Temporary Closure
As part of the Barton Springs Bathhouse Rehabilitations project, the Beverly S. Sheffield Education Center is closed for renovation. Renovation construction will begin in February 2024 through spring 2025. The Beverly S. Sheffield Education Center team will use this time to disassemble the exhibit and move out before construction begins. For more information, visit the Barton Springs Bathhouse Rehabilitation project page.
- If you have any questions please email anscprograms@austintexas.gov.
- Current Exhibits
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Splash! Into the Edwards Aquifer Exhibit
Enter into a simulated limestone cave to experience the mysteries of Barton Springs and the Edwards Aquifer. Learn about the inner workings of the aquifer and why it is Austin’s most important natural resource through multi media displays, interactive exhibits and games. Native species on display demonstrate the diversity of life dependent on water quality of local springs, creeks, and rivers.
Living Springs
A small theater inside the exhibit is home to Living Springs, a documentary series in which viewers can access several dozen videos that tell the story of the Springs from many different perspectives. For more information or to view the series online, visit livingspringsaustin.org.
Zebra Mussels
Learn about the negative impacts of invasive species on our native habitats can be devastating. Zebra mussels are no different but present an even greater challenge to our aquatic ecosystems. Visit the Beverly Sheffield Education Center to learn more about this uninvited visitor and meet a few of our native freshwater mussels.
Zany Zilker
Learn strange and unexpected stories from Zilker Park’s history, including how Barton Springs got its name and where the reptile farm used to be.
- Temporary Exhibits
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The Cave Project: Austin's Endangered Heritage
Learn about some of Central Texas's most precious endangered species through the paintings of Barbara Attwell. This partnership with Austin Water Wildlands Conservation Program and the Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan puts the spotlight on our delicate and very special cave and underground ecosystems and the challenges facing some of these animals.
- Past Exhibits
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Barton Creek Timestream
Discover the history of advocacy that saved Barton Creek! Tens of thousands of visitors have enjoyed the nearly 14-mile Barton Creek Greenbelt in Austin, Texas, but few know the tumultuous history behind its creation and preservation. The Barton Creek Time Stream exhibit shares these stories of 50+ years, featuring 40+ events and profiles 80+ individuals who worked to establish and preserve this unique green space for the people of Austin. The Barton Creek Time Stream exhibit is a project of the Living Springs documentary series in collaboration with the Save Barton Creek Association and City of Austin’s Splash!
Salamander Springs
The Salamander Springs exhibit allows visitors to explore the biology and ecology of the Barton Springs Salamander (Eurycea sosorum). Barton Springs pool located in Zilker Park is the premier habitat of this endangered amphibian. To find out more visit the Salamander Homepage of the City of Austin Watershed Protection Department.
Spirit Waters
Learn about the four fountain springs of Texas and their historical, anthropological, and religious significance in this downloadable PDF of the exhibit. Explore one the earliest depictions in the White Shaman Mural, a 2,500 year old collection of pictographs painted on the wall of a rock shelter located in the Pecos River Valley. Download the exhibit PDF.
The Soul of Austin
Explore 12,000 years of history and culture at Barton springs in this downloadable PDF of the exhibit.
Our Desired Future
Our desired future was an exhibit design to inspire Texans to keep water flowing for future generations.
Mermaids for Clean Water
Three local female artist worked together collaboratively to create a bold new educational exhibit
XYZ
Artist Jennifer Chenoweth made hedonic map of Austin.
Faces of Barton Springs
Faces of Barton Springs was an exhibit that shared images of the many people who visit and love Barton Springs.
The Hidden Lives of Barton Springs
Barton Springs is first and foremost a habitat. It is a place where animals can find food, shelter, and water. Barton Springs is unique not just in its cultural significance and history, but in the fauna and flora it harbors. The vast array of microorganisms, algae, and animals, most so small as to go unnoticed, make Barton Springs an experience that one can’t have anywhere else. Nothing has done more to shape the Barton Springs we see today than the dams have. The waters of Barton Springs and Barton Creek once flowed together down to the Colorado River. The installation of dams in the 1920s drastically altered Barton Springs as an ecosystem. In effect, Barton Springs became more akin to a lake habitat than spring. Let’s look at Barton Springs through the lens of its hidden inhabitants as we also explore what makes Barton Springs a unique habitat.
Submerged: The Underwater Landscape of Barton Springs
The underwater landscape of Barton Springs is endlessly moving and alive. Each person who experiences the springs finds beautify in different aspects of the experience. It was our hope to collect and share these moments of unique beauty as seen through the eyes of the community of Barton Springs. The submerged exhibit showcases the work of 33 swimmers and highlights the ecological and aesthetic diversity of the springs. We would like to thank all the Artists who have shared their vision of our Springs.
bARTon Springs
Barton Springs has been a source of joy and solace to humans throughout history and is still considered to be the soul of Austin today This exhibition celebrated that legacy through artwork created by members of the highly diverse community that cherishes this truly unique natural and cultural resource. The various media and styles of work displayed visually captured the essence of what Barton Springs means to the many people who have been touched by these cool waters