This is the only museum around that is entirely dedicated to the history of the New England Indian…read more Anyone who is even remotely interested in the original inhabitants of New England will find this museum absolutely fascinating. The unassuming museum houses a lot more than just arrowheads (although they do have thousands and thousands of these, of all types, mostly from local sites). They have put together some very educational interpretive displays with dioramas and other display materials that help provide some insight into the lives of these people who lived here for 10,000 years. My favorite displays show the range of artifacts archaeologists have found at specific sites, showing the often crude stone tools used every day by long-ago people. There is so much to see here, this is a museum I will definitely visit again.

This is another one of those places I've passed by probably a thousand times and never gave a…read moresecond thought to. But, on this nice holiday I finally stopped by. Tours end in October, which was nice as had the place to myself and could freely roam about. It's a nice place. Couple walking trails, nice waterfront view, and obviously the historical grounds. Would probably be nicer to visit in the summer, but then you have to deal with the crowds. Well worth a trip if for nothing else than the walking trails and the historical aspects.

well priced, several floors of artifacts, amazing shipwreck items and settler items from people…read morethat lived here centuries ago, staff is nice, and great campus

I'm a museum person and this one definitely didn't disappoint. I appreciated the grounds which were…read moreabsolutely stunning and opened up directly to the water. All of the staff there were amazing as well. The museum had a small but serviceable section on Jaws and I appreciated the movie clips that they had. As a history teacher I appreciated the sections on the history of the island and the shipwrecks around the area. Overall we spend about a little over an hour there. It was a nice time but for $21 for adults I did find it to be on the higher end of museums I've been to. But if you're in the area and have the time I do recommend stopping by.

Great little museum. They put a lot in such a little building. First floor had a bird watching…read morearea, displays on Native American historic culture, duck decoy artist studio and other exhibits. Downstairs was an aquarium. Along with a bird exhibit. After we finished in the museum we went for a hike out to the bay. Although the trail was not marked the path overall was easy to find. It was a great excursion!

So cool with kids! Perfect for rainy days and indoor fun! My kids (3,6,9) loved it. I enjoyed it…read moretoo.

A great spot. $2 for general admission, $5 if you want to see the planetarium show too. Even with…read moreits small size you can't go wrong with those prices. As I said it is on the small side, in a hurry you could do the musuem in 15 minutes, and even taking your time it could be done in half an hour. There are plenty of displays, but not much in terms of factual information compared to other musuems. Check this place out, even if its not your thing for the price you can't go wrong.

Only 2 handicap parking spots and the entrance had steps where the door opens towards you are you…read moreare trying to come in. $2 admission is not bad and staff are friendly. So if you need an ADA parking spot, show up early and there's one in each of the parking lots adjacent to the building.

This museum is so interesting and not to be missed on a visit to Cape Cod. Historically…read moreinformative, the costumed interpreter, who by the way, also has a lovely singing voice, takes you an a journey that is both fun for all. The museum is geared towards adults and school aged children. The real life artifacts are simply amazing. Great spot for a rainy day. Plan at least 1.5 hours to enjoy all. Plan ahead with on-line prepaid tickets. Gift shop on site with a lovely staff that can assist you. For pirate fans, this museum is a real gem.

The museum is really cool! It's well laid out, detailed, and well kept. This is definitely best for…read moreolder kids and adults as it's mostly reading and displays; littles would be bored. We thought the end of the tour was cool where you could see how they found and preserved the artifacts as well as current concentrations they're working on uncovering. My only complaint is I think, for the somewhat high price, the audio tour should be included.

Feels like so long ago we were hiking up the tower. I mentioned to my Dad that my legs weren't…read morefeeling the best and I needed to go slow. He felt bad so he waited for me half way up and then all of a sudden I got a burst of energy and sped past him. He was shocked and said I waited for you and then you left me in the dust. When we got to the top it was fun to look around the city and see the ocean. Lots of history here and we are so grateful for the memories made. Staff is very friendly and really takes pride in their museum. It's kept up well and very educational. Thank you

This is a cute museum to visit on a rainy day. You get to learn a lot about early Massachusetts…read morehistory and you can climb to the top of the monument. The cost for two adults was $46. They have entire section dedicated to the local Provincetown establishments as well.

I give this museum five stars, but I must first caution you based on my own experience. There are…read morethings you should know before going. Things I wish I had known myself. Truly, my first visit was great. It's deceptively large, and I knew I'd need to go back a second day to see the rest. It was really cool to learn the history of the industry and how it led to the cultural and creative makeup of the city of New Bedford today. I even started talking to some of my friends about it, and they started calling me the "whaling girl" . It gave whimsy. It was cute. Cute at first. Then I couldn't stop thinking about it, even when I tried, even when I wanted to. Something about the ways the museum weaved culture and time with history and science... it kept me up at night thinking. What can be measured that is unseen? What has value and who gets to decide that? The more I thought, the more I started seeing our world in an entirely new way. It was a revelation. My friends and family grew worried, as it became all that I could talk about. Over family holiday dinners. At kid's birthday parties. Even my most recent performance review, I brought it up. As you might've guessed, the review didn't go so well. I went on a journey to make sense of what was happening to me. I landed at the Seaport Museum in Mystic, CT. There, I met fellow whaling enthusiasts and a member of the prestigious Melville Society. I was relieved to see other people equally obsessed with whaling. They assured me that my feelings were normal, and encouraged me to volunteer there, as an outlet. I returned to New Bedford and did just that, and it is where I remain today! So if you go to visit, is there the risk of developing an addiction? Undoubtedly. But I think it is nevertheless worth it. Just be sure you go at your own pace and volunteer if you find yourself loosing interest in other hobbies that used to interest you. Trust, you'll have a whale of a time. Also, gift store is dope. Be sure to merch up See you at the museum!

Such a wonderful and eclectic museum. Certainly the whaling industry is discussed and defined, but…read morethe museum has so much more. The history of this area, its place in history and industry. I was particularly struck by the history of the photographic of the Black communities contribution to the area and the community. Come for the whaling industry stay for the rich history of this area

The RISD Museum in Providence is one of those places that catches you off guard with how much it…read morehas to offer, especially if you are not already familiar with it going in. I found the building spanning six floors, and the spaces were well organized throughout, giving each piece enough room to be appreciated properly without the galleries ever feeling sparse or rushed. It is the kind of museum where I could spend a couple of hours moving through it and still feel like I left things unexplored. The collection is the main reason to visit, and it covers a genuinely impressive range, from ancient artifacts and historical portraits all the way through to modern and contemporary works. The curation does a good job of making those transitions between periods feel intentional rather than disjointed, and the rotating exhibits add a reason to come back beyond what is already on permanent display. The Liz Collins exhibit drew a lot of attention during its run and was a strong example of how well the museum handles contemporary work alongside its more classical holdings. Staff were present and approachable throughout the floors, and coat lockers near the entrance were available, a small but appreciated detail on a longer visit. The building was easy to navigate even on a first trip, and the overall experience felt well managed without being overly structured. One thing worth knowing before planning a trip is that Sundays offer free admission to all visitors, which makes it an easy addition to a Providence weekend without having to think twice. Weekday visits run quieter if you prefer more space and a slower pace through the galleries. For a museum connected to an art school, it holds up as one of the stronger art museums in the region and is well worth the time.

The RISD Museum is worth a visit. I'm sharing photos of the pieces that stood out to me most. I…read morestarted in the RISD student galleries, which were full of impressive work. my favorite was a floor installation that looks like a woven rug but is actually made entirely of salt. So many pieces made you stop and think, "How did they do that?!" I visited the whole museum, but my favorites were the Costume & Textile galleries, the exhibit on kingfishers in art and poetry, the European Grand Gallery with its oil paintings and the 18th/19th‑century American rooms in Pendleton House. I also loved how the museum's architecture fits together like a puzzle across several older buildings and street entrances. That was a surprising add-on to the visit. Extra tip: street parking is nearly impossible. Check their website for the free weekend parking lots (within walking distance) they make the visit much easier.