So much history occured in Boston, it’s no wonder the city boasts dozens of museums to explore showcasing everything from art to history. Whether your interests lie in history, science, or art, these museums are sure to entertain and educate you. Add these Boston museums to your bucket list:
1. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Whether it’s your first or thirty-first time going to the Museum of Fine Arts, you’re sure to find something beautiful waiting for you. As the fifth largest museum in the country, the MFA is home to more than 450,000 works of art, and there’s plenty of rotating exhibitions on top of that. Check out the recently opened galleries of Dutch and Flemish art for a classic art history experience.
Find it at 465 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115.
2. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
The Gardner Museum is a beautiful sight to behold, both inside and out. The building itself is a fantastic work of architecture, done in the style of a 15th-century Venetian palace. The artworks inside include over 7500 paintings and sculptures by artists as famous as Botticelli and Titian. With plenty of sights and history, the Gardner is a truly impressive location to tour.
Find it at 25 Evans Way, Boston, MA 02115.
3. Museum of Science
The Boston Museum of Science, a learning hotspot for the young and the young at heart, is home to a unique showcase of the power of static electricity. Two pillars topped by luminescent orbs stand in the center of the museum’s Theater of Electricity. The theater hosts a show entitled Lightning!, that shows the power of electricity, and the performance is included in the price of admission for the museum’s Exhibit Halls.
Find it at 1 Museum Of Science Driveway, Boston, MA 02114.
4. Institute of Contemporary Art
The Institute of Contemporary Art, apart from being housed in an impressive building that makes the most of its harborside location, hosts a rotating collection of excellent contemporary art exhibits. On display now is the must-visit collection of Deana Lawson’s iconic photography—some of which are infamously immortalized on contemporary album covers—and the psychedelic sculptures of Raúl de Nieves. Make sure you book your tickets in advance!
Find it at 25 Harbor Shore Dr, Boston, MA 02210.
5. Mary Baker Eddy Library
Located inside the Christian Science Center, the Mary Baker Eddy Library contains a museum featuring the Mapparium – a three-story, stained-glass globe from 1934 that you can walk inside. As you can imagine, it’s absolutely stunning and well-worth the visit!
Find it at 200 Massachusetts Ave, Boston, MA 02115.
6. Museum of African American History
The Museum of African American History is New England’s largest museum dedicated to preserving and conserving Black history. While Boston museums often focus on the city’s 18th and 19th century history, the MAAH centers these historical narratives on the Black men and women of the time.
Find it at 46 Joy St, Boston, MA 02114.
7. USS Constitution Museum
8. The Sports Museum
The Sports Museum is located inside the TD Garden, and it celebrate the storied history of Boston sports team. From the Bruins and Celtics to the Red Sox and Patriots, the Sports Museum has memorabilia from all your favorite teams!
Find it at TD Garden, 100 Legends Way, Boston, MA 02114, United States
9. Harvard Art Museums
The Harvard Art Museums is a three-in-one deal: the Fogg Museums covers Western art from the Middle ages until today, the Busch-Reisinger Museum showcases are from northern and central Europe, and the Arthur M. Sackler Museum features Asian, Islamic, and Indian art. Now housed under one roof, the architecture of the building and the art inside are breathtaking to see.
Find it at 32 Quincy Street, Cambridge, MA 02138.
10. Old State House
Built in 1713, The Old State House is one of the oldest public buildings in the country: it was the site of the Boston Massacre and the first reading of the Declaration of Independence in Boston. Today, you can tour this historic building downtown and learn about Boston’s past in the American Revolution.
Find it at 206 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02109.
11. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
John F. Kennedy, one of Boston’s most famous residents, is the subject of this extensive museum organized by Jackie Kennedy after the president’s assassination. This dramatically designed building houses artifacts and memorabilia from Kennedy’s formative years until his time in the White House.
Find ti at Columbia Point, Boston MA 02125.
12. Boston Athenæum
The Boston Athenæum was founded in 1807, making it one of the oldest libraries in the US. Its rare books collection is sure to interest any book lover, as it includes one of the first printed books ever from the 15th century. They even have an exhibit on beautifully crafted book covers right now!
Find it at 10½ Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108.
This article is written by Vanessa Barron and Ameera Hammouda.