On June 6, 1936, the Dallas Museum of Natural History opened to the public as part of the Texas Centennial Exposition.

Following the merger, the museum was in three buildings there, featuring an IMAX-style theater, a planetarium, an extensive exhibit hall, and its own paleontology lab.

The $185,000,000 fundraising goal, slated to provide for the site acquisition, exhibition planning and design, construction of the new building, education programs and an endowment, was achieved by November 2011, more than a year before the museum's scheduled opening in December 2012.

[11] Designed by Thom Mayne of Morphosis Architects, the building was conceived as a large cube floating over a landscaped plinth (or base).

The building also prioritizes sustainability by utilizing LED lighting, off-grid energy generation technology, and solar-powered water heating.

To enhance energy efficiency, the atrium and other spaces within the building benefit from natural sunlight via strategically placed skylights.

[29] The museum creates a Teacher's Guide, which is a booklet and online publication that is distributed to North Texas educators.

Students can explore 11 permanent exhibit halls, experience educational films in their theater, and take advantage of TEKS-aligned onsite classroom or auditorium programming.