Five Must Visit Museums of Boston

With over 40 museums to choose from in the city, there are plenty of interesting displays and interactive exhibits to explore. Here are five must visit museums you must visit when in Boston.

John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum

Photo: Randy Robertson

The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum is dedicated to the life and work of John F. Kennedy. The museum shares the life, presidential aspirations, and legacy of the United States’ 35th president and first lady Jacqueline Kennedy. In a building designed by I.M. Pei on the Boston waterfront, exhibits follow Kennedy from the campaign trail to his tragic death. The library is also home to the Ernest Hemingway Collection which houses original manuscripts, personal papers, and photographs belonging to the American author.

Adults: $14; Students/Seniors: $12; Teens: $10; Children 12 and under: free
Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Columbia Point
Boston, MA 02125
Website

Harvard Museum of Natural History

Photo: Massachusetts Office of Tourism

Located on the grounds of Harvard University, the museum houses displays from the collections of the university’s three natural history research museums. The museum is physically connected to the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology and one admission grants visitors access to both museums. In the museum you can explore displays on dinosaurs, flora and fauna, and mineralogical displays, among many other topics.

Adults: $12; Students/Seniors: $10; Children 3–18: $8; Children under 3: Free
Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

26 Oxford Street
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Website

MIT Museum

Photo: Sandro Enomoto

Visit Boston’s other famous university by heading to the MIT Museum. Its exhibits showcase collections of holographs, technology-related artworks, artificial intelligence, robotics, maritime history, and the history of MIT. There are interactive exhibits and interesting displays on developments in science and technology. Look out for the exploding chair that puts itself back together.

Adults: $10; Youth under 18, Students/Seniors: $5; Children under age 5: free
Free admission on the last Sunday of each month, September through June
Open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

265 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02139
Website

Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum

Photo: Robert Linsdell

Relive the night of December 16, 1773, as American patriots destroyed an entire shipment of tea in Boston Harbor in defiance of the Tea Act. The Boston Tea Party became an event in the American Revolution as Americans fought for their freedom from the British. Today, the museum is full of memorabilia from the time period including the Robinson Half Chest, which is one of two known tea chests still in existence from the Boston Tea Party in 1773. There are reenactments which bring the events of the Boston Tea Party to life and a number of interactive displays throughout. The museum also has two authentically restored ships, the Eleanor and the Beaver, which can be explored.

Adults $25, Students/Seniors $22, Child $15 (save if you buy online!)
Open daily: First tour at 10 a.m. and last tour at 5 p.m. Tours start every 30 minutes.

306 Congress Street
Boston, MA 02210
Website

Peabody Essex Museum

Photo: Lorianne DiSabato

The Peabody Essex Museum is considered one of the oldest continuously operating museums in the United States. Within its walls are art collections highlighting both contemporary and historic pieces of American, Asian, Maritime, Oceanic, Native American, and African origin. It has one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of maritime and oceanic art and artifacts. The museum also owns 24 historic buildings and gardens.

Adults $18; Seniors $15; Students $10; Youth: free.
Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

East India Square
161 Essex Street Salem, MA
Website

This post was written as a part of the #HipmunkCityLove project.

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