Museums
in Boston, MA

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Did you know that there are approximately 850 million visits to museums every year in America? They contribute $50 billion to the U.S. economy each year. If you think about how marvelous museums are, these numbers make sense. Museums can transport you to old worlds, future worlds, worlds you never thought you could be a part of.

If you’re looking to add some of those unknown worlds to your day, check out our list of museums in the area. They are all within driving distance and offer a variety of topics that will enchant every member of the family.
Beacon Hill
Beacon Hill

(617) 635-3485

Boston, MA
Website

Explore the historic neighborhood of Beacon Hill. This area of town is beautiful, with narrow streets, brick sidewalks lit by gas lights, row houses with beautiful doors and brass knockers, hidden gardens, decorative ironwork throughout, colonial revival homes from the early 20th century and other elements that harken from neighborhoods of the past. Beacon Hill draws plenty of attention for its looks but the neighborhood also offers unique shops and some of the city's best restaurants, along with other businesses and attractions.

Boston Athenaeum
Boston Athenaeum

(617) 227-0270

10 ½ Beacon St
Boston, MA 02108   Directions Website

The Boston Athenaeum has deep roots in the city's history. Founded in 1807, the athenaeum is one of the country's oldest independent libraries and is home to over 600,000 volumes. This renowned cultural institution also boasts an impressive fine art collection. Explore the building's attractions on your own or opt for a 60 minute tour.

Boston Children's Museum
Boston Children's Museum

(617) 426-6500

308 Congress St
Boston, MA 02210   Directions Website

Imagination and education go hand-in-hand at the Boston Children's Museum. The museum is the second oldest children's museum in the nation, housing exhibits that explain science, nature, art, history and more. A few of the engaging exhibitions include Kid Power, Science Playground, Global Gallery, and Countdown to Kindergarten.

Boston Public Library
Boston Public Library

(617) 536-5400

700 Boylston St
Boston, MA 02116   Directions Website

If you're a book lover there's no better way to celebrate that than by visiting the Boston Public Library, the nation's second largest library. This huge library is home to around 6.1 million books, in addition to about 1.7 million rare books and manuscripts that feature records from colonial Boston, early works of William Shakespeare and the personal book collection of John Adams.

Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum
Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum

(617) 338-1773

306 Congress St
Boston, MA 02210   Directions Website

Relive an important and historic moment in American history at the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum. The museum retells the Boston Tea Party event, considered to be one of the major catalysts of the American Revolution. Attractions to see here include replica ships of those involved with the Tea Party, and reenactments of important happenings from before and after the momentous event.

Bunker Hill Monument
Bunker Hill Monument

(617) 242-5601

1 Faneuil Hall Sq
Boston, MA 02129   Directions Website

While in Boston, be sure to visit the Bunker Hill Monument, one of America's oldest standing monuments. This impressive landmark was constructed in the mid 1800s to commemorate the first battle of the American Revolution. The monument is accompanied by an exhibit hall and a museum located across the street.

Georges Island
Georges Island

(617) 223-8666

Boston, MA
Website

Spend some time exploring Georges Island and its main inhabitant Fort Warren. Along with the impressive historic fort, there are several buildings that helped to aid the military, including a granite powder magazine, a searchlight station, a generator building, an electrical communications building and a few other types of structures. This destination offers an inside look at our military's past, and a sweeping view of Boston's beauty.

Gibson House Museum
Gibson House Museum

(617) 267-6338

137 Beacon St
Boston, MA 02116   Directions Website

The Gibson House Museum is a landmark that serves as a perfect example of an early American home. The house was built in Boston's Back Bay neighborhood in 1860 and was home to three generations of the Gibson family. The Victorian-era home is complete with furnishings that echo the time period of its occupation.

Granary Burying Ground
Granary Burying Ground

(617) 635-7361

Boston, MA
Website

Pay your respects to some of the people who helped to build and define our nation at the Granary Burying Ground. Referred to as “the resting place of Boston's most famous sons”, this burial ground is where the bodies of people like John Hancock, Paul Revere, Samuel Adams, and the victims of the Boston Massacre have been interred.

Harvard Museum of Natural History
Harvard Museum of Natural History

(617) 495-3045

26 Oxford St
Cambridge, MA 02138   Directions Website

“Look closer, dig deeper” at the Harvard Museum of Natural History. The museum showcases several exhibits that have to do with natural history, including Arthropods: Creatures that Rule, Fossil Mammals, New England Forests, and Minerals, Gems, & Meteorites. You'll learn so much about the world around us through the fun sights here.

John F. Kennedy Presidential Museum & Library
John F. Kennedy Presidential Museum & Library

(617) 514-1600

Boston, MA
Website

Walk through the John F. Kennedy Presidential Museum & Library and get a closer look at the life and times of America's 35th President. Through touring this monumental library and museum, you'll learn about JFK's presidential campaign, his leadership and administration, his ideas and enthusiasm for politics, and the ideals he held dear. The museum also has features about JFK's captivating wife, Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy, and his famous family, among other attractions.

Minute Man National Historical Park
Minute Man National Historical Park

(978) 369-6993

174 Liberty St
Concord, MA 01742   Directions Website

Watch the opening battle of the American Revolution take place right before your eyes at Minute Man National Historical Park. This hallowed ground is where the war began and where it is relived through reenactments. These demonstrations aren't the only things to do at the park though; explore the visitors center, walk down Battle Road Trail, check out the Hartwell Tavern and The Wayside and other park attractions.

Museum of Fine Arts Boston
Museum of Fine Arts Boston

(617) 267-9300

465 Huntington Ave
Boston, MA 02115   Directions Website

Housing over 450,000 works of art, the Museum of Fine Arts Boston boasts one of the most extensive art collections in the country. The museum is one of the largest in America and features a wide variety of art, including French impressionist and post-impressionist works, 18th and 19th century American art, imperial Chinese art, the largest collection of Japanese art outside of Japan, and much more. A few of the renowned artists with works in the collection include Renoir, Monet, Van Gogh, and Degas.

Museum of Science Boston
Museum of Science Boston

(617) 723-2500

1 Museum Of Science Driveway
Boston, MA 02114   Directions Website

Science comes to life through the exhibits and attractions at the Museum of Science Boston. Throughout the museum, there are over 500 interactive exhibits explaining all kinds of science-related subjects like nature, technology, evolution, the environment, outer space, electricity, and more. While you're there exploring, be sure to check out a presentation at the IMAX or the Charles Hayden Planetarium.

New England Holocaust Memorial
New England Holocaust Memorial

(617) 457-8755

98 Union St
Boston, MA 02129   Directions Website

Reflect on a global tragedy at the New England Holocaust Memorial. The memorial is a testament to the victims of the Holocaust and to those who survived through it. You'll find the memorial in downtown Boston near Faneuil Hall, identified by its unique design. The memorial is comprised of six glass towers, illuminated from the bottom by charred embers. The towers are each named for one of the principal Nazi death camps and are etched with six million numbers to symbolize the Holocaust victims' tattooed numbers and ledgers of the Nazi authority. Since 1995, the New England Holocaust Memorial has presented its visitors with a place to reflect on their freedoms and the importance of human rights.

Old State House
Old State House

(617) 720-1713

206 Washington St
Boston, MA 02109   Directions Website

The Old State House is where The Declaration of Independence was born – the stand for American freedom began here. This important civic building was used as the first state house for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts after the American Revolution was won, and was later utilized as the home for a number of other services like city hall and post office. The Old State House has been a museum dedicated to early Boston and American history since 1881.

Otis House Museum
Otis House Museum

(617) 994-5920

141 Cambridge St
Boston, MA 02114   Directions Website

Step into the opulence of yesteryear and tour the Otis House Museum. The house is the last surviving mansion in what used to be Boston's most affluent neighborhood in the 18th century; the man who owned the home, Harrison Gray Otis, was a lawyer who served in Congress and was mayor of the city at one time. The Otis House is still decorated with furnishings that were the best of their time period, including fine furniture pieces and art work.

The Boston Massacre Society
The Boston Massacre Society

(617) 357-8300

206 Washington St
Boston, MA 02109   Directions Website

Visit a place where an important event took place. The Boston Massacre site is where the legendary conflict between the colonists and British soldiers took place; some would even say that this event was one of the many catalysts to the American Revolution.

The Commonwealth Museum
The Commonwealth Museum

(617) 727-9268

220 Morrissey Blvd
Boston, MA 02125   Directions Website

The history of Massachusetts is explored at The Commonwealth Museum. Exhibits here explore everything that has happened in the state from the Colonial Period to the American Revolution, Civil War and beyond. Important events and people are presented through artifacts and documentation, serving as an effective lesson of American history.

The Museum of African American History
The Museum of African American History

(617) 725-0022

46 Joy St
Boston, MA 02114   Directions Website

Learn about the important contributions made to Boston and our nation by the African American community at The Museum of African American History. This institution offers insight to the struggles, the triumphs and the stories of African Americans from the Colonial Period and throughout the 19th century. Exhibits feature important African American figures like Colin Powell, Barack Obama, and Nelson Mandela, and also showcase art works and artifacts.

The Paul Revere House
The Paul Revere House

(617) 523-2338

19 N Sq
Boston, MA 02113   Directions Website

Step inside the home of an original patriot at The Paul Revere House. The home dates back to the 1680s and is still outfitted as a home back then would be; 90% of the structure is original. Paul Revere lived here during the same time period as his famous “Midnight Ride,” where he warned patriots that the British were coming. Shortly after this infamous night ride, the opening shots of the American Revolution were fired.

The Sports Museum
The Sports Museum

(617) 624-1234

100 Legends Way
Boston, MA 02114   Directions Website

Boston sports history is on display at The Sports Museum, located in the TD Garden arena. As you tour the museum, you'll see features on teams like the Celtics, the Bruins, the Patriots, and the Red Sox. Interesting items featured include a replica of Larry Bird's locker, the ice skates and a performance outfit belonging to Nancy Kerrigan, and memorabilia from when the city's NFL franchise was known as the Boston Redskins.

USS Constitution Museum
USS Constitution Museum

(617) 426-1812

Boston, MA
Website

Explore an important piece of our naval history at the USS Constitution Museum. Interactive galleries, exhibits and attractions tell the story of the undefeated, centuries old USS Constitution. Some exhibits include All Hands on Deck: A Sailor's Life in 1812, and Old Ironsides in War and Peace.

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