Located in an old Coast Guard Station, this museum chronicles how the US Coast Guard came to be…read more It has two floors - 1st main exhibits & 2nd/attic floor children's play area. The tour guide DJ is very knowledgeable and friendly. He keeps the tour going at a stiff clip and demonstrates some of the historical apparatus used in the early times of rescuing people from shipwrecks. Parking is available across from the museum (about 8-10 spaces). Two bathrooms are also available for guest use.

Wonderful small museum with a big story!! DJ is an excellent tour guide...knowledgeable and…read morepersonable.

Our whole family LOVED this museum! And when I say everyone from age 2 to almost 40 had an amazing…read moretime, I truly mean it! You could easily spend an entire day here and honestly, probably even longer. Every area has something different to explore, with hands on activities that are both fun and educational. There was so much to see and do that we were constantly discovering something new. The kids' favorite was building a car using batteries and then testing it to see how fast it would go along the track. They could have stayed there forever! My personal favorites were the bed of nails (yes, I actually tried it ) and the machine sponsored by Takeda that you stand on, and it tells you which areas of your body supposedly need a little extra attention. It was hilarious and so much fun! The AI dog robot was also SO cool! And honestly, the list of things we loved just keeps going. Even the cafeteria was a pleasant surprise. There was a good selection, the food was decent, and the prices were actually reasonable which isn't always the case at museums. This is definitely one of those places where every age can find something to enjoy. We had an amazing time as a family, and I would absolutely recommend adding this museum to your list!

Super fun thing to do with the family and children of all ages. Lots of things to touch and explore…read moreand just as many shows available as activities. We tried to get 3 shows shoved in our trip along with seeing the museum and barely made it and still missed things. For the shows, we found them all to be very entertaining. Saw the ai and robot show first in the morning. It was a fun experience and the kiddos loved it. Then we did the lighting show and I will say if you aren't a fan of loud noises and bright lights maybe pick to go inside the sensory room for this. They've thought of everything to ensure everyone has a great experience and this was a great idea to offer. Finally we did the Omni deep space show. It's an extra $10 a person but it was absolutely worth it and stunning! The kids were in absolute aw. For the museum, I will say it was exceptionally clean, and filled with hands on experiences. There's so much to do I recommend doing this with a plan. Cafeteria inside the red wing offers food for the whole family at very reasonable prices. All the food was hot and tasty. I did a separate review for them on their side and it's under "riverview cafe". Finally the gift shop was very cool. I bought a dinosaur sweater with spikes on the back and a key chain. Note: this is expensive and can easily be bypassed if you don't want to spend more because admittedly I had no plans to buy anything there and still spent $111 . Overall amazing trip with the family and it was made even easier with parking that connects right to the museum. $33 for me for 7 hours of parking. Yes you can absolutely get parking cheaper elsewhere, but if you have or know someone with a disability and want to make the experience smoother without the rush in Boston this is a great option.

What an impressive historical site. This family's home was crucial to the Underground Railroad. It…read morewas pretty fascinating to see how this historical site really believed in abolishing slavery to help those two go into freedom. I didn't realize how important this site is to history but it was really nice to see letters and photographs of that time and about Newton area that nobody really thinks about. It was pretty cool to see all the old fashioned toys and clothes of the time. There is a lot of literature posted on the exhibitions. I really recommend going here.

We planned a field trip to the Jackson Homestead with our homeschool group. We had nearly 30 people…read morebetween the ages of 7 and 50, and everyone enjoyed the visit. The attraction is reasonably priced for individuals visiting at $6 per person. The field trip was also very reasonable for up to 30 children and up to 10 adults. The foyer explains the background of the owners and their involvement with the abolition movement and the underground railroad in the 1800s. The children were able to look at source documents and work in teams to make inferences on the information and draw conclusions. Next, we moved to the lower level which is professionally outfitted with plaques explaining the history and a lot of fantastic artifacts. There were several interactive and "please touch" areas, which all the children (and even the teens enjoyed). There were boxes they could climb into to show what it was like to travel across the ocean as a captured slave, and the interesting story of Henry Box Brown. There was even an excavated well (covered with a grate, of course) that may have been used to hide fugitive slaves. On the main floor, the children were able to explore some of the other areas of the house, like "Newton's Toy Box," information on stained glass, and an extensive time-line of the house and history makers. Upstairs was a small area open to the public (due to their offices being on that floor) that had a flag on display from the civil war era. and envelopes used for propaganda during that time period. There were also pictures of the original rooms and textile samples with information about the dress at the time. The main floor also has a lovely little gift shop with a good variety of souvenirs. The staff was friendly and helpful. A most wonderful trip!

I am a pretty serious model railroader but I am also a child at heart. While I love to see…read morecarefully crafted model railroads with exquisite details and a focus on realistic train operation, I also enjoy just seeing a bunch of shiny trains running round and round with lots of lights and sounds. The BSMRM combines both of these desires. It is a model railroad club first, which means to a potential visitor that you will find somewhat cramped aisles, sections of the layouts that are under construction or perhaps needing a face lift for the scenery, and some really cool vantage points roped off to visitors. The three layouts (N scale, HO scale, O scale) were designed primarily for the member's enjoyment, not hundreds of public members walking through, and that also translates to an experience that isn't handicapped accessible. That being said, they are open once a year (the first weekend in December) and for $5 you are invited into their "home" to see their pride and joy. Sure, the trains run well (usually) but there might be a few issues along the way. And while most of the staff are friendly, problems do come up and if you try and talk to them when they are busy trying to trouble shoot an issue they be less than responsive. That being said, though, I really enjoyed myself. I drove from Albany, NY solely to see their train layouts after reading articles about them in the model railroad magazines and was not disappointed. It was hot, it was loud, it was crowded, and it was fun! If you like model trains (or have kids that do), a visit here during their open house weekend will not disappoint.

I have to give these ultra, mega, total nerds some serious credit for developing a museum for model…read moretrains. This place is a local legend and it is open only a couple times a year to the public, the rest of the year the collector guys just sit around and play with trains i guess. This is a serious collection and a good spot to bring little kids to if they are well behaved and won't pick up sharp things just to try and swallow them.

(if you think this review is too long, just scroll to the bottom for my more "humorous"…read moreobservations) If you're driving on Adams Street towards Lower Mills or the other way towards East Milton Square, you might overlook this spot. If you're into historical sites and museums, this might be worth a look. Otherwise, you might just want to go to one of the many higher-profile museums in the area, like the Adams Historical Site the town next door. You have to reserve a spot in one of the scheduled tours to enter the museum. I went for a 1 pm tour and the next one was at 3. Trust me, the tour is really 2 hours long. The positive of this museum is that while the house is not that large in terms of square feet, you do get your bang for your buck. The tour guide was generally polite and rather informative. However, she always seemed to ask historical questions every time we entered a room and wanted us to answer - really got irritating as the tour went along. If I wanted to answer historical questions, I would've gone to a bar for stump trivia. Lastly, if you're not into this stuff, you will be bored out of your mind and will resort to utilizing the futuristic item called a smartphone. The Forbes family was involved in various historical events/periods and some of those rooms each had a theme from a time period. The family was involved in the China trade, so there's a decent collection of old Chinese furniture in the parlor. It doesn't compare to the Peabody Essex Museum, granted, but it's something. There is a room for the Forbes involvement in the Civil War and Abolition. Another room described the Forbes charitable endeavors during the Great Famine in Ireland during the mid-1800's. So you'll get some learnin' from various periods. Compared to other historical spots around the area, this one doesn't seem to be maintained well and needs better restoration. There was significant water damage in a few rooms and exhibit pieces (like beds, plates, etc.) seemed to be arranged worse than a 5-year old. The house needs a paint job in the worst way. Also compared to other historical sites, this one was rather dirty. There is a "gift shop", and by "gift shop", I mean a small glass case in the foyer containing books for sale. p.s. - you'll likely have older folks in your tour group that think "oriental" is still an acceptable way to describe Asians. p.p.s. - there's a nice Chinese junk model. It's in a glass case, and not in some sort luggage storage box or something. So you can't say there's junk in the trunk. *rim shot* :-P

Most people would drive by this historic home without paying much attention but the small staff is…read morevery friendly and often you can get a private or near-private tour of this gorgeous 1830's greek revival home which is filled with varying antiques but what is of particular interest is the vast array of objects collected by the Captain during the China trade years of the 1800's. Also, one of the previous owners was an avid collector of Abraham Lincoln memorabilia. The museum is set up more like a home and objects are easy to see and some can even be handled (kitchen area). The architecture inside and out is beautiful and the grounds keep with the feel of the home. The tour can be done on your own or guided. Great place to relax and take your time admiring the collection.

Step back into 1922 when Howard Carter discovered the tomb of King Tut…read more This immersive and interactive exhibit takes about an hour long. However, I am infatuated with Egypt, and I stayed nearly 2 hours, looking at every detail of these replica artifacts. There are numerous artifacts and historical trinkets that were found within the tomb. There are videos displayed throughout the exhibit through the dynasty and different hierarchical roles within the New Kingdom. Learn about the importance of the Nile and the different roles each King played during their rule. There is a VR station at the end of the exhibit to take in up close and personal with the Tomb itself. There is also a gift shop where I purchased some interesting items I simply love this exhibit, and I would go back again

I would call it good, not great. Artifacts, so you can't go in expecting much, and the exhibit is…read moreon the short side. That said, for what it is, it's a fun, interesting time. Rooms are spacious, so even when its slightly busy like when I was there, you can view something else in the room and backtrack within the room. Not something I'd pay full price for, but for a discounted rate, you should do it.

My nephew had just finished potty training not long before our visit and it was very much worth the…read moreeffort of me walking and him tricycling to the museum from his daycare on a very hot day. We definitely over-estimated how long we would need to tour the museum, but what a special treat to have the collection available (and free!) for visiting by appointment!

I'm a little flushed after experiencing this hidden gem in Watertown! I went there for a holiday…read moreparty and what a great space. It's a large open room with a mezzanine with exposed brick all kinds of antique plumbing fixtures and tools. My only regret was not using the actual bathroom to see if there was anything special there.

An interesting look into Marshfield's early history, the 1699 Historic Winslow house was a…read moresurprising "find" in nearby Marshfield. We have been enjoying "getting to know" our new area, and the Winslow house popped up during our search of things to do. If you live in Marshfield or surrounding towns, this is definitely an interesting-- albeit quick and easy-- sightseeing option for you, and/or guests that come into town for a visit. Hours and Admission: Tours are available to the public and run at 1 PM, 2 PM and 3 PM on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for children under 10, and free for Winslow House Association Members. Tour: Our "tour guide" was Jessica, recently appointed as executive director of the Winslow House. In addition to being very knowledgeable about the property's history, she was also exceedingly cordial and pleasant. The tour wasn't overwhelmingly long-- which, I prefer-- and went through each room of the house. Be aware, this tour may not be best for those with mobility issues; there are several sets of historic stairs which are steep with shallow steps. Please bring a cane, or a folding cane/seat combo if you require assistance and/or need to sit down often. There is very limited seating. Each room has an itemized booklet of the historic artifact contained within the room. It's a great reference if you'd like to learn a little bit more. The house and property: Parking is offered in a private gravel lot off of the main road. The house and property are in "good", mainly historic, condition. The Winslow House mostly runs on our dollars (via tour admissions, event tickets, and private donations), and so many of the renovations, as I understand it, are moderated. All of the artifacts in the house, while not all original to the house, are era-appropriate and historical. They have acquired some amazing historical pieces, especially in the way of documents, that I would love to see preserved for future generations. A modest gift shop-- complete with non-fiction books, postcards, posters-- greets you as you walk in the door, and is also where you pay admission. Nearby historical properties include the Daniel Webster house, and the Marcia Thomas house, to which a walking path leads off of the Winslow property. The grounds, while moderately well-kept, would truly benefit from some organized plantings. Should the money be made available, an orchard or historically-appropriate garden bed, would really add to the charm of the property. As it stands during our last visit, the property is groomed but not bursting with landscape design. Special Events: The Winslow House also hosts special events/talks/lectures. After our tour concluded, there was a lecture given on the Titanic and its passengers from Massachusetts. The talk was free, and tea, coffee, and light snacks were served gratis. I really enjoyed this additional educational talk, and would certainly love to attend more of these free events, should they take place. Jessica, the executive director, also pointed out to us that there are several ticketed events that will take place in the coming months: the Parisian Salon ("a wine and champagne tasting along with other delights from Paris and savor an exclusive taste of the musical exhibitions that happened in Paris during Louis XIV's reign"), and a 1920s Speakeasy night. Tickets for the Parisian event are $40 for non-members, and I would expect that the Prohibition event will cost around the same, although tickets have not been made available as of the writing of this review. I'm excited to hear that Jessica is making it a mission to host these types of events, as I will definitely be taking part in at least one this summer. The 1699 Historic Winslow House is a labor of love, per the association's website. It is a genuine relic of first period colonial mansions, "virtually untouched by modernization", and a true pleasure to explore. I greatly appreciate the direction that the current association members, board of directors, and executive directors are taking, in relation to events and community outreach and education. We will definitely be back for an event, and plan on bringing visitors for tours, as well.

The 1699 Winslow house is in a beautiful setting on Careswell Street in Marshfield. This house is…read moreintact, rustic and elegant at the same time. Winslow House is across the street from the footprint of Edward Winslow and Susannah White Winslow's original home near Duxbury bay. The house has a summer kitchen, winter kitchen with buttery and a six foot expansive hearth and central chimney. The brick oven, patterned ceiling, and period artifacts, including some from the Winslow's, add to the charm and spirituality of this beloved icon of Colonial and Revolutionary America. The founder of our town Edward Winslow and church, First Congregational Church of Marshfield, gathered in 1632 made many important legacies regarding education, political thought, equality of persons and dignity to our town and country. This home is well worth seeing and spending some time there.