An outstanding example of a a Victorian/Edwardian upper middle class home. The kitchen and work spaces are really interesting. Well worth a visit. read more

Really cool and underrated museum that I've never heard of before. It's preserved a piece of back bay history. I went during their St. Patrick's event and enjoyed the musicians. Will definitely come back for a guided tour. read more

Gibson House Museum - Museums Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Wonderful place to visit the tour.Guys are very knowledgeable and very kind make sure you guys make a reservation read more

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I love colonial or Victorian history so whenever we can stop by a museum like this, I get unreasonably excited. A beautifully curated and well preserved home, very interesting story behind the family, if you're looking for a one hour guided tour in a beautiful location, make a reservation and go! read more

Gibson House Museum - Museums Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Interesting tour of a beautifully decorated house. If you enjoy exploring historic houses and you have some time to spend in Boston, then I would recommend getting a tour of the Gibson House. There are a number of unique decorative choices that were made for this house, and the tour is informative. It was my tour guide's last day, but they were enthusiastic and happy to take questions. If the rest of the tour guides have a similar demeanor, then you will have an enjoyable tour. read more

What a wonderful tour! My tour guide, Sam, was very kind, clear, and did a great job at story telling. Really enjoyed this tour because I'm very interested in historical architecture, historical interior design, and how people lived back in the day. It was really nice to see original features of the house and learn about the Gibson family. I did both the At Home with the Gibsons tour ($10 + fees) and the Upstairs and Downstairs tour ($15 + fees). (Each a 45 min tour) The difference in terms of what you see is in the At Home tour, you see an extra room of the family's that you don't see in the other tour. In the Upstairs & Downstairs tour, I got to see the 5th floor which I didn't see in the other tour. Some of the same information overlapped between the 2 tours (but I totally didn't mind hearing the information again as I missed some things the first time). But there is also some information mentioned in each tour that you won't hear in the other. I recommend seeing both if you're a history buff & interested in these kinds of things! They were both fairly cheap too, so why not. The only downside is that the house is hot due to no central air (it's an old house!), but the museum smartly provides little handheld fans. (I came during a hot summer month) I didn't mind that much though. Overall, it was a great experience and I didn't learn about other historical home tours in Boston until the very end of my trip in Boston. I would've wanted to see them all. (More advertising if possible?!) Maybe next time! read more

Gibson House Museum - Gibson House sign and lawn - Museums Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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This was a lovely house museum. It gives a nice overview of the life of the family that lives here. It's beautifully restored. read more

Gibson House Museum - Piano - Museums Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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I must have walked by this place a dozen times over the years without knowing what was inside. On a recent trip, a friend offered up her pair of tickets and I finally went inside. The home is a beautifully preserved piece of history. Things have been maintained well, and it's easy to imagine what it was like to be a resident of the house as you walk through. Our guide was incredibly friendly and tried to explain things from the perspectives of different people who would have resided there. Overall, it was a great experience that I would recommend. read more

Great historic home museum - a glimpse into Victorian Era life. Tour, with Carlos, was excellent. One of the places they filmed the recent Little Women movie! Highly recommend, but be on time! Tour starts right at the hour (ring the bell to be let in). read more

Very informative and interesting tour. Got areal sense of the people who lived there from the staff to the multi generational family. Highly recommend read more

Wonderful historic house museum and portal to the past. Interesting to learn about the many different stories of those who lived and worked there with an exciting link to LGBTQIA+ history. read more

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I am a history nerd. So the social history and the technology of the time was great to listen to. The tour guide was knowledgeable and told stories that were enhanced the experience. I would recommend on a tour of Boston and Beacon Hill. We will be back to Boston again---all sorts of historical venues and information! read more

Beautiful time warp. I would recommend this place for anyone who loves late 19th century architecture.

Quick tip: Tickets are $9 for adults, $6 for students/seniors 62 +, and $3 for kids 12 and under. You can purchase advanced tickets online with Paypal via thegibsonhouse.org or pay cash (only, no credit cards!) at the door. Tours start on the hour, and no later! They DO NOT like to interrupt a tour in progress and will likely turn you away as there is only 1 tour guide. Arrive early and wait outside until tour time, then ring the bell for assistance. Take public transportation as parking in the area is very difficult. 12 min walk or so from the Charles MGH T stop. For Locals: Special events are held throughout the year - Check their site regularly! Boston is all about it's history and if you're interested in it at all in the slightest, this is a great destination to see life as it once was. In short, the Gibson House is mid 19th-early 20th century home turned time-capsule, that is almost completely original from the time it was turned into a museum in 1957. For me, that was the most impressive part of the visit. You can see the wear on the rugs, the wear of the wood on the black walnut banister, paintings of the family members... it really is incredible to peek into this family's opulent life and see the past outside of a history book (ironically I never did read those!). I recently visited The Lower East Side Tenement museum in New York and while it was fantastic to see, most of the items of the period were completely staged with belongings that weren't necessarily owned by the inhabitants, so this was a treat to see. The entire Gibson home/museum is 6 floors. As a visitor you'll see 4 of them as the top 2 are currently used as office space, for the archive I believe, etc. Even so, you'll travel between the floors via the staircase and realize what hell it was for servants to work in a multi-level home without elevators and see the dichotomy between the servants and the Gibsons. It really does make you appreciate the amenities of modern life. That being said, aside from being an observer, you will really get the most out of this tour if you ask questions. And don't be afraid to ask questions. It's easy to see that this house has layers of history to it as the family and some of it's members were a little complicated. It's a less interactive tour in that the guide isn't asking you what you think a room was used for, won't be quizzing you on signs as to why the family might want 2 staircases, etc. Personally I love that style of a tour as they help break the ice with visitors, but this was enjoyable regardless. If there was one detail I could change about the tour it would be to do exactly that - engage the visitors and get them talking about the space. They'll appreciate the property and tour even more. I understand that the museum operates tours on limited resources and is under a time crunch for each tour, so the style of education may be more CliffsNotes than some would like. I would recommend a visit for the interiors alone regardless because they're gorgeous, well preserved, and need to be shared. The Gibson home did evolve during the time that it was occupied, so you will come across a few pieces pointed out by the tour guide that have been altered - a sofa reupholstered to be more characteristic of the Victorian era, hot and cold water plumbing, a lavish pet bed added for effect, gas burning lamps now turned electric, etc.. Regardless, the rooms are loaded with family belongings. Keep your eyes open and observe the details. My personal favorite detail of the home were the Japanese Leather Wallpaper on the ground floor. Really stunning and interesting to hear about how they were made - just ask! I'd call this museum a real "must-see" for visitor to the area, granted I'm still making my way through more house museums in Boston and can't compare this to them just yet. Even so, this is a wonderful opportunity to discover old older version of Boston right before your eyes. Pay them a visit and support one of the city's hidden historical treasures! read more

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I love historic house tours. This one ranks up there with my favorites. The house is so beautiful and has been really well preserved. The architecture inside is amazing. I was shocked that it was built when it was with central heat. The wood finishings were so great. I like that you can walk around all the rooms you see and really get close to all the objects. My tour guide was very knowledgeable and nice. She had the answer to all the questions I asked. It was just me on the tour which has happened to me a lot on this trip and unlike some tours where I'm the only person this one didn't feel awkward. I wish you could see all 6 floors, but I'll take what I can get. Love it. read more

This was such a fun place to visit! I had no idea it existed until I had to look up things to do with my parents when they were visiting and it was raining/snowing and I didn't want them to have to walk too far. Fair warning, it's a Victorian house so if you don't like 18th century stuff you'll probably not like it. Usually only my mom is into that stuff, but our guide Carlos was awesome and legit made me laugh. I loved the "husband bell" thing. There's like five tours so I'm probably going to go back next time my parents are in town. read more

Came here with the boyfriend. You have to wait outside until almost the hour, since there is only once volunteer giving tours and they lock the door so as to protect the antiques. But, we got a private tour, and were able to ask questions to our hearts content. The house has a lovely Victorian set up.There was a beautiful tea service set when we came. I liked seeing the servants areas, the washroom, and the kitchen the best. To address other reviewers' comments: I would say that the Gibson house tours are more "staged" than others. It did feel a little like a recording, and the person giving the tour wasn't an expert. But I felt our questions were 98% answered. It certainly paled in comparison to the Otis House or the Phillips House tours, but I had a great time and would go again. read more

Well, I have to temper my review. The tour guide (museum director) was very "didactic" and did not engage well with our very small crowd of 5 people. He was like a tape-recording with staged jokes that were not funny or enlightening. The tour included many "talking points" but it was lacking in historical interpretation (this means explaining why the "factoids" matter or explaining what the daily life of this family reveals about the time period . . .). Mostly what irked me was that the tour seems to advertise the TOTAL building, and yet they do not show you where the servants lived (which was 2 entire floors). If the building is 6 stories I want to see ALL 6 stories! This view of history emphasizes the wealthy and dismisses the servants who spent their lives there. It is disheartening and quite out of touch with major trends in public history. SO Gibson Museum-- Open up your secret doors and tell the whole story! Enough with the 1% narrative. read more

THE HOUSE: I visited Boston for the first time and I did this tour with my friend and I really enjoyed this House Tour!! It gives you a deep insight as to how the houses used to look and what kind of life the residents (The Gibsons) had. You get to see about 3 different stories of the house and you can actually see how old the house is. Very cool! Also, I LOVED our tour guide-Kelsey! She was so knowledgable and was able to answer everyone's questions. I am not much into history but she really made me want to learn more about the Victorian house. SERVICE: Loved Kelsey! TIPS: Cash only for admission! Also, don't be late to the tour. Its on the hour. And frankly, coming late was disruptive to the people who were already there. WOULD I RECOMMEND IT? Yes!!! read more

For those who like to immerse themselves in history, this beautifully preserved home sparks your imagination. Take a look at the details. Original toys, a Victorian era "pet bed", personal letters; everywhere you turn these items provide a snapshot of life for this family. The house itself deserves 5+ stars. However our tour guide tested our patience. In other reviews we are encouraged to "ask questions". Be aware however: if your tour guide is a young man named Carlos, your tour will include a heaping helping of extreme arrogance. Questions are usually encouraged so that he can, by means of rolled eyes or sarcastic comebacks, express complete disgust at your stupidity. Don't you dare ask if the beautiful wallpaper was imported or made locally. Because "Um yeah...duh...it was local". My mistake. I thought Boston was a hub of commerce and importation. How dare I imagine that perhaps it was imported. Aye yay yay. This continued from the minute we stepped through the door. Fortunately our group is quite amicable and found his self-importance comical. And to his credit, he knows most of the answers. If you can get past the delivery. So please. Do not let this personality trait deter you. Ask your questions. Soak in the amazing home and its details. The home is WELL worth it. TIP: They run on time. Bring cash. Or pay online via PayPal at TheGibsonHouse.org. Simply show your online receipt at the door. read more

This is an incredibly well-preserved example of Victorian-era furnishings & interior elements. We have toured many of Historic New England's properties (separate organization), but few have as dense a collection of original artifacts and details as the Gibson House. Being a photo/video nerd, the amazingly preserved pictograph and early electric projector were fascinating, as was the victrola. Very informative, thorough tour with great focus on the Gibson family lineage. Thank you! read more

One of my favourite things that I did on my trip. This place is literally a time capsule. AND very reasonably priced - I made a donation because I felt like I was taking the museum for a ride. Very original and our tour guide was very nice. The only thing that is unfortunate is the museum is open a limited amount of time and you HAVE to take the tour - you can't just stroll through. So plan your day accordingly and make sure you get this one it. Right down the street from Cheers and a definite hidden gem. read more

Wonderful, informative tour on Victorian era Boston. House is gorgeous and is very authentic to the time period. Cash only and parking was a bit of a hassle but there's really no way around that in Boston. read more

I went with my family, and it was a lot of fun! I'm not usually a fan of house museums, but my mother loves this sort of thing and she was laughing and joking with the tour guide the whole time. It's a Victorian House with a funny history about this guy who basically just made his home into a museum thinking people a hundred years after he died would like it, but also cause he didn't really want to have a day job. Because of that all the stuff was authentic to the family. Normally I don't like house museums because they're just a bunch of stuff made to look like someone lived there, but this had all the guy's actual stuff. Definitely worth visiting, although you got to be on time. read more

I really enjoyed this museum! From the outside, it just looks like every other home on Beacon Street, but once you step inside, it's like walking into a whole different world. There was so much to look at! I was especially intrigued by the "modern" laundry machine and iron-heating system in the basemen laundry room. The home is entirely lit by the electrical fixtures installed back then, so be prepared for a dimly-lit tour! My only real complaint is the price - $9 is a little steep, but that being said, I would still recommend this museum. All visits are by guided tour only, and tours start promptly at 1:00pm, 2:00pm and 3:00pm. Be advised that there are many fragile, breakable things in the house, so it's not really kid-friendly. Also, there are many flights of narrow stairs, so definitely not handicapped accessible. read more

We arrived at the Gibson House before 2 PM on Sunday, July 31st. The building was dark. We rang the doorbell several times - no answer. Gradually, more people arrived, until there were ten of us. We tried the reservation phone number and got a message saying "no need for reservations, just show up." There was no way to leave a message asking when they were truly open or closed. I understand that workers or volunteers might cancel. But someone had to know. They could have put a note on the door, or changed the phone message to say "sorry, closed for the weekend of July whatever". We left. I assume other people did so shortly after. Very disappointing, poorly run. read more

Showed up at 2pm for tour. No one there. No sign or indication as to why it is not open. Lame

The building is truly beautiful and contains many interesting historical items. The tour guide we had was very knowledgeable and was able to put the house and the family that lived in it within the historical (and geographical) context. I am giving it 3 stars because overall the visit was quite unpleasant. Though the young man who gave us a tour was knowledgeable, he was quite arrogant and dismissive of visitors' questions. For example, there was an elderly couple that was visiting from a different culture and when they asked (what I thought were very reasonable questions about the building and items within it), the tour guide basically humiliated them. He did everything aside from calling them stupid. For example, he made comments like, "Does this LOOK like a stove to you?!?!" and "No, OF COURSE that was NOT customary at that time!" I felt embarrassed for them and wondered if they would travel home and say that people in America are so rude and arrogant. The Museum should do a better job of training their tour guides to be respectful. So, 3 stars. read more

The Gibson House is a real time machine that takes you back instantly to 1860. In the hundreds of times I have walked through the Back Bay, I have rarely been inside one of the houses and never into one that was as true to the period as this one is. Our tour guide had an encyclopedic knowledge of the house, the family, the period and the customs, along with a boundless enthusiasm for his subject. Although he talked quickly to try and get all the information in, I found him very informative and enlightening. We were the last tour of the day. he took us upstairs and downstairs, and knew a lot about how both the family and the servants lived. We so enjoyed listening to him and asked so many questions, that we stayed in the house long past the one-hour scheduled tour. To Betty's point, it was disappointing to have to stop shy of the top two floors but our guide explained that it was a matter of funding to bring them to tour quality. NOTE: Tourees are not roped off from furniture or knick-knacks so the Gibson House is not a great place for small children,who might pull valuable books off shelves or break fragile items. Also, the only way between floors is up a narrow, dim staircase so you have to be mobile to go through it. Having said that, I highly recommend the Gibson House museum to visitors and natives alike. read more