1. MIT Museum

    1. MIT Museum

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    Cambridge, MA

    MIT Museum

    3.9 (177 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

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    MIT Museum

    It was an amazing experience and I enjoy it very much. They also have class in session and a gift shop. My family not traveling with me at yge time would also enjoy it.

    Brooke C.

    I enjoyed this museum. It has a similar vibe to the museum of science but unfortunately more expensive (I don't think the library offers discounts here). I enjoyed the exhibits- particulars the robotics and AI ones. Worth a visit if you're already in the area

    Description
    Cilicia L.

    Interesting blend of science and art. I learned a lot and enjoyed the space, but it only took about an hour to get through it all. The DNA exhibits were the most interesting to me.

    Kate C.

    Cool museum on the MIT campus that looks at several modern technology advancements. You also get a good overview of the projects that students and teachers are working on. The exhibit on merpeople was very interesting.

    Auditorium
    Aditi D.

    The MIT Museum, founded in 1971, is located at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is right by the Kendall/MIT T stop on the red line. A self guided tour usually takes about 1.5 hours. They have three floors and the 2nd floor was my favorite! It includes the exhibits for gene cultures, understanding the genome, resurrecting the sublime, sensing, pink chicken project, gene chip scanner, genes traits, genome analyzer, mermaid de-extinction project, using viruses, encoded DNA sample, gene altering, microbial manufacturing, etc

    Great cafe!

    I didn't know what to expect, but the museum was really interesting - interactive without feeling like a kindergarten classroom - a nice mix of new/innovations and historical elements - coat racks - lockers - and a great cafe! :) I would totally go again.

    Dave K.

    I'm not sure which I found more revolting: 1) the hubris associated with the Pink Chicken Project exhibit which proposes genetically modifying a chicken with pink bones and feathers to fully propagate to the entire species within 12-19 generations or 2) the waist-high monitor depicting a graphic video of a female artist, slathering her strap-on dildo with paint, before flipping her erect dildo toward the canvas to create her "art". Given the positioning of the video monitor, children of all ages are apparently encouraged to take in this educational experience. Photos of both displays are shown below

    What?
    Maria G.

    I went on a free day, and would only come back on another free day. It is very science-y, which makes perfect sense. This is the MIT Museum, not the Harvard Museum. I personally found the gift shop to be more entertaining than most of the exhibits. I am just not your typical Asian science genius, I suppose. I spent maybe like one hour here, and mostly walked around with "why" and "huh" in my mind. If you are a local, come on the free days (e.g. last Sunday of the month) and skip the $10 admissions!! Well, at least not my cup of tea.

    Jennifer R.

    My sister and I visited the MIT museum per he request. We drove all the was from Western mass to visit. My sister and I had a great time at the museum. Our favorite piece was the robotic arm which is right up front. It was $10 to enter, or $5 if you have student ID. There were 3 floors of things to see, which also included a Polaroid exhibit. I really thought the pieces by Arthur Ganson were great which included the Wishbone. There is plenty of staff on each floor to watch over the exhibits. Its definitely a safe museum. I think I spent more time in the gift shop the the whole museum as they had some great merch in there!

    Robotic legend
    Yuri Y.

    This is an extraordinary little museum dedicated to the notion of explaining how stuff works in the real world. Applied math and physics are on display front and center -- taking many forms -- from robotics to internet technology -- space exploration to holographic imagery. Plenty of significant history on display here -- including prototypes of NASA space suits and ground breaking robotic innovation. In some cases the innovators demonstrate through kinetic sculpture how technology can be an art form all its own -- through stunning creations and gizmos that are Rube Goldberg-like in their uselessness but that prove perfectly the rules of physics that govern us all. I always knew that MIT was a genius think tank -- but until I toured these halls I never fully appreciated how deep that genius runs. It is well worth taking some time to read the displays and view the videos -- this is an opportunity to savor innovation and creativity -- otherwise you can easily miss the point of this place. One of our highlights was participating in a "hands-on" workshop that allowed my 10 year old to build a working electrical circuit (see https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/mit-museum-cambridge?select=9XgePtoNrrsFp2-ufKod4A&userid=e05KY1rRbzt-OakI3I86RQ) that we modified on our own into a morse code terminal for the deaf -- that uses a blinking LED instead of audio. Easy and fun and educational -- it is this sort of exercise that demonstrates for children how innovation actually happens when you allow yourself to see the possibilities. Top Tip: The gift shop is way cool too. Plenty of smart amusements for that nerd in all of us.

    Gary G.

    My wife discovered this museum to my surprise and my family (HS, college boys) loved it. There's a small fee but military was free for five personnel...awesome. There is a large section of robotics on display which seemed to be the focus, although none are functioning which detracted from the wow factor. There is a section of semi-interactive functioning projects which were the highlight for my family. Projects like a walking chicken wishbone, a homemade fly, etc. Small and meaningless to some degree but pretty cool to think about someone creating. There's also a section of art which reminded me of drawings from my biology class, although much better quality of course. We found parking on the street in front of the museum without issue for a small fee. There's a small MIT store within the museum where they sell t-shirts, cups, and other gifts. I think the museum is a must see at least once.

    Jay M.

    We were looking for a rainy day science activity. The visit to the museum was better than anticipated. If truly interested in latest science initiatives at MIT; good visit. Nice details at each exhibit that explain all aspects of the issue and how science addressed it. I recommend a visit and a visit to the MIT bookstore as excellent selection of books not found elsewhere. Nice Shy bird orDig restaurants around corner for lunch before or after. Parking difficult unless park in garage... we even fed parking meter and still 30 buck ticket... relentless...appeared 5 minutes late Nice gift shop too with some interesting nerd or geek items of interest. Should offer a parking garage validation stamp for parking discounts... Or need a doctorate degree to figure MBTA connections to get there ? Or Uber as clearly Cambridge does not treat out of town autos fairly....signage outside should be improved... difficult to find entrance if there for first time.

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    2 years ago

    great way to spend a day so much information and cool locale love the outdoor space across street on the roof top

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    Great museum for those who love bio and technology. First floor was for biology and second was for AI technology

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    I guess I am a big old geek, and I certainly love the Arthur Ganson kinetic sculptures a whole hell of a lot.

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    Museum of Fine Arts

    Museum of Fine Arts

    4.4
    (1k reviews)
    1.6 mi

    During a recent weekend trip to Boston, I reserved an entire day for the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA)…read moreand it was the best decision I could have made. If I lived in Boston, I would become a member so that I could visit at will, even if only for few hours at a time. I am particularly interested in the impressionists, and John Singer Sargent, so I kept mostly to the 2nd floor. The museum is well organized, and there are staff floating around to answer any questions (one staffer even offered some tips to reduce the glare when taking a photo of a certain painting). I had checked out of my hotel so I had baggage with me (don't we all)...MFA has a convenient bag check. I also purchased a sizeable book from the bookshop and the staff put it in a box for me to keep it from being damaged during travel. I saw one temporary exhibit that was a nicely curated mix of multimedia art, and I also enjoyed seeing some of the rooms presented in a gallery style so that I could truly appreciate modern display methods. Six hours here went by in a flash, and I will definitely be back to see more of the MFA's vast collection. p.s. The equestrian sport of polo came from Persia?? Loved this fact! I also really enjoyed the time put into the object labels and the stories they told. "The most outrageous series of ferocious daubs that any slanderer of Venice could possibly imagine," a quote from a critic describing Renoir's Grand Canal, Venice, made me snort laugh out loud!

    The Boston Museum of Fine Arts features an impressive selection of art from around the world and…read moreacross different periods. We explored the Egyptian, Greek, European, Flemish and Dutch, Asian, Impressionist, and a small Jewish section. The exhibits are wonderful, and the museum is too large to explore in a single day. The gift shop has a nice selection of books, cards, and other typical museum knickknacks. Their Impressionist-themed puzzles were especially interesting. This is a progressive museum that strongly supports respective causes. If that bothers you, you may not enjoy your visit.

    Photos
    Miniature display, AKA: doll house for eccentric rich women "too old" for dolls --  aka: 19th century version of me minus "rich" -- haha!
    Miniature display, AKA: doll house for eccentric rich women "too old" for dolls -- aka: 19th century version of me minus "rich" -- haha!
    2 Rembrandts are better than one!
    2 Rembrandts are better than one!
    June 2024

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    June 2024
    Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

    Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

    4.3
    (799 reviews)
    1.8 mi

    Going into this venture, I had no idea that Gardner was such close friends with John Singer…read moreSargent. He is one of my favorite artists so walking into this and being surprised by his work was a real thrill. She displayed his work in such a way that you really could see she appreciated him as a friend and also an artist. I will say...Gardner was really a collector...some of her pieces that she decided to hang are maybe a little questionable of their quality, but balanced by some truly brilliant pieces, it all works out in the end. This museum, like The Frick in Manhattan, is really quite special being that the setting is the home of the person who put all of these pieces on the walls themselves. To be able to walk through the grounds and see the rooms as the previous owner saw them is just surreal. I would say out of everything to see in this beautiful city, this is a must-do. Go see a game at Fenway, go get a lobster roll...sure, those are obvious spots to hit as a tourist, but this needs to be on your list of probably top 5 things to do while visiting Boston.

    A friend recommended this art collection in this beautiful space so I reserved tickets online for…read moretoday at 11 when it opened. You can buy your tickets in person as well. It's a separate entrance line than the preordered tickets. They do check your bags and tell you to leave your water bottles at the coatcheck on the 1st floor or downstairs at the lockers. We started upstairs on the 3rd floor, and worked our way down. Every room is specifically designed to highlight some theme by Isabella, from the brocade on the walls to the ceiling to the doors to the artwork/furniture everywhere. Because it's a three story mansion, it's decorated as such and has less of the feel of a gallery as a luxuriously decorated estate. Most of the artwork is not identified as it would be in a museum, but it can still be appreciated. There were a few signs along the way that explained the theme of the room according to Isabella. From the third floor especially, the live music in the central garden could be heard so well because of the magnificent acoustics. (There was music in honor of Juneteenth today). If it's your first time there, pay attention to the plaque by the elevator on the 1st floor that states it was the entrance that Isabella herself had used. Apparently that was the original entrance to the museum for a long time and the glass encased current entrance used to be greenhouses. We spent 1.5 hrs there and enjoyed exploring and appreciating the unique museum experience together. Highly recommend!!

    Photos
    Madame August Manet by Edouard Manet. Below is stolen artwork where the empty frame is.
    Madame August Manet by Edouard Manet. Below is stolen artwork where the empty frame is.
    At Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
    At Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
    Dutch Room.

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    Dutch Room.
    Institute of Contemporary Art / Boston

    Institute of Contemporary Art / Boston

    3.6
    (442 reviews)
    2.3 mi

    I rounded up to three stars, but if you are a non-MA tourist paying full price you would be hard…read morepressed to feel like you got any value for your museum money. This is a very small museum and everything in the museum gift shoppe is massively overpriced, considerably more than the typical museum store mark up around the world. When you walk up through Seaport, it is a really cool building from the exterior and it has great views of the water. It is also very close to the Levain, less than 5 minute walk. So far so good, but you have not even gotten indoors yet. Super cool installation in the lobby to welcome you in. So far so good, you haven't paid yet. How much is admission again? Take the elevator up to the 4th floor, there is no art on any of the other floors for you. It takes less than an hour to go through everything in the museum and that is if you go slow, take your time looking out the windows at the view of the water, hit the restroom, check your phone, and look at everything on the 4th floor again. It is a small museum. One review said she could do the entire 4th floor in 15 minutes, which is a real speed run, I at least read the placards and I was out in well under an hour. It is an interesting collection and art is subjective etc etc. If money is no object to you then great, pay the admission fee and the $85+ to get an unsigned, mass produced paper poster (no frame) as a souvenir in the gift shoppe on the way out. But anyone remotely cost conscious is going to feel like they did not get good value here for the full non-MA admission price.

    I don't think contemporary art is really for me, but we'd never been here and I was able to score…read morefree tickets for a Thursday which is my day off. Honestly, the building and location right by the water is beautiful. The portraits exhibit was lovely and interesting, but the rest of the exhibits kind of went over my head (how high the moon and doors). I also was not aware that we needed water shuttle tickets to go to the watershed exhibit which seemed more interesting, and the they had sold out for the day. The gift shop was worth a browse. We also were able to participate in their free event in which we made our own little displays with modeling clay of a place we want to protect. I thought this was really cute and it was mostly children and parents, but we spent a good chunk of time making our pieces and staff were friendly and helpful. I'm not sure I'd return, especially at full price, but I am interested in eventually coming back with water shuttle tickets next time.

    Photos
    A piece from AAMARP exhibition.
    A piece from AAMARP exhibition.
    Institute of Contemporary Art / Boston
    View from dock.  Designed by architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro.

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    View from dock. Designed by architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro.
    Museum of Bad Art

    Museum of Bad Art

    4.2
    (59 reviews)
    3.0 mi

    This is a cute concept, and since this is the reason I dropped by, I'll review this highlight…read moreinstead of the Dorchester Brewery. It is more like a collection of art around the brewery, but the signs are funny and it's interesting to note paintings that were donated vs. found in a thrift store vs. found in the garbage. It ranges from funny proportions to some truly bizarre. It's a great activity to giggle at with friends or make up fun commentary on a date. It's a fun little concept, free, and open late, so it's a funs stop in. The brewery features a full bar, arcade and board games and BBQ food as well. The owner even showed us an old cigarette dispensing machine now filled with chocolate packs. There's a lot going on and it is apparent a lot of thought and creativity went into the space. It's certainly not like a traditional "museum" but sometimes you need to see some bad art to really appreciate some good art elsewhere. You'll end up laughing at something.

    Okay, so museum may not be the exact right word. This is kind of like a gallery in a brewery. I had…read moreseen an ad for this place on Instagram, and filed it away in my brain. I pulled it out of the file and went to see bad art. We walked in and the guy at the bar was very nice and pointed out the "route" of the paintings. The art was so fun--some worse than others. I really did understand what some of what the artists were thinking, and in other cases I just laughed and scratched my head It's small and we weren't there more than 20 minutes, but it was fun. Btw--it's free!!!

    Photos
    "George and Jackie" Yes, this is a painting of George Washington and Jackie Kennedy lol
    "George and Jackie" Yes, this is a painting of George Washington and Jackie Kennedy lol
    Museum of Bad Art
    "Hot, Hot, Hot (Victoria's Real Secret)"

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    "Hot, Hot, Hot (Victoria's Real Secret)"
    Museum of Illusions

    Museum of Illusions

    3.4
    (52 reviews)
    1.7 mi
    Kid friendly
    Discounts available

    WOW, what FUN!!! Son wanted to celebrate his bday in Bean town. Let me chose some things to do and…read morewe landed here. I've seen pictures and a video marketing promo and it looked like a good time. Purchased tickets on line for three adults took a screen shot of my receipt and Boston bound we went. Arrived earlier than anticipated so walked Fanuiel Hall and the area. Too early so many things were not open at 9a on a Saturday. The doors opened at 10a. While waiting I attempted to open the app needed to get your tickets and lo and behold the app crashes before we even get through the door. Thank God I took a screen shot of the receipt. Doors open and three families ahead of us go I and get checked in. Then it was our turn we were an hour early, no problem. The app crashed and I can't get my tickets, no problem reservations under our name! Done! Got our hands stamped and off we went. First exhibit was the moving eyes, then the crooked room then the hotel plunge. That closed when it was our turn, they needed to wash the floor. No problem we've got so much more ahead of us. The exhibits are for all ages although I think younger minds might not fully what is going on. A woman with her three children had a three year old who hated it. Then liked the more hands on wooden puzzles. There are optical illusions you simply spin or slide. Illusions where staff help you create an illusion to bring home. There was one exhibit that had both my guys, grown adults, saying let's do it again, let's do it again!! I cannot recommend this venue enough. Not local? Plan a trip here, located in Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market. Come early because the longer it is open the more people come through. Every hour on the hour.

    Total rip off for what you get. Waaaay over priced. Took us 30 min with kids. More of a tourist…read moretrap than anything. Just thought for a minute and adjusted down to one star -$40 are you crazy? I want my money back.

    Photos
    Sons feet my upper body
    Sons feet my upper body
    BOOM! Slam dunkin!
    BOOM! Slam dunkin!
    Right in Quincy Squate!

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    Right in Quincy Squate!

    MIT Museum - artmuseums - Updated July 2026

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