals revisiting memories from their childhood. Davis indicated that interest appeared stronger than anticipated, prompting discussions among volunteers about covering more days.

The reopening of the natural history museum coincides with a series of enhancements at Fair Park timed with the World Cup events. Recent improvements include upgrades to the African American Museum, which now features large banners promoting a new Nelson Mandela exhibition, and the display of an original copy of the Declaration of Independence at the Hall of State in celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary. Additionally, the Old Mill Inn restaurant has undergone remodeling and reopened temporarily, while the children’s aquarium has expanded offerings with carousel rides alongside pedal boat rides at the lagoon. The Texas Discovery Gardens is also promoting a buy-one-get-one-free ticket offer for Fan Fest attendees.

Fair Park’s management transitioned to the city’s park department in September after ending its contract with the previous operator. The new administration inherited substantial deferred maintenance, estimated in the hundreds of millions, and has been actively seeking ways to improve the grounds and generate revenue. Proposed initiatives under consideration include introducing new amenities or even constructing a hotel to help fund ongoing repairs.

Currently, the natural history building retains signage referencing Fair Park First, the former park manager, reflecting its previous use as office space rather than a public museum. Wulke expressed a commitment to reversing this status and tapping into the site’s potential as a community and cultural asset.

As the FIFA Fan Festival continues to draw international visitors to South Dallas, Fair Park officials and volunteers hope the revival of the natural history museum will contribute to sustaining increased engagement with the historic fairgrounds beyond the event’s conclusion.