Top 6 Museums in Boston, MA
Boston is full of excellent museums. Whether you’re looking for something to do while you’re in town or you live in the city and want to find new ways to explore all it has to offer, you’ll find that Boston is a great destination. The city has lots of excellent museums, which provide the perfect way to spend a morning or afternoon. It’s hard to pinpoint the best museums, partly because Boston is a significant cultural center with a rich history.
Some of the museums, however, are must-see attractions for residents and visitors alike. Our team at Nucar Nissan of Norwood has come up with this list of six of the best museums for you to visit in Boston, whether you love science, art, or history.
Museum of Fine Arts
The Museum of Fine Arts, often referred to as MFA Boston, is one of the city’s most prominent art museums. In fact, MFA is one of the world’s largest art museums by gallery area. Inside, you’ll find over 450,000 art pieces, which over a million visitors view each year. The museum’s collection boasts ancient Egyptian sarcophagi, Dutch paintings, French impressionist art pieces, Japanese ceramics, and an assortment of Native American artwork. Artists featured in the collection include Edgar Degas, Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, and more.
The admission fee for adults is $27, and children ages 7 to 17 pay $10. Children ages 6 and under can enter the museum for free.
Location: 465 Huntington Ave., Boston.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday and Friday.
Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum
If you’ve ever wanted to see what it’s like to be part of American history, the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum will help you get as close as possible to the famous event that changed the course of American history. The tour begins with a meeting with the Sons & Daughters of Liberty, where you’ll hear from Samuel Adams. You can then explore replica ships from the 1700s, enjoy interactive exhibits with live actors, watch a film about the American Revolution, and even throw tea into the sea. The museum also hosts a Tavern Night every other Friday.
Admission to the museum is $31.95 per person. Admission to the tearoom and gift shop are free and offer opportunities for dining and shopping.
Location: 306 Congress St., Boston.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Monday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum has a huge collection of art, and it’s all set within a gorgeous Venetian-style building. The architecture is impressive in its own right. You’ll find plenty of famous artists within these walls, including Botticelli, Titian, and Raphael. Here, you’ll find over 7,500 pieces of art, including decorative objects.
Additionally, the museum also contains thousands of books, manuscripts, and historic objects. The collection includes sculptures, furniture, metal pieces, and much more. Contemporary artists and scholars also have works on display.
While members get into the museum for free, non-member adult admission is $20. Seniors pay $18, and students pay $13. Children under 18 get in for free.
Location: 25 Evans Way, Boston.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Harvard Museum of Natural History
The Harvard Museum of Natural History is a great place to explore for adults, teens, and children. The museum, in operation since 1998, provides the public with insight into Harvard’s work in fields like zoology, geology, and botany. As you view the exhibits, you’ll see that some of the collections began in the 1700s and have grown steadily since. Some of the best locations to visit here include the Glass Flowers collection, the Great Mammal Hall, and the Romer Hall of Vertebrate Paleontology, which features dinosaurs. If you’re interested in gems, the museum also has many beautiful pieces to admire.
Admission to the museum is $15 for adults, though seniors can get a couple of dollars off. Harvard students get in free with one free guest. Other students and children pay $10.
Location: 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge.
Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
Paul Revere House
The oldest building in Downtown Boston is Paul Revere’s house, built in 1680. Today, it’s situated on a narrow, winding road, but the visit is worthwhile. Inside the home, you’ll find artifacts that are hundreds of years old. In fact, some of Paul Revere’s actual furniture is still inside the home. While you visit, you’ll also learn what really happened during Paul Revere’s midnight ride.
The cost of admission to the home is just $6. You can drop in for a self-guided tour and ask staff members any questions you might have. You can move through the home as quickly or as slowly as you’d like.
Location: 19 North Square, Boston.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
Boston Children’s Museum
Since 1913, the Boston Children’s Museum has been a standout in museums designed for little ones. The museum is full of hands-on activities and interactive exhibits. Children can enjoy exhibits focused on art, culture, health, science, and fitness. Of course, teens and adults will also get something out of the exhibits and its 50,000-item collection.
To visit the Boston Children’s Museum, you need to make an online reservation. Admission costs $20. Infants can get in for free.
Location: 308 Congress Street, Boston.
Hours: 9 a.m. to noon and 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.
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