Massachusetts museums and galleries are among the finest in the world

Massachusetts > State > Indoor Activities > Museums and Galleries

Great art and artifacts, sculpture, photographs, machinery and much more spanning millennia of human endeavor are on vivid display throughout Massachusetts in cities and in the mountains. Masterworks of every era and culture are here. Galleries feature the work of living artists, and living history museums offer interpretations and reenactments. The state of Massachusetts has its own museum and there’s the Salem Witch Museum, the New Bedford Whaling Museum, the Indian Motorcycle Museum and many children’s museums. The fabulous Museum of Contemporary Art (Mass MoCA) and the Norman Rockwell Museum chronicle American life and its artists.

Old Sturbridge Village

1 Old Sturbridge Village Road, off Route 20 Sturbridge, MA, 01566 Phone: 508-347-3362 Toll-Free: 800-733-1830

Interpreters bring history alive for visitors to this re-created 1830s village, museum

Old Sturbridge Village is open! Advanced ticketing required is required. Please visit our updated policies & procedures before reserving your visit.

More than 40 original homes and buildings and a host of costumed interpreters help bring the early 19th century alive to modern visitors at Old Sturbridge Village. Fully immerse yourself in the lives of farmers, artisans and homemakers as they demonstrate everything from cooking to printing newspapers to tinsmithing, barrel-making and how to run a cider press, sawmill and grist mill. A working farm lets visitors get up close to animals from sheep and cattle to pigs, chickens and turkeys. There are covered bridges, exhibits on everything from firearms to beekeeping, gorgeous gardens to stroll through, lovely homes and three peaceful nature trails.

Harvard Peabody Museum of Natural History Cambridge MA Crdit Alex Jaffe- Crimson

Harvard Museum of Natural History

26 Oxford Street Cambridge, MA, 02138 Phone: 617-495-3045

Dinosaurs, Glass Flowers, Meteorites – Explorers Welcome!

One of the four Harvard Museums of Science & Culture, this museum displays some 11,000 specimens drawn from Harvard’s vast collections, including the Blaschka Glass Flowers, Sea Creatures in Glass, huge whale skeletons, hundreds of mammals, birds, and the world’s only mounted skeleton of the 42 foot-long Kronosaurus. Explore a timeline of Earth’s history, and see 3,000 rare minerals and gemstones. New and changing multi-media exhibitions showcase cutting-edge research. The museum is an easy 8-minute walk across Harvard’s historic campus from Harvard Square’s popular shops, restaurants and MBTA station. The museum is connected to Harvard’s Peabody Museum, and one admission fee covers both museums.

Harvard Semitic Museum

6 Divinity Avenue Cambridge, MA, 02138 Phone: 617-495-4631

Museum’s thousands of artifacts illuminate the culture of the Near East

Founded in 1889, the Harvard Semitic Museum explores the rich history of cultures connected by the family of Semitic languages. Its more than 40,000 artifacts, including pottery, sculpture, coins and cuneiform tablets, come primarily from Harvard-sponsored excavations in Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Syria and Tunisia. Exhibits range from a full-scale replica of an ancient Israelite home to a full-scale reproduction of an Egyptian throne from 2550 BC and a resin cast of the Dream Stela, found between the paws of the Great Sphinx. Lecture topics at the free museum, one of the Harvard Museums of Science & Culture, include photographing King Tut and old and new discoveries about the Nubian kings and queens of Kush.

American Heritage Museum

568 Main Street Hudson, MA, 01749 Phone: 978-562-9182

Interact with the nation’s heritage and military past at this stunning museum

The museum is now open! Wednesdays-Sundays from 10am-5pm. Advance ticketing is preferred - Please call or visit our website.

Explore America’s conflicts, from the Revolution to the War on Terror, at the immersive American Heritage Museum, where visitors walk through expertly detailed dioramas and exhibits that feature the vehicles and equipment to key to the nation’s fight to preserve freedom through the years. There’s a Ford Model T ambulance in the World War I trench exhibit, a Higgins Boat landing craft in the D-Day exhibit, a Sherman jumbo tank in the Battle of the Bulge diorama, a piece of the Berlin Wall in the exhibit marking the Cold War. The museum also hosts living-history events, including tank demonstration days and World War II re-enactments, and features a 9/11 video exhibit recounting the effort to intercept one of the hijacked planes.

Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology

At Harvard University - 11 Divinity Avenue Cambridge, MA, 02138 Phone: 617-496-1027

Experience the World in One Museum

Explore towering Native American totem poles, large Maya sculptures, and artifacts of the ancient world at Harvard’s anthropology museum. Ambient sound, motion, and historic and contemporary Plains art animate nineteenth century Lakota drawings from a warrior’s ledger collected at the Little Bighorn battlefield. Discover the native cultures of Latin America before and after 1492, when the first voyage of Christopher Columbus initiated dramatic worldwide changes. Explore the enduring importance of rivers and canoes in Penobscot tribal life and on relationships between the tribe and non-Indians. See how students lived at colonial Harvard, and the role of the 17th-century Indian College in Harvard’s early years. Trace the history of early anthropology through the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair and more in the museum’s 150th anniversary exhibition. Admission to the connected Harvard Museum of Natural History and its famed Glass Flowers is included. Open daily 9:00 AM–5:00 PM.

Pilgrim Hall Museum

75 Court Street Plymouth, MA, 02360 Phone: 508-746-1620

Remarkable historical artifacts from the age of the Pilgrims

A museum of extraordinary historical value, Pilgrim Hall’s mission is to protect, foster, and teach America’s important heritage. Built in 1824 in the center of Plymouth, this is the nation’s oldest continuously operating public museum. Long before the Pilgrims, however, this land belonged to the Wampanoag peoples for more than 10,000 years and the story of their relationship with colonial peoples is here. You’ll see a remarkable collection of Pilgrim possessions, paintings and artifacts. William Bradford’s Bible is here, as is Myles Standish’s sword and the earliest sampler made in America, embroidered by his teenage daughter. You’ll find also the only portrait painted from life of a Pilgrim and the cradle that was made for New England’s very first–born.

Worcester Art Museum

55 Salisbury Street Worcester, MA, 01609 Phone: 508-799-4406

Museum noted for vast, varied collections and, now, new ways of viewing art

Since it first opened its doors in1896, the Worcester Art Museum has been amazing visitors with its vast collections, now encompassing 38,000 objects from around the globe and from ancient to modern times. With newly imagined ways of presenting art and engaging visitors, the museum continues to delight, from newly reinstalled medieval galleries with an expanded arms and armor collection to modern ways of looking at Old Masters. Visitors can contribute “alternative labels” to different works via iPads, create their own art on community days or just stroll through galleries featuring the contributions of Paul Revere and stunning Japanese folding screens. Upcoming exhibit topics range from kimonos to the history of stolen art to baseball jerseys.

Gabrielle Thierry Painting 500x250 - Cantor Art Gallery - Worcester, MA

Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Art Gallery

College of the Holy Cross - 1 College Street Worcester, MA, 01610 Phone: 508-793-3356

Artwork that educates and inspires

The Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Art Gallery promotes the intellectual and cultural life of the College of the Holy Cross and greater community by exploring the fundamental intellectual, cultural, spiritual and aesthetic issues encountered through the visual arts.
Throughout the academic year the gallery presents a series of exhibitions, which vary from historically significant themes to works by contemporary artists. Serving as a center for social activity, the gallery sponsors a lively schedule of receptions, guest lectures, readings, and students’ presentations. The Cantor Gallery is Free and open to the public. Current exhibition information and hours of operation can be found on the gallery’s website.

Salem Witch Museum

19 Washington Square North Salem, MA Phone: 978-744-1692

The story has been told in books, films, and on the stage: in a short period during 1692 and 1693, the puritanical town of Salem tried and executed 20 people for the crime of witchcraft. The Salem Witch Museum in Washington Square tells the story through exhibits and live performance. Haunted Happenings, in October, is a giant witchcraft and Halloween festival.

Springfield Museums & Dr Seuss Nat’l Memorial Sculpture Garden

21 Edwards Street Springfield, MA, 01103 Phone: 413-263-6800

The Springfield Museums consists of five institutions at one location: the D'Amour Museum of Fine Arts, the Smith Art Museum, the Springfield Science Museum, the Connecticut Valley Historical Museum and the Museum of Springfield History. In addition, the property includes the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden, with life-size statues of Springfield native Dr. Seuss and his favorite characters including Horton, the Grinch and the Lorax.
IN the five art, science and historical museums, guests can find Samurai armor and weaponry; an internationally-acclaimed collection of Oriental bronze, jade and porcelain; intricate Middle Eastern rugs; fine American and European paintings and sculpture; a savannah of animals in the R.E. Phelon African Hall; Dinosaur Hall with its towering Tyrannosaurus Rex; Astronomy Hall complete with a planetarium; and exhibits about Connecticut River Valley history. Curriculum-based tours and programs are available.

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Heritage Museums & Gardens

67 Grove Street Sandwich, MA, 02563 Phone: 508-888-3300

Located on 100 acres of gardens and nature trails.

Heritage Museums & Gardens celebrates American culture amid gorgeous gardens of spectacular rhododendron and azalea bushes. Three gallery buildings house beautifully restored automobiles, a notable collection of American folk art, historical artifacts, a colorful vintage carousel that has been delighting children (and adults) for years, and a wide variety of special exhibitions. Hidden Hollow, an interactive family-friendly area, allows for exploration of the natural world and learning about the environment. Open April through October.

Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute "The Clark"

225 South Street Williamstown, MA Phone:

The marvelous Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute – commonly known as “the Clark,” in Williamstown harbors a rich collection of French Impressionist and Academic paintings, British oil sketches, drawings, and silver, and the work of American artists Winslow Homer, George Inness, and John Singer Sargent. The imposing 1950s building was enlarged in a 2014 expansion, designed by the prize-winning architect Tadao Ando. This beloved museum hosts many public events involving art, music, and theater, especially in the summer.

New Bedford Whaling Museum

18 Johnny Cake Hill New Bedford, MA, 02740 Phone: 508-997-0046

The New Bedford Whaling Museum houses the world's most comprehensive collection of whaling and maritime artifacts. Climb aboard the world's largest ship model, the 89-foot bark Lagoda, and view the 66-foot skeleton of a rare blue whale.
Hours: October-April, Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; May-September, daily, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; open holiday Mondays; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.
Admission: General, $14; seniors, $12; students, $9; children, $6.

Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum

1 High Pole Hill Road Provincetown, MA Phone: 508-487-1310

The Pilgrim Monument, a granite obelisk dedicated in 1910, is adjacent to the Provincetown Museum on a hill above the town. The Provincetown Museum describes the arrival of the Mayflower Pilgrims, the town’s maritime history, the early days of American theater in Provincetown. See a reproduction of a sea captain’s home and his quarters at sea. Last Monument climb is 30 minutes before closing. Hours: Open May through October, daily, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Historic walking tours offered Wednesday mornings, July through September. Admission: Adults, $12; seniors, $10; children age 4-12; free admission Wednesdays 5-7 p.m.

Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield MA-credit-Explore Western Mass and Greater Springfield CVB

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

1000 Hall of Fame Avenue Springfield, MA Phone: 877-446-6752

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is home to more than 300 inductees and more than 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Hundreds of interactive exhibits share the spotlight with skills challenges, live clinics, and shooting contests. Basketball fans will find exhibits, interactive kiosks, memorabilia, and hands-on activities. Children and adults can spend the day in the 80,000-square-foot facility shooting baskets on a regulation court, measuring their skills against sports legends in an interactive game. Kids are invited to coaches’ clinics on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Hours vary by season

USS Constitution Museum

24 Fifth Street at the Charlestown Navy Yard Charlestown, MA, 02129 Phone: 617-426-1812

The USS Constitution Museum serves as the memory and educational voice of USS Constitution, "Old Ironsides," the world's oldest commissioned warship afloat. The museum houses the ship's logs, weapons, charts, journals, arts, and more. Visitors fire a cannon, swing in a hammock, or command the USS Constitution in battle using a computer.
Hours: November 1-March 31, daily, Thursday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; April 1-October 31, daily, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Admission: Adults, $5; seniors, $3; children, $2.

Mass MoCA (Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art )

87 Marshall Street North Adams, MA Phone: 413-662-2111

Since opening in 1999, MASS MoCA has become one of the world's premier centers for making and showing contemporary art. MASS MoCA exhibits work by many of the most important artists of today, focusing on large-scale and complex installations that are impossible to realize in conventional museums. MASS MoCA hosts more than 75 performances year-round, including popular music, contemporary dance, alternative cabaret, world music dance parties, outdoor silent films with live music, documentaries, and avant-garde theater.
Hours: September-June 25, daily except Tuesdays, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.; June-September, daily, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Admission: Adults $15; Students $10; Children age 6-16 $4

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JFK Presidential Library and Museum

220 Morrissey Blvd. Boston, MA Phone: 617-514-1600

The Library and Museum are dedicated to the memory of President Kennedy. They portray the life, leadership, and legacy of President Kennedy through multi-media methods. The buildings are on a ten-acre park overlooking Boston harbor and the region where Kennedy grew up and began his legendary career.
Hours: Year-round, daily, except major holidays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Admission: Adults, $14; seniors over age 61 and college students, $12; youth age and U.S. armed forces veterans, 13-17 $10

Museum of Fine Arts

465 Huntington Avenue Boston, MA Phone: 617-267-9300

Opened on July 4, 1876, the date of the country’s nation's centennial, the Museum of Fine Arts has undergone significant changes. Today the museum’s collections include 500,000 works of art from ancient to contemporary times. The museum takes special pride in its Art of the Americas Wing. Take a preview of some of the galleries.

new bedford whaling national historical park

New Bedford Whaling National Historic Park

33 William Street New Bedford, MA Phone: 508-996-4095

Covering 13 city blocks, a Visitor Center and many other buildings in downtown New Bedford, this park, operated by the National Park Service, preserves the history of 19th-20th century whaling industry, which had its epicenter in this old seafaring town. The park also tells stories of global immigration, Underground Railroad, women’s history, cultural diversity, architecture, and art. Here, you can see scenes like the Seamen’s Bethel, places depicted in Herman Melville’s classic novel “Moby-Dick.”
Hours: April 1 to December 31, daily, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; January 1 to March 31, closed Mondays and Tuesdays

Museum Of Science

1 Science Park Boston, MA Phone: 617-723-2500

The museum includes that fabulous Charles Hayden Planetarium, the most technologically advanced digital theater in New England, presenting a rotating series of shows about the cosmos. Permanent exhibits include A Bird’s World, Bradford Washburn: The Man Behind the Lens; butterfly Garden; Catching the Wind; Colossal Fossil; Triceratops Cliff; Cosmic Light, Dinosaurs: Modeling the Mesozoic; Discovery Center; Hall of Human Life; Math Moves!; Mathematica; Nanotechnology; Natural Mysteries; Science in the Park; Seeing is Deceiving; The Light House; the Rock Garden; To the Moon; Transportation, and more.

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

25 Evans Way Boston, MA Phone: 617-566-1401

Modeled after a Venetian palazzo, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum opened in 1903, largely presenting the collections of Gardner, an avid traveler of the Victorian era and patron of the arts. The museum is located next to the Emerald Necklace of parks designed by Frederick Law Olmstead. In fact, much of the museum is devoted to botanical imagery and gardens, including within the magnificent Courtyard. The collection includes 7500 paintings, sculptures, furniture, textiles, silver, ceramics, rare books, and objects from ancient Rome, Medieval Europe, Renaissance Italy, Asia, and the Islamic world. The museum is unfortunately famous for a theft in 1990 – yet unsolved -- of several artworks. Virtual tour of the galleries.

Museum of African American History, Boston campus

46 Joy Street, Beacon Hill Boston, MA, 02114 Phone: 617-725-0022

The African Meeting House and Abiel Smith School on Beacon Hill, both built in the early 1800s, are in what once was the heart of Boston's 19th-century African American community. The buildings remain a showcase of black community organization and black craftsmanship. Once a church, a school, and a meeting place, the African Meeting House is open to the public. The Abiel Smith School, the nation's first public school for African American children, houses a first-class exhibit space and the museum store.
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Admission: Adults, $5; children age 12 and younger, free; seniors and youth age 13-17, $3.

Museum of African American History, Nantucket campus

29 York Street Nantucket, MA, 02554 Phone: 508-228-9833

The Museum of Afro-American History on Nantucket features two historic sites, the African Meeting House and the Florence Higginbotham House. These buildings were at the center of a thriving nineteenth-century African American community on the island. The Museum presents cultural programs and interpretive exhibits on the history of African Americans on Nantucket.
Hours: July to October, Monday to Friday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; Sunday, 1-3 p.m. Other months by appointment
Admission: Adults, $5; seniors, 43; children age 13-17, $3; children younger than 12, free.

The Museum of the National Center of Afro American Artists

300 Walnut Avenue Boston, MA, 02119 Phone: 617-442-8614

A total focus the art of Afro-Americans, including exhibits, tours, lectures, films, and concerts.
Hours: Tuesday through Sunday,1-5 p.m. ; Admission: Adults, $4; seniors and students, $3.

Historic Deerfield

88 Old Main Street Deerfield, MA, 01342 Phone: 413-775-7214

Located in western Massachusetts off Routes 5 and 10 in the 330-year old village of Deerfield, the museum has been called the gem of rural New England. It includes 12 houses dating to the 18th and 19th centuries and three exhibition galleries at the Flynt Center of Early New England Life. Guided and self-guided tours are offered. A full calendar of programs, special events, and village walking tours are offered throughout the year. The Museum Store and Bookshop feature gifts, museum reproductions and books about early America and the decorative arts.
Hours: Open Daily, year round; hours vary by season. Call ahead or consult website.
Admission: Adults, $12; youth age 6-17, $5.

Witch Dungeon Museum

16 Lynde Street Salem, MA, 01970 Phone: 978-741-3570

This museum features a tour of the dungeon where those accused of witchcraft were held. Reenactment of the trial is also part of the exhibits.
Hours: April-November, daily; last performance starts at 5 p.m.
Admission: Adults, $8; children age 4-13, $6; seniors over age 64, $7.

Thornton W. Burgess Museum

4 Water Street (Route 130) Sandwich, MA, 02563 Phone: 508-888-4668

The author of the Peter Rabbit stories lived in this home and did much of his work here. The museum features a variety of memorabilia relating to the life and times of Thornton Burgess. Visitors can browse a variety of books, toys, games, and household goods that feature some of Burgess’ most famous characters including Peter Rabbit, Reddy Fox, and Jimmy Skunk. Also housed in the museum are a gift shop, featuring Green Briar Jam Kitchen products, educational toys and games, storybooks, and Cape Cod goodies.
Hours: June 4-October 13, Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.; closed on Sunday Admission: Donation

Indian Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame

33 Hendee Street Springfield, MA, 01104 Phone: 413-737-2624

The Indian Motorcycle Museum chronicles the history of American Indian motorcycles, the beautiful, vintage predecessors to the two-wheeled vehicles we know today. Set in the former Indian Motorcycle factory, the museum features such attractions as the world's first motorcycle (made of wood), the only remaining water-cooled aircraft engine, a folding motorcycle designed to give paratroopers a quick transportation option upon landing, and much more. The museum resides in the heart of town, near Blunt Park.
Hours: Daily, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. ; Admission: Adults, $3; children, $1.

Concord Museum

Cambridge Turnpike at Lexington Road Concord, MA, 01742 Phone: 978-369-9763

Exploring historic Concord? Begin at the Concord Museum!

For a small town, Concord has a big history. From the “shot heard round the world” to the writers of the American literary renaissance, things have happened here, words have been spoken here and books have been written here which changed the face of a nation. Over time, Concord has become a symbol of liberty and intellectual freedom. And nowhere is that important heritage captured more dramatically than at the Concord Museum. An inspiring collection of American treasures includes the 1775 “one, if by land, two, if by sea” Revere lantern, Thoreau’s Walden desk and Emerson’s Study. Linger in engaging history galleries, enjoy the beauty of Concord antiques, and create your own memories with family-friendly activities. Open daily year round.

Highland House Museum

27 Highland Road Truro, MA, 02666 Phone: 508-487-3397

The Highland House Museum is located in the former Highland House, a hotel built on the Highlands in 1907. Also near the Highland Lighthouse in North Truro, it is a classic example of a turn-of-the-century summer resort hotel. The museum displays artifacts and information about early European settlers and the Native Americans that preceded them.
Hours: June 1 to September 30, Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

New Bedford Fire Museum

868 Pleasant Street - New Bedford New Bedford, MA, 02740 Phone: 508-991-6124

Restored fire trucks and interactive exhibits highlight this museum of firefighting, firefighters and their tools. Hours: Call ahead for visiting hours.

Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum

10 Willow Creek Road Lenox, MA, 01240 Phone: 413-637-2210

Restored 1902 depot with railroading exhibits and model train displays; Berkshire Cottages exhibit in vintage railroad coach. On summer weekends and holidays the museum offers two 90-minute round trip excursions from Lenox Station to Stockbridge and a 45-minute round trip excursion from Lenox Station to Lee narrated by a uniformed conductor.

Chatham Railroad Museum

Depot Road Chatham, MA, 02633 Phone:

Paradise for railroad enthusiasts features thousands of train models, restored train depots, railroad artifacts and a 1910 caboose.
Hours: Second and fourth Sundays of the month, 2-4 p.m., except holidays. ; Admission: Free.

Crane Museum of Papermaking

30 South Street Dalton, MA, 01226 Phone: 413-664-2538 Toll-Free: 800-268-2281

Situated in Crane's historic 1845 old stone mill. Exhibits and displays of nearly 200 years of papermaking in Dalton.
Hours: June through mid-October, Monday through Friday, 1-5 p.m.. To schedule a group tour, call 413-684-7780.
Admission: Free.

Orleans Historical Society and Museum

3 River Road Orleans, MA, 02653 Phone: 508-240-1329

This Greek Revival structure is on the National Register of Historic Places. The building is used for special exhibits and cultural programs. The Society has a collection covering genealogical information, diaries, deeds, 19th- and 20th-century photos, artwork by local artists, about Orleans families and people, ships' logs, Native American artifacts, and other items relating to the history of Orleans. Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-noon or by appointment. Admission free, suggested donation.

National Heritage Museum

33 Marrett Road, Route 2A Lexington, MA, 02421 Phone: 781-861-6559

American history exhibits; films, shows, and concerts; permanent exhibit on freemasonry and the American Revolution. Hours: Wednesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. ; Admission: free.

Hammond Castle Museum

80 Hesperus Avenue Gloucester, MA, 01930 Phone: 978-283-2080

John Hays Hammond, Jr. built his medieval-style castle between the years 1926 and 1929 to serve both as his home and as a backdrop for his collection of Roman, medieval, and Renaissance artifacts. Visitors to Hammond Castle Museum may explore the castle on a self-guided tour of eight rooms including the great hall, indoor courtyard, Renaissance dining room, two guest bedrooms, the inventions exhibit room, and the tower galleries. Visitors may also enjoy the beauty of the castle grounds and a view of the Atlantic shore line.
Hours: Open April-October; call ahead for hours.
Admission: Adults, $10; seniors over age 64, $9; children age 6-12, $8.

Nantucket Whaling Museum

13 Broad Street Nantucket, MA, 02554 Phone: 508-228-1894

The museum features a 46-foot sperm whale skeleton, a restored 1847 spermaceti candle factory, exhibition space, and an observation deck. The candle factory, built following Nantucket’s Great Fire in 1846, still has its original whale-oil beam press. Visitors can learn about the whale hunt and see the whale skeleton, a rigged whaleboat, a collection of whaling tools, and portraits of whaling captains. Other galleries include scrimshaw, lightship baskets, an 1850 Fresnel lens, and the 1881 town clock. Children’s activities allow lots of hands-on exploration and fun. Concerts of traditional music take place all summer.
Hours: April 30–October 8, daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; October 9–December 23, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Admission: Adult, $17; seniors (over age 64), $15; students, $15; youth (age 6-17), $8.

Lowell Heritage State Park

160 Pawtucket Blvd Lowell, MA Phone: 978-458-8750

Park describes the history of this industrial city; also boating, fishing, and walking along esplanade

This state historical park describes the life and history of Lowell’s 19th-centry textile mills and the generations of immigrant workers that passed through their doors. The site includes a network of canals that furnished power to the textile mills along the water and a 2-mile esplanade along the Merrimack River.

Busch-Reisinger Museum

32 Quincy Street Cambridge, MA, 02138 Phone: 617-495-9400

Collections of art from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and related cultures. Major holdings of Austrian Secession art, German expressionism, 1920s abstraction, and Bauhaus archives. Post-war and contemporary art from German-speaking Europe including work by Joseph Beuys. Of particular interest is the lovely sculpture garden.
Hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Admission: Admission: Adults, $9; seniors 65 and older, $7; college students, $6; children under age 18, free.

Larz Anderson Auto Museum

15 Newton Street Brookline, MA, 02445 Phone: 617-522-6547

The Larz Anderson Auto Museum is home to America’s oldest car collection. For over 75 years the Larz Anderson Auto Museum has been supporting the community through a variety of educational programs, exhibits, and lectures. Hours: Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m
Admission: Adults, $10; military people, seniors, students, and children age 6-12, $5.

Aptucxet Trading Post Museum

24 Aptucxet Road Bourne, MA, 02532 Phone: 508-759-9487

This museum is set in a replica of a 17th century trading post. Exhibits feature a windmill, gardens and artifacts from the period. Open seasonally. There is an admission fee.This museum is set in a replica of a 17th century trading post. Exhibits feature a windmill, gardens and artifacts from the period. Open seasonally. There is an admission fee.

Nantucket Life Saving Museum

Polpis Road Nantucket, MA, 02554 Phone: 508-228-1885

This museum is the re-creation of the 1874 life guard station originally at this site.
Hours: Late May to Columbus Day, daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Admission: Adults, $5; youth age 5-18, $3.

Commonwealth Museum

220 Morrissey Boulevard, Columbia Point Boston, MA, 02125 Phone: 617-727-9268

The entire state of Massachusetts is on display: Places around the state, famous people who were born or have resided in the state, in addition to its politics and special role in America's history.
Hours: Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.-4:45 p.m. ; Admission: Free.

Norman Rockwell Museum

9 Glendale Road (Route 183) Stockbridge, MA, 01262 Phone: 413-298-4100

Largest collection of original work by Norman Rockwell, the quintessential American illustrator famous for his "Saturday Evening Post" covers. Artist's studio; exhibitions of Rockwell's work, his contemporaries, and modern illustrators.
Hours: May-November 11 and holidays, daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Thursdays until 7 p.m. in July and August; November 12-May, weekdays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; weekends and holidays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Admission: Adults, $16; seniors 65 and older, $14.50; college students, $10; youth ages 6-18, $5.

Hull Lifesaving Museum

1117 Nantasket Avenue Hull, MA, 02045 Phone: 617-925-5433

Nineteenth-century Life Saving Station facing Boston Light; working rescue apparatus; exhibits, shipwreck lore, and kid's loft.
Hours: Year-round, Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.; July-October, also open weekends, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. ; Additional hours and guided tours available by appointment
Admission: Adults, $5; seniors, $3; children 18 and younger, free.

Smith College Museum of Art

Elm Street at Bedford Terace Northampton, MA, 01063 Phone: 413-585-2760

More than 25,000 art objects from a variety of cultures from 2500 B.C. to present. Special exhibitions. Internationally known for collection of 19th- and 20th- century European and American art.
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday, noon-4 p.m.; Second Fridays, 10 a.m.– 8 p.m. (4-8 p.m., free admission.
Admission: Adults, $5; seniors 65 and older, $4; students 13 and older, $3; youth age 6–12, $2.

Cape Cod Museum of Art

60 Hope Lane Dennis, MA, 02638 Phone: 508-385-4477

Paintings, graphics, and sculpture by Cape Cod artists. Sculpture garden.
Hours: Wednesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, noon-5 p.m.
Admission: Adults. $9; seniors age 62 and older, $8; youth age 13-18, $5.

John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum

397 Main Street Hyannis, MA, 02601 Phone: 508-790-3077

This museum focuses on Kennedy's life and activities during the times he vacationed in Hyannis.
Hours: Mid-April through Memorial Day, Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday, noon-4 p.m.; Memorial Day through October 31, Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. and Sunday, noon-5 p.m.; November, Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday, noon-4 p.m.; closed December and January; mid-February through March 31, Thursday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday, noon-4 p.m.
Admission: Adults age 18 and older, $8; children age 10-17, $3; seniors over age 65, $4.

Longyear Museum and Historical Society

1125 Boylston Street (Route 9) Chestnut Hill, MA, 02467 Phone: 617-278-9000

Exhibits focus on the life of Mary Baker Eddy, founder of the Christian Science Church.
Hours: Monday, Thursday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Admission: Free.

Fogg Art Museum

32 Quincy Street Cambridge, MA, 02138 Phone: 617- 495-9400

Collections illustrate the history of Western art from Middle Ages to the present with major focus on Italian early Renaissance, British pre-Raphaelite, and 19th-century French art. Major collection of Impressionist and post-impressionist work and works by Picasso. Hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Admission: Adults, $9; seniors age 6 and older, $7; college students, $6.

Wenham Museum

132 Main Street Wenham, MA, 01984 Phone: 978-468-2377

Museum of social history from 175h century to present. Claflin-Richard House (c. 1690); world-renowned doll collection, dollhouse, costumers, model trains, toys. Conant photography collection, family discovery, and changing exhibits.
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; closed Mondays and major holidays ; Admission: Adults,$8; children ages 1- 18, $6.

Bartlett Museum

270 Main Street Amesbury, MA, 01913 Phone: 978-388-4528

Museum features collections of horse-drawn carriages and Native American artifacts.
Hours: Memorial Day to Labor Day, Friday and Sunday, 1-4 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.; other times by appointment Admission is free.

Boston Children's Museum

The museum’s interactive exhibits focus on early childhood development and have three themes: arts, culture, and science. Exhibits that encourage children to have fun while they learn are extensive, including the New Balance Climb, a climbing maze made up of brightly painted towers and tubes; Science Playground, a series of sensational physical science exhibits; Hall of Toys, filled with intricate dollhouses, and much more.

Sandwich Glass Museum

129 Main Street Sandwich, MA, 02563 Phone: 508-888-0251

Sandwich was home to a glass factory throughout much of the 19th century. This museum features exhibits of glassware made from 1825 to 1888.
Hours: Summer hours, April 1-December 30, daily, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; Winter hours, closed in January; hours in February and March are Wednesday-Sunday, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Admission: Adults, $6; kids age 6-14, $1.25.

Milton Art Museum

900 Randolph Street Canton, MA Phone: 781-821-2222

The Asian Collection includes examples of original art and artifacts, prints, sculptures and craftsmanship from the Asian cultures. Thai Headdresses, Bhuddahs, Furniture, Sume-i painting, Chinese and Japanese Calligraphy are on permanent display. The Western collection includes Remington and Russell cast bronzes, and American and European etchings and lithographs spanning from 18th to the 20th century. On exhibit are Piranesi, Turner, Renoir, Picasso, Chagall, Manet, Cezanne, Kollwitz, Whistler, Signac and Baskin to name a few. The modern art collection of signed prints include Warhol, Dali, Margritte, Komjate, Miro, Motherwell, Hundertwasser, Lebadang, and Calder.
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-noon. ; Admission: Free.

New England Quilt Museum

18 Shattuck Street Lowell, MA, 01852 Phone: 978-452-4207

The New England Quilt Museum presents, interprets, and celebrates American quilting past and present.
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; May-October also open Sundays, noon-4 p.m.
Admission: Adults, $7; seniors and students, $5; children under age 6, free.

Custom House Maritime Museum

25 Water Street Newburyport, MA, 01950 Phone: 978-462-8681

Follow the history of maritime Massachusetts through the exhibits at this museum.
Hours: May 15 to December 21, Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday & holiday Mondays, noon to 4 p.m.; January 1 to May 15, Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 4 p.m.
Admission: Adults, $7; seniors and students, $5

Martha’s Vineyard Museum

151 Lagoon Pond Road Vineyard Haven, MA Phone:

The museum includes 30,000 items like tools, archaeological material, paintings, prints and sculpture, baskets, coins, costumes, decoys, hunting and fishing and shell fishing tools, guns and swords, furniture and household equipment, medical and scientific tools and equipment, musical instruments, fossils, maritime tools, scrimshaw, ship models, Wampanoag tools, woodworking tools, toys, a whaleboat, wagon, sleigh, fire engine and an 1854 Fresnel Lens used in the Gay Head Aquinnah lighthouse.
Hours: Tuesdays-Sundays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; closed major holidays. Last admission tickets are sold one half hour before scheduled closing time.
Admission: Adults, $12; age 17 and younger, free.

French Cable Station Museum

41 South Orleans Road Orleans, MA, 02653 Phone: 508-240-1735

One of the most significant developments of the 19th century was the transatlantic cable connecting North America to Europe by telephone. This museum houses the original equipment used to lay that cable.
Hours: July and August, Thursday through Sunday, 1-4 p.m.; June and September, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 1-4 p.m. ; Admission: Free; donations welcome.

Cahoon Museum of American Art

4676 Falmouth Road Cotuit, MA, 02635 Phone: 508-428-7581

Colonial farmhouse from 1775; primitive paintings by Ralph and Martha Cahoon; 19th- and early 20th- century American art; changing exhibits.
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday, 1-4 p.m. closed January.
Admission: General, $8; seniors, $7; students, $6; children under age 12, free.

Cape Cod Children's Museum

577 Great Neck Road Mashpee, MA, 02659 Phone: 508-539-8788

Children will find much to learn and do here. Hands-on exhibits, pirate ship, indoor planetarium; puppet theater, toddler play area, and daily programs.
Hours: Tuesday–Thursday, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sunday, noon–5 p.m.
Admission: Up to age 59, $7; seniors age 60 and older, $6.

Peabody Essex Museum

East India Square, 161 Essex Street Salem, MA Phone: 978-745-9500

The Peabody Essex Museum collection presents works from the 1700s to today: paintings, sculptures, photographs, drawings, textiles, architecture and decorative objects, include African, American, Asian, maritime, Native American and Oceanic art. Many interesting changing exhibits. Wonderful gift shop. A large, light-filled atrium is a place to sit, eat lunch, watch a performance.
Admission: Adults, $20; seniors over age 64, $18, students, $12; youth age 16 and younger and Salem residents, free
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 10 am-5 pm.

Institute of Contemporary Art

100 Northern Ave. Boston, MA, 02210 Phone: 617-478-3101

The Institute of Contemporary Art unveiled its new home on Fan Pier on Boston's waterfront in December 2006. The building's dramatic cantilevered design integrates the city's HarborWalk into the museum and offers shifting views of the harbor. The design weaves together interior and exterior space, producing shifting perspectives of the waterfront throughout the museum's galleries and public spaces.
Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. with free admission on Thursdays from 5-9 p.m.
Admission: Adults, $15; seniors, $13; students, $10.

Whistler House Museum of Art

243 Worthen Street Lowell, MA, 01852 Phone: 978-452-7641

The birthplace of James Abbott McNeil Whistler. Exhibits of Whistler's and others' artwork.
Hours: Wednesday-Saturrfday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Admission: $5; seniors and students, $4.

Hadley Farm Museum

208 Middle Street Hadley, MA, 01035 Phone: 413-586-1160

Early New England farm equipment in restored 1782 barn: blacksmith tools, ox cart, stage coach, plows, early domestic appliances.
Hours: May-October, Saturday and Sunday, 2-4 p.m. or by appointment.
Admission: Adults, $5; students and seniors, $3; children under 12, $1.

Cottage Museum

1 Trinity Park Oak Bluffs, on Martha's Vineyard, MA, 02557 Phone: 508-693-0525

Thirty-five acres of brightly painted cottage dating back to mid 1800s; tour a gingerbread home; performances at the tabernacle. Visitors to the Cottage Museum can view the interior of a typical Campground cottage, complete with period furnishings of the 1800s. Also on display are vintage photographs and other documents relating to the history of the Campground.
Hours: Summer months, Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday, 1-4 p.m.
Admission: Adults, $2; children age 3-12, 50 cents.

Salem Wax Museum of Witches and Seafarers

288 Derby Street Salem, MA Phone: 978-740-2929

This gallery-type museum has 50 wax figures in scenes that show Salem's history from its founding in 1626 through to the witch trials 1692 and into it period of global commerce in the 18th century. In the Interactive area, you can learn to tie knots like a sailor, create a gravestone rubbing, or feel what it’s like to be locked up in a life-size re-created jail cell. Other offerings are a guided tour called The Salem Witch Village, and Frankenstein’s castle. Hours vary by season.

Children's Museum in Easton

The Old Fire Station, 9 Sullivan Avenue North Easton, MA, 02356 Phone: 508-230-3789

Located in the historic Old Fire Station in North Easton, the Children's Museum of Easton offers hands-on experience to stimulate curiosity and motivate learning. Three floors of interactive exhibits and over 100 programs allow kids to explore the world around them. Primarily for children age 1 to 8.
Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, noon-5 p.m.; closed most Mondays; call ahead for holidays or school vacation hours
Admission: $7.50 per person; children under 1 admitted for free.

Essex Shipbuilding Museum

66 Main Street Essex, MA Phone: 978-768-7541

The Essex Shipbuilding Museum tells the story of a New England village that built more two-masted wooden fishing schooners than any other place in the world. Visitors to the museum will see shipbuilding tools, photographs, exhibits about the shipbuilding industry, and the schooner Evelina M. Goulart. Guided and self-guided tours are offered. A gift shop offers ship plans, maritime books, T-shirts, toys, CDs, and maritime memorabilia.
Hours: Summer: June-October, Wednesdays- Sundays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; after mid-October, open weekends, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Admission: Guided Tour, $5-$10, depending on age; self-guided tour with Shipyard Map, $7.

Mount Holyoke College Art Museum

Lower Lake Road South Hadley, MA, 01075 Phone: 413-538-2245

Beautifully exhibited and critically acclaimed broad-based permanent collection. Comprehensive scope ranges from ancient to contemporary art and represents diverse cultures. Imaginative special exhibitions; scavenger hunts for kids. Docent-led tours available with advance notice. Collections focus on Asian art; 19th- and 20th-century European and American paintings and sculpture; Egyptian, Greek, and Roman art; Medieval sculpture; and early Italian Renaissance paintings. 6-8 exceptional special exhibitions annually. Visit the college's botanical gardens next door too.
Hours: Tuesday–Friday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 1–5 p.m., closed Mondays and certain college holidays. Call ahead for seasonal changes. ; Admission: Free

Storrowton Village Museum

1305 Memorial Avenue West Springfield, MA, 01089 Phone: 413-205-5051

A restored New England village, featuring blacksmith shop, homes, schoolhouse, and a meetinghouse. Open seasonally. There is an admission fee.

Davis Museum at Wellesley College

Wellesley College, 106 Central Street Wellesley, MA Phone: 781-283-2051

The beautiful Rafael Moneo-designed Davis Museum offers innovative temporary exhibitions and spacious galleries for the museum’s permanent collection of nearly 10,000 works of art that spans the 3,000 years of art history. The permanent collection features American Art. This hidden gem on the Wellesley College campus is free and open to all.
Hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, noon–4 p.m. ; Admission: Free.

Charles River Museum of Industry

154 Moody Street Waltham, MA, 02453 Phone: 617-893-5410

Located in America's first factory, the history 1814 Boston Manufacturing Company textile mill, on the National Register of Historic Places. Exhibits include the American Industrial Revolution, steam power, Waltham Watch Company, plus the bicycle and automobile manufacturing industries along the Charles River. Explore the inventions that powered America into the modern age and the geniuses who perfected them.
Hours: Thursday through Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. ; Admission: Adults, $7; students, $5; seniors, $5.

Williams College Museum of Art

15 Lawrence Hall Drive, Suite 2 Williamstown, MA, 01267 Phone: 413-597-2429

Modern and contemporary art, American art from the late 18th century to the present, and the art of world cultures. Maurice and Charles Prendergast gallery.
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 1-5 p.m. ; Admission: Free.

Willard House and Clock Museum

11 Willard Street Grafton, MA, 01536 Phone: 508-839-3500

Over 90 Willard clocks displayed in 1718 Willard homestead and 1766 clock shop; 18th century pewter and furniture; 19th century Oriental rugs and children's toys; Willard family furnishings and portraits; 18th and 19th century firearms; Nipmuc Indian artifacts; and horological research library. Reservations requested for groups of eight and larger.
Hours: April-December, Wednesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday, 1-4 p.m.; Winter Hours, January-March, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday, 1-4 p.m.
Admission: Adults, $7; seniors, $6; students ages 13 and older, $6; children ages 6-12, $3.

United States Naval Shipbuilding Museum

This museum is home to the USS Salem, the world’s only preserved heavy cruiser and place for children and families to explore this unique fighting vessel. In addition to day trips, kids can camp overnight on the USS Salem and take part in hands-on activities like radar tracking, damage control, simulated fire fighting, scavenger hunts, cold water survival, and first aid lessons.

Provincetown Art Association and Museum of Art

460 Commercial Street Provincetown, MA, 02657 Phone: 508-487-1750

Since 1914, the Provincetown Art Association and Museum has served as a collecting museum and a professional artists association. PAAM houses five galleries, two sculpture gardens, more than 2,000 works by more than 500 artists, and a museum school run by professional artists. Year-round programs include a concert series, a film series, auctions, galas, readings, lectures, and Friday night exhibition openings.
Hours: October-May, Thursday-Sunday, noon-5 p.m.; Memorial Day-September, Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Admission: Over age 12, $7; free Friday evenings.

Cape Cod Museum of Natural History

869 Main Street (Route 6A) Brewster, MA, 02631 Phone: 508-896-3867

Eighty-acre site abutted by 300 acres of conservation land; nature trails, exhibits, films, guided walks, lectures, and family activities. This museum features exhibits on the local flora and fauna, and nature trails. Events, classes and walks are scheduled throughout the year. Hours: February 16-March 31, Thursday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; April 1-May 31, Wednesday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; June 1-September 30, daily, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.; October 1-December 30, Wednesday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Admission: Adults, $10; seniors age 65 and older, $7; children age 3-12, $5.

Rose Art Museum at Brandeis University

5 South Street Waltham, MA Phone: 781-736-3432

The Rose Art Museum specializes in modern and contemporary art. It has top-shelf works by, among others, Picasso, Willem de Kooning, Claes Oldenburg, Robert Rauschenberg, Jasper Johns, Morris Louis, Andy Warhol, Ed Ruscha, Roy Lichtenstein, and Ad Reinhardt. When you enter campus through the main entrance, take a left. You will pass the admissions building and the round Spingold Theatre building, both on your left. The Rose Art Museum will be on your left.
Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. ; Admission: Free.

Children's Museum at Holyoke

444 Dwight Street Holyoke, MA, 01040 Phone: 413-536-5437

Hands-on exhibits for children.
Hours: Wednesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday, noon-4 p.m.
Admission: Seniors, $3; all others above age 1, $1.

Mead Art Museum

Amherst College Amherst, MA, 01002 Phone: 413-542-2335

More than 16,000 works; collections range from antiquity to present; portraits by Gilbert Stuart, Italian Renaissance paintings, Japanese woodblock prints, Mediterranean antiquities, and pre-Columbian ceramics.
Hours: Academic year hours, Tuesday-Thursday and Sunday, 9 a.m.– midnight; Friday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; closed Mondays. Summer hours, Tuesday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; closed Mondays. ; Admission: Free.

Addison Gallery of American Art at Phillips Academy

180 Main Street Andover, MA, 01810 Phone: 508-759-4015

Paintings, prints, sculpture, decorative arts, and photography by American artists from Colonial times to the present. Works by John Singleton Copley, Paul Revere, James Whistler, Edward Hopper, Frank Stella, and Alexander Calder displayed on a rotating basis.
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 1-5 p.m.; closed August 1 through Labor Day. Admission is free.

Arthur M. Sackler Museum

485 Broadway Street Cambridge, MA, 02138 Phone: 617-495-9400

Ancient, Asian, Islamic, and Later Indian art: Chinese jades, bronzes, and cave temple sculpture; Korean ceramics; Japanese wood block prints; and Greek and Roman sculptures, vases, and ancient coins.
Hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. ; Admission: Adults, $9; seniors 65 and older, $7; college students, $6; children under age 18, free.

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