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    Worcester Art Museum

    4.3 (107 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

    Worcester Art Museum Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Worcester Art Museum

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    Christopher P.

    This is one of my favorite places. Okay, so I'm a bit biased because I also got married there, but that's because it's held such a soft spot in my heart. I love museums, and as a Bostonian I do love the MFA. But there's something about WAM that elevates it above MFA. For me, it's the perfect size, with amazing exhibits that can be seen in an hour or two. The Renaissance Court is stunning and awe-inspiring, and the Chapter House (moved brick by brick from France) is jaw-dropping.

    Renee H.

    Whatever you do, don't bring your kids here. This museum has so much to offer. It had really awesome features were hands on was what they were looking for. Unfortunately, there hands on signs look just like the hands off signs and it becomes extremely confusing. I have never seen that many employees work at a museum. Every single area had employees actively watching every single move people made. Some rooms had multiple employees watching your every move. Every single display is in a case or on a wall. It's extremely unnerving to be in a two room area with a glass door separating us from leaving, but have a man constantly following your group from one room to the next. When we left that glass door area, he then tried to follow us into the next glass door area but must have been reassured when he saw there was yet another employee in the next area of glass doors just waiting to watch us look at paintings! This museum is well funded and has lots of space for their employees to constantly tell you not to touch things... even though we never touched one thing. They didn't even like if a child pointed to a painting BUT in the gift shop, while my rules are hands behind your back and please do not touch anything. The gift shop wanted to make sure the children knew, "THEY CAN TOUCH THAT." I explained our rules and we left the gift shop. It was a really interesting experience.

    Part of their armory collection
    Bell D.

    This museum has a great collection. There are many floors, each with different time periods and types of art in an array of different rooms. Upon entering, you're met with a beautiful mosaic, and the Chapter House. Both were so incredible to see. At the time we went, they were doing some construction, so we didn't get to see their full collections, but I do plan to return when construction is finished so I can finish seeing everything. The staff was very friendly upon arrival, as well as parking being quick and easy for the time we went. The whole experience took around 3 hours, so if you plan to explore a large portion or full museum, make sure you have a good amount of time aside.

    Art
    Tracy T.

    I was in the area for one of my teens activities today, other teen and I spent the day exploring, this art museum came highly recommended. 0-17 is free and admission for adults is 18$. The museum is absolutely beautiful and filled with something for everyone. They're are a few hands on displays for kids. Would definitely go back again if in the area, a hidden gem!

    Mosaic
    Andres D.

    Excellent art museum with a really wide variety of art. I really like the layout, which takes you from ancient art at the bottom floor, through the medieval-classic art of Europe of the next floor, and then more modern and contemporary art on the top floors (though randomly the precolombian mesoamerican art is at the top too). The museum also has a large quantity of arms and armor which I really enjoyed. Check it out!

    chapter house
    Tate C.

    the museum is much larger than i remembered from my first visit with two full floors and two sorta half floors. parking was easy to find, and i went on a friday morning. the only downside was that some of the security guards would buzz around the room like a fly that couldn't figure out how to get out of a window, and so there was a little bit of breathing down my back.

    Adoration, Crucifixion, and Ascension of Christ; southern Germany; late 1200s; ivory with traces of paint
    Paul L.

    me: Hello, one, please. ticket counter person: Is this your first time here? me: Yes. ticket counter person: You'll be impressed. Enjoy your visit. Unlike the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston that sees over one million visitors a year, this smaller but nevertheless encyclopedic museum is trying to crack 200,000 visitors by 2020. From the outside, the Worcester Art Museum occupies an entire block. It's a large complex that, frankly, looks worn out. Pavement is cracking outside the Lancaster Street entrance and the mundane lobby can dash expectations of what's inside this place. (There are plans to overhaul the entrance and expand the square footage.) Once past the lobby, I opened the doors into the museum itself. Immediately, an old-timey museum scent rushed into my nasal passages. I'm not exaggerating. One gallery, in particular, had such an overpowering odor that I noticed some visitors enter then depart instantly; it was just too much for them. Some galleries look they haven't been refreshed since the late 1960s; wall colors and art work labels (including occasional misspellings) are firmly from a few generations ago. With that said, the bones of this museum and its contents easily make up for any of its shortcomings. WAM is worth a visit from Boston, New York City, and even Los Angeles, too. There are remarkable old masters on the walls. The Renaissance Court is a glorious open space. The Chapter House was the first medieval structure brought to the United States back in 1927. The quality of the sculptures in the Indian galleries is superb. The fresh pre-Columbian gallery has compelling works. Perhaps, most notably, their armor collection is second only to New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art (although there isn't a lot of it currently on display). The Mid-20th Century gallery is not strong in depth but what's here is all very good. (WAM, what's up with non-flash photography not being permitted in this gallery? You may be the only museum left in the US that has placed such limits photography-wise on a permanent collection.) For me, this museum's highlight is easily the 'Worcester hunt mosaic,' a gigantic 6th century Roman floor mosaic that is the largest on display in any North American Museum. You'll be impressed. Enjoy your visit.

    Between mosaics and paintings...
    Marcia Cruz R.

    It is a great place to be with family and friends. The exhibitions help you learn about other cultures. The staff is respectful, professional, and attentive. A place to always come back!

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    Ask the Community - Worcester Art Museum

    Review Highlights - Worcester Art Museum

    The Chapter House was the first medieval structure brought to the United States back in 1927.

    Mentioned in 7 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Worcester Historical Museum

    Worcester Historical Museum

    4.5(10 reviews)
    0.6 mi

    Worcester, Massachusetts a little bit of unknown fun and our first time here…read more As we were exploring the area around the convention center we ventured to Elm Street and started walking . The streets are so quiet and peaceful here. Each little event is marked with some sort of celebration of history. Then we found the historical significance museum . We are definitely going in . Oh my, the museum was "free to get in and explore. " Who would have known that Worcesters world was not so small after all . It was interesting to think about. Going all the way back to 1840, the monkey wrench was created by Loring Coe in 1840. Shredded Wheat cereal was created by Henry Perky in 1895. The National Women's Rights Convention was first held in Worcester in 1850 with Susan B Anthony attending. The first Valentine Day cards were mass produced here by Esther Howland in 1847. In 1914 the liquid fueled rocket patent by Dr Robert Goddard was issued the very first one . The "smiley face" created by Harvey Ball in 1963 was kicked off . At the museum here they break down each era of Worcesters beginning and outline what happened in that specific period of time. It a chronological masterpiece. In the displays many things have been featured. Make sure and take a piece home of history with you and visit the small area that is the gift shop. Many items aside from the "Smiley Face," were made by local artists. Thank you to the staff and the city of Worcester for all their knowledge and smiles!

    Such an underrated gem of Worcester :)…read more Heard about the free admission for everyone until January in honor of a long time Museum Trustee. I was amazed and fell in love with all things Worcester! I had no idea of all the wonderful inventions & creations it had to offer as well as the well informed museum hosts who were so well educated on the history and facts about the museum. So very fortunate to have visited this museum and have even more appreciation for the Worcester community.

    Photos
    Worcester Historical Museum
    Worcester Historical Museum
    Worcester Historical Museum

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    Salisbury Mansion - Front of house

    Salisbury Mansion

    4.7(6 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    What a beautiful home. Open to the general public for tours at 1pm, 2pm and 3pm, the door is kept…read morelocked. We knocked a couple of times before it was opened. We were a bit early for the tour and waited in the hallway until tour time began. One other gentleman joined the tour on this weekday visit. The house was moved from down the hill to it's current location in 1929 leaving behind a kitchen addition and outbuilding. Originally the home was mostly a store with a ground floor kitchen and living quarters over head. Later, the shop space was turned into a small office, central staircase, hallway, dining room and parlor as it is today displayed. The tour included information about the original owners family and their impact on the City of Worcester. The building was temporarily used as rental property, one of which was a men's club who tore down walls to build a bowling alley. Because why not? The museum has restored that area to be as close to period as possible. Some items in the home are original to the family, including a beautiful harp. Other items in the home are appropriate to the period and include some beautiful dresses, furniture and artwork from one of the gentleman's 'tour of the Continent'. One fun piece on display is a Lego mock-up of the home. The tour guide is very knowledgeable and friendly. Parking is located next to the building. I'm not sure if it's wheelchair accessible due to it's age. There certainly is no elevator to reach the upper level and the staircase is steep. Some of the wall paper has been reproduced from pieces found during renovation and the lower level floors covered in a reproduced 'floor cloth' which the tour guide described as 'the original linoleum'. Very interesting view into life in Worcester during the late 1700's and early 1800's.

    Great tour. Guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. Showing just a few photos so you can see the…read morerest for yourself! Go there - it's awesome!

    Photos
    Salisbury Mansion - Piano Forte

    Piano Forte

    Salisbury Mansion - Back of house faces WAM.

    Back of house faces WAM.

    Salisbury Mansion - Lego replica of the house!

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    Lego replica of the house!

    Museum of Bad Art - "Blue Eyed Fox" ( I think)

    Museum of Bad Art

    4.2(59 reviews)
    38.0 miDorchester

    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
    Museum of Bad Art - "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
    Museum of Bad Art - "Hot, Hot, Hot (Victoria's Real Secret)"

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    "Hot, Hot, Hot (Victoria's Real Secret)"

    Old Sturbridge Village - Tin makers shop

    Old Sturbridge Village

    4.1(186 reviews)
    19.0 mi

    Longtime visitor, former volunteer. The good- OSV is an…read moreinvaluable historical resource and wealth of information, research, and a breeding ground of historical interpretation methods. If you go to any history or museum conference, you'll find staff and former staff there. They're some of the best in the game, and their staff are unbeatable experts in very niche subjects. Their focus on rural social history was revolutionary when it started and still is revolutionary today. A lot of museums will teach you about political history. Not a lot will teach you about domestic life in OSV's level of detail. For visitors, OSV is sort of a "you get what you want out of it" experience. Some visitors come wanting to talk to interpreters and learn, others want to walk through quickly. Those people don't learn as much. The not so good- management seems more interested in running money laundering charter schools than retaining or paying their excellent staff. I've seen historians who have been interviewed in books and documentaries leave for much less prestigious jobs because it's just not worth it for them to stay. The price- day admission price is really high. I wish more people know there lower cost options. Many regional libraries lend day passes.

    I hadn't been to sturbridge village since I was a kid. First as a field trip in elementary school,…read moreand then my parents had a membership for a year (while still in elementary school). That was probably 1977 or so. We happened to go on seniors day, (2 for 1 entry) after the sting of being a senior wore off (hahaha) we went in and checked it out. It's a big place, as a child I thought it was VAST!! I think we spent 4 to 4.5 hours walking through the buildings and talking to the enactors. I've read biographies of the US presidents of the period so was able to have some very good conversations talking to folks about life, education, etc. during that time. I thought it was a great day. It would be nice to visit during the different seasons to see how they impact people's lives during the periods represented. I highly recommend a visit.

    Photos
    Old Sturbridge Village - A family visits the Blacksmith

    A family visits the Blacksmith

    Old Sturbridge Village
    Old Sturbridge Village

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    Electromagnetic Pinball Museum and Restoration - Skeeball (or ice ball if you prefer)

    Electromagnetic Pinball Museum and Restoration

    5.0(60 reviews)
    34.8 mi

    Well that was super fun…read more When we arrived no one was on the desk so we began to wander the first floor. If you just want to walk around, and check out the machines that is free. I saw someone who works there and he gave us a quick 'tour'. Pinball machines are set up here by year beginning in the 1930's! There a many from the 70's, a big collection of 80's and then further back it's a mix. The tour took up upstairs. There is a wheelchair lift here, however, you have to step over a barrier at the bottom of the doorway leading to the stairs so not really handicap accessible? Call if you need info on that. Keep that door at the bottom of the staircase open so you can get back! At the top of the steps is a private event room. (sorry no photo, a meeting was going on). Turn right after the event room and follow the hallway to the 'Blue Room' on the left at the end. Here you'll find a small, open space for a party with shelves of board games, a table and comfy couches. The Blue Room includes several racing games (seated style), shooter games, skeeball, basketball throw and other arcade games. There were a couple dozen pinball machines without an outlet to play them stored in this space. Our tour guide tells us for events up to 150 people, these games are moved out and tables moved into that space. The second floor hosts many other businesses so be respectful when in the halls. Our visit lasted about two hours playing all the games. Some of the pinball machines include information on who designed them and other info. The Star Trek machine is signed by some of the actors. Scoobydoo, Addams family, Aerosmith, Rick & Morty, Dolly Parton, on and on. Some games have hepatic feedback - like when the dinosaur eats your ball in the Jurasic Park pinball game the entire machine shakes. I love how the machines are all set to 'free play'. You just hit the start button (usually a round button on the front) and you get your three balls. When that game ends, hit start again and you get another three balls. Also, if you loose a ball quickly, you get an extra ball. Really makes for a fun experience. Admission is ten dollars per person (all ages), cash or credit, and covers playing all the available games for the whole day - come and go as you please. Parking is available next to the building in two lots. No food or drink are available for sale here. When hosting an event here, bring your own catering. Contact them/visit their website for details on hosting events. Public restrooms are on the upper level off the hallway. The museum space is more or less warehouse space. It was cold in there when we visited and we left our coats and hats on (February). When there are a lot of games being played, it gets loud, so be prepared. There are a few step stools for the smaller kids. Check next to or under the machines for those or if you have a collapsable one at home maybe bring it along just in case they are all in use. During our week day visit there were a fair amount of adults in there enjoying pinball and all the other games. Staff are knowledgeable and very easy to chat with. Definitely plan an outting to visit this fun museum diguised as an arcade. Alone, or with the kids. You might become the 'fun uncle' after a day here with the nibblings.

    We had so much fun discovering the Pinball Hall of Fame in Las Vegas several years ago, so when I…read moreheard about this similar concept in Rhode Island, I had to visit. It did not disappoint! The variety of functioning arcade games is limited, but there are many working/playable pinball machines from different eras and manufacturers. And sadly, many non-functioning machines (hopefully temporary). Michael and the quirky staff will enthusiastically provide a quick tour of the no-frills warehouse. With the super reasonable $10 all-you-can play concept, I was really able to test out so many different machines which gave me a new appreciation for the differences between the older Bally and Williams machines, and some of the modern outrageously themed machines. Surprisingly, I quickly discovered I had strong preferences in pinball machines. Who knew?! Ultimately, I found myself drawn to the simpler Bally style machines from decades ago, as the modern flashing lights in the dark warehouse were a bit of a sensory overload for me. As fun as The Simpsons and Family Guy might be, I hope Michael and his team are able to preserve the classic machines for many others to discover and enjoy for a long time!

    Photos
    Electromagnetic Pinball Museum and Restoration - Elton John pinball

    Elton John pinball

    Electromagnetic Pinball Museum and Restoration - Even us old guys love this!

    Even us old guys love this!

    Electromagnetic Pinball Museum and Restoration - Old School

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    Old School

    Worcester Art Museum - artmuseums - Updated May 2026

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