Field trips are a great way to reboot a bad homeschooling week, get out of the house when everyone has cabin fever, and learn about your local area. Before heading out, check out Jeanne's tips for improving homeschool field trips.
Our listing of Massachusetts field trips for homeschoolers is ordered alphabetically by city. If you would like to submit a Massachusetts field trip destination, you may do so using the red button above.
Discovery Museum (Acton, MA)Acton
There is a museum building and an outdoor nature playscape on our campus; Discovery Museum and Discovery Woods are both accessible and are for all ages. Discovery Museum combines the best exhibits—beautifully reimagined and redesigned using Universal Design principles—from the former Science Discovery Museum and Children's Discovery Museum into one building. There are also a number of outdoor exhibits spread throughout our 4.5-acre campus, and a trailhead to 180 acres of Great Hill conservation land. And, of course, Bessie the dinosaur graces our lawn.
Long Plain MuseumAcushnet
The Long Plain Museum is a fascinating local history museum, with many interesting features: a life-size diorama depicting a blacksmith shop that was once located across the street, a 'Whaling Wall' of portraits of Acushnet whaling captains and their homes, an 1875 school room kept just as it looked over 125 years ago, a room of 19th Century fashions, and a 4-room apartment with authentic 19th century furniture and utensils. Open 1 pm - 3 pm on select days seasonally.
Mead Art MuseumAmherst
Welcome to the Mead Art Museum, which holds the art collection of Amherst College, among the most selective and most diverse liberal arts institutions in the United States, founded in 1821 and committed to the education of its 1,600 students. The Mead serves Amherst's educational mission by helping to make its 16,000-object collection relevant to teaching and research across the disciplines through special exhibitions, events, publications, and class visits. The Museum serves a wider public by bringing any curious visitor into contact with original works of art and with leading thinkers drawn from the Amherst campus and beyond, always free of charge and in a facility that is fully accessible.
Amherst History MuseumAmherst
The Amherst History Museum opened in 1916 and is governed by the Amherst Historical Society, which was founded in 1899. Housed in the 1750-era Strong House, the Amherst History Museum takes visitors on a journey from the town's colonial past, through its industrial age and into the computer-driven present.
The Emily Dickinson MuseumAmherst
The Emily Dickinson Museum comprises two historic houses in the center of Amherst, Massachusetts, associated with the poet Emily Dickinson and members of her family during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The Homestead was the birthplace and home of the poet Emily Dickinson. The Evergreens, next door, was home to her brother Austin, his wife Susan, and their three children.
Addison Gallery of American ArtAndover
Home to a world-class collection of American art, the Addison Gallery, located on the campus of Phillips Academy in Andover, MA, presents an adventurous exhibition program, hosts a vital artist-in-residence program, and works collaboratively with students and faculty at the Academy and in neighboring communities. Through our ongoing query What is America?, the Addison seeks to engage with the history of American art and American experience—past, present, and future. Comprised of more than 29,000 works in all media—painting, sculpture, photography, drawings, prints, and decorative arts—from the 18th century to the present, the Addison Gallery’s collection of American art is one of the most important in the world.
Attleboro Arts MuseumAttleboro
The Attleboro Arts Museum involves audiences of all ages and backgrounds in the visual arts through diverse educational programs and engaging arts experiences. We work to support the creative and artistic development of both promising and professional artists. The Museum is a privately supported, non-profit arts institution whose core commitment to Arts for Everyone guides the Museum's programs and operations.
Capron Park ZooAttleboro
Capron Park Zoo strives to prove that big things do come in small packages. Situated in the heart of Attleboro and surrounded by beautiful grounds, Capron Park Zoo has been one of the area's premiere recreational facilities for more than 70 years. Combined with an award-winning playground and exciting educational programs, the Zoo is sure to delight the young and young at heart. Whether it's watching the Lions wrestle, coming face-to-face with a Snow Monkey, staring at a snake or relaxing in our Rainforest, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
Attleboro Area Industrial MuseumAttleboro
It is the mission of the Attleboro Area Industrial Museum, Inc. (AAIM) to collect and preserve the artifacts, photographs, documents, publications, tools, and machinery that relate to the industrial history of the Attleboro area; to make these materials readily available for both research and enjoyment; and to act as a resource center for the education of the public about the industrial history of the Attleboro area, so that knowledge of the past may contribute to a fuller understanding of the present and inspiration for the future. The museum includes more than two dozen exhibits, such as cast-iron stoves and metal-working, the origin of the World Series trophy, the prototype GI doll, and military insignias and buttons.
Job Lane HouseBedford
The Deacon Job Lane House is a memorial to the character of the American Colonists of Bedford, Massachusetts. Built around 1715 on land which was part of an original land grant from King Charles II in the seventeenth century, this salt box-style house was enlarged and the interior remodeled in the Federal style around 1827, and lived in continuously until the 1960s. From its origins in 1664, when housewright Job Lane transformed the land into a home, to its days as a bustling farm under the Dutton family, the site embodies the spirit of its era. Witness the artistic murals of Rufus Porter, explore a herb garden inspired by “the Herb Lady” Lillian Dutton, and discover a community’s dedication to preserving this landmark through the addition of a 1720s-style barn raised by over 80 volunteers. Each corner of the Job Lane House tells a unique story of innovation, community, and heritage, inviting visitors to step back in time.
The Stone House MuseumBelchertown
The Belchertown Historical Association is one of the oldest not-for-profit organizations in the Pioneer Valley. The Stone House Museum has preserved and protected the history of Belchertown and its neighbors for over 75 years. In addition to its impressive collection of over 30,000 artifacts, the Museum boasts one of the most extensive newspaper and public document archives in the area. The largely volunteer staff is devoted to providing historically accurate tours and provides a lively interpretation of 19th century living to hundreds of visitors annually, ranging from schoolchildren to lifelong learners.
Dighton Rock State ParkBerkley
Interested in local history? Visit the museum to learn about the mysterious carvings in Dighton Rock. Open Wednesdays through Sundays, 10:30 AM - 4:30 PM, from mid-May through mid-October. Staffing adjustments may necessitate unscheduled closures. Open by appointment at all other times. Call ahead to confirm hours or arrange a visit: (508) 644-5522.
Beverly Historical Society & MuseumBeverly
The Beverly Historical Society and Museum has been preserving and caring for Beverly's past since 1891. Tour one of our historic sites, learn about your family history, visit the Walker Transportation Collection or explore two floors of exhibits at the Cabot House Museum.
New England AquariumBoston
Founded in 1969, the New England Aquarium is a global leader in ocean exploration and marine conservation. The Aquarium is one of the premier visitor attractions in Boston, with over 1.3 million visitors a year, and a major public education resource.
Museum Of Bad ArtBoston
The Museum Of Bad Art (MOBA) is the world's only museum dedicated to the collection, preservation, exhibition and celebration of bad art in all its forms. It is only through the efforts of the worldwide Friends of MOBA that we have been able to carry out our mission: to bring the worst of art to the widest of audiences.
Institute of Contemporary ArtBoston
A museum at the intersection of contemporary art and civic life, the ICA has advanced a bold vision for amplifying the artist’s voice and expanding the museum’s role as educator, incubator, and convener. Its exhibitions, performances, and educational programs provide access to the breadth and diversity of contemporary art, artists, and the creative process, inviting audiences of all ages and backgrounds to participate in the excitement of new art and ideas. Guided and self-guided group tours available with advance reservations. Admission is always free for visitors 18 and under.
Museum of Fine Arts (Boston)Boston
The Museum of Fine Arts houses and preserves preeminent collections and aspires to serve a wide variety of people through direct encounters with works of art. Through exhibitions, programs, research and publications, the Museum documents and interprets its own collections. It provides information and perspective on art through time and throughout the world. Guided and self-guided field trips available with advance reservations. The museum also offers specially designed in-person homeschool classes for kids and teens, ages 6 to 18, on Friday mornings. Taught by trained Museum educators, these age-appropriate programs last two hours, include a pre-tour activity, gallery exploration, and a related art lesson.
Boston University Art GalleryBoston
BUAG is a vibrant resource of learning and cultural engagement for BU, the city of Boston, and the surrounding metro area. The galleries, which are free and open to the public, maintain ongoing rotating exhibitions that feature a wide scope of art from all ranges of mediums and artists.
Boston Children's MuseumBoston
Founded in 1913 by a group of teachers in Boston's Jamaica Plain neighborhood, Boston Children's Museum began a "hands-on" tradition long before that phrase became commonplace. Today, after 90 years, Boston Children's Museum exists to help children understand and enjoy the world in which they live. As an early museum experience for children, our environment is informal, but our purpose is serious. We want children to grow up feeling secure and self-confident with respect for others and the natural world. We encourage imagination, curiosity, questioning, and realism. We provide opportunities for new insights, involvement with the world and understanding of human differences with world-class exhibits and programs.
Boston African American National Historic SiteBoston
The African Meeting House was built in 1806 to house the first African Baptist Church of Boston. It was the first African American Baptist church created north of the Mason Dixon Line and is now the oldest surviving black church building in America. In 1863, it served as a recruitment post for the Massachusetts 54th Volunteer Regiment, which was the first official African American military regiment to fight for the Union in the Civil War.
Bunker Hill MonumentBoston
"Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!" This legendary order has come to symbolize the conviction and determination of the ill-equipped American colonists facing powerful British forces during the famous battle fought on this site on June 17, 1775. The battle is popularly known as "The Battle of Bunker Hill" although most of the fighting actually took place on Breed's Hill, the site of the existing monument and exhibit lodge. Today, a 221-foot granite obelisk marks the site of the first major battle of the American Revolution. Learn about the Battle and Monument by visiting the Bunker Hill Museum. Visitors can climb the monument by entering through the Bunker Hill Lodge. Guided and self-guided tours available.
Museum of Science, BostonBoston
Home school groups of at least nine visitors can make reservations over the phone and gain access to discounted school group pricing for teachers, chaperones, and students. We encourage you to collaborate to form larger groups and set up a reservation. Call Science Central at 617-723-2500. Groups of fewer than nine should go to the Box Office, where normal admission rates apply. Frequent home school visitors will find Museum membership to be a better value than standard box office pricing. We offer several levels of membership, all of which include a variety of benefits such as IMAX and Planetarium passes, discounted parking, and admission to other science museums.
Massachusetts Historical SocietyBoston
The MHS offers many resources for visitors to learn, connect, and inspire, including exhibitions, events, tours, brown-bag lunches, seminars, workshops, and a research library. Our regular gallery hours are Monday, and Wednesday through Friday, from 9:30 AM to 4:45 PM, Tuesday from 9:30 AM to 7:45 PM (the MHS opens at 12:00 PM on the second Tuesday of the month), and Saturday from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Visit the hours and admissions page for closings related to holidays and other events. Please note that the last admission for exhibition visitors is 45 minutes prior to closing.
Gibson House MuseumBoston
Built in 1859-60, the Gibson House stands as the historic house museum of the Back Bay. In 2001, the National Park Service declared the Gibson House a National Historic Landmark. It is unique as an unspoiled single-family residence that retains its kitchen, scullery, butler's pantry and water closets, as well as formal rooms and private family quarters, filled with the Gibsons' original furniture and personal possessions. Visitors enjoy a glimpse of the lives of a well-to-do Boston family and their domestic staff. The Museum is open to the public year-round, by guided tour only. Walk-ins for a tour are welcome! However, space is limited. It's recommended that you purchase your tickets in advance to guarantee your spot on the tour.
Paul Revere HouseBoston
On the night of April 18, 1775, silversmith Paul Revere left his small wooden home in Boston's North End and set out on a journey that would make him into a legend. Today that home is still standing at 19 North Square and has become a national historic landmark. It is downtown Boston's oldest building and one of the few remaining from an early era in the history of colonial America. The courtyard features a 900 pound bell, a small mortar and a bolt from the USS Constitution, all made by Paul Revere & Sons.
The Pierce/Hichborn HouseBoston
The Pierce/Hichborn House, built about 1711, is one of the earliest remaining brick structures in Boston. The house is an excellent example of early Georgian architecture. Its elegant symmetrical style was a radical change from the wood-framed Tudor dwellings, such as the Revere House, common in 17th-century Boston. The home was built for Moses Pierce, a glazier, and was later owned by Nathaniel Hichborn, a boatbuilder and a cousin of Paul Revere.
Old North ChurchBoston
The enduring fame of the Old North began on the evening of April 18, 1775, when the church sexton, Robert Newman, climbed the steeple and held high two lanterns as a signal from Paul Revere that the British were marching to Lexington and Concord by sea and not by land. This fateful event ignited the American Revolution. Officially known as Christ Church in the City of Boston. It was built in 1723, and is the oldest standing church building in Boston. In 1775, on the eve of Revolution, the majority of the congregation were loyal to the British King and many held official positions in the royal government, including the Royal Governor of Massachusetts, making Robert Newman's loyalty to the Patriot cause even more extraordinary. The King gave the Old North its silver that was used at services and a bible.
Waterworks MuseumBoston
Get pumped for an in-person or virtual Field Trip with the Waterworks Museum! We offer a variety of hands-on curriculum-based programs for students of all ages, engaging curious young minds with STEM concepts, Urban and Industrial History, Public Health issues and Water Conservation strategies. Check out our full program listings for Preschool all the way through High School here: https://waterworksmuseum.org/education/
Isabella Stewart Gardner MuseumBoston
Isabella Stewart Gardner first welcomed visitors to her museum on New Year's Day, 1903. On that evening guests listened to the music of Bach, Mozart, and Schumann, gazed in wonder at the courtyard full of flowers, and viewed one of the nation's finest collections of art. Today, visitors experience much the same thing. The Gardner Museum has remained essentially unchanged since its founder's death in 1924. Unchanged but certainly not stagnant. Three floors of galleries surround a garden courtyard blooming with life in all seasons. The galleries are filled with paintings, sculpture, tapestries, furniture, and decorative arts from cultures spanning thirty centuries.
New England Pirate MuseumBoston
Relive the adventures of Captains Kidd and Blackbeard, who roamed freely offshore plundering merchant ships. Participate in an educational, historically accurate and entertaining, live walking tour with a qualified guide who encourages student participation and questions. The tour starts in our artifacts room with authentic pirate treasures. Then you'll stroll through a colonial seaport, board a pirate ship, and explore an eighty foot cave, where you are sure to encounter some of those 17th century rascals face to face. Join us at the Pirate Museum to learn more about New England's adventurous sea-robbers. Curriculum packets are available. Inquire about our educational pirate visiting your school. Seasonal - May through November.
Boston Tea Party Ships & MuseumBoston
The Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum offers a fully immersive experience that combines live performance and state-of-the-art technology to take you through the historical events of December 16th, 1773. Join Samuel Adams and the Sons of Liberty in a town meeting before storming on board one of our replica tea ships to toss the King's tea into the sea, then travel through the 16 months after the Boston Tea Party to see how your actions impacted the course of American history. All ages welcome; Group Rates available for groups of 15 or more, and Virtual Tours available for those out-of-state.
Old State House MuseumBoston
Known today as the Old State House, this building was the center of Boston's civic life in the 18th century and the scene of some of the most dramatic chapters in the lead-up to the American Revolution. Within these walls, Samuel Adams, James Otis, John Hancock, and John Adams debated the future of the British colonies. Just outside the building, five men were among the first casualties of the battle for independence, in what would later be known as the Boston Massacre. The Declaration of Independence was proclaimed from the balcony to the citizens of Boston in 1776. History happened here. As you explore the Old State House Museum you will discover wonderful stories about the people and events that shaped the history of the city, colony, state, and nation. Two floors of exhibitions tell the story of the role the building--and Boston--played in the American Revolution. Other exhibitions highlight the collections of The Bostonian Society. See tea from the Boston Tea Party and John Hancock's coat; listen to testimony from the Boston Massacre trial; view paintings of Boston harbor and other Boston treasures. Hands-on History galleries on the second floor provide interactive exhibitions for families with children.
Nichols House MuseumBoston
The Nichols House Museum offers a unique glimpse into late 19th and early 20th century domestic life on Boston's historic Beacon Hill. The four-story row house was built in 1804 during the early development of Beacon Hill. The original Federal design is attribute to Charles Bulfinch. The interiors are decorated with original furnishings of the Nichols' family. The museum offers an active schedule of lectures, events, and educational programs throughout the year.
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and MuseumBoston
The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum is dedicated to the memory of our nation's thirty-fifth president and to all those who through the art of politics seek a new and better world. Located on a ten-acre park, overlooking the sea that he loved and the city that launched him to greatness, the Library stands as a vibrant tribute to the life and times of John F. Kennedy. Come tour our Museum which portrays the life, leadership, and legacy of President Kennedy, conveys his enthusiasm for politics and public service, and illustrates the nature of the office of the President.
USS Constitution MuseumBoston
The USS Constitution Museum ensures that the stories of USS CONSTITUTION and those who shaped her history are never forgotten, always remain relevant, and inspire as many people as possible.
McMullen MuseumBoston
Boston College's McMullen Museum of Art serves as a dynamic educational resource for all of New England as well as the national and the international community. The Museum displays its notable permanent collection and mounts exhibitions of scholarly importance from all periods and cultures of the history of art. The Museum is free and open to the public and free parking is available.
Old South Meeting HouseBoston
Since the 1773 mass protest meetings that led to the Boston Tea Party, Old South Meeting House has served as a gathering place for discussion and celebration and a haven for free speech. Today you can visit this beautiful National Historic Landmark and museum to experience events that shaped the United States or attend a program that helps keep the democratic ideals of freedom of speech and assembly alive.
The Sports MuseumBoston
Housed on Levels 5 and 6 of the TD Garden, we have more than a half-mile of exhibits celebrating sports in Boston (and beyond).
Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of MassachusettsBoston
This is the third-oldest chartered military organization in the World, and the oldest in the Western Hemisphere! The rich tradition of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company can be seen in its Museum. Headquartered in Faneuil Hall, Boston, the Company boasts one of the finest military museums in the United States.
Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts website
Arnold ArboretumBoston
The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University is the oldest public arboretum in North America and one of the world's leading centers for the study of plants. Our 281-acre landscape featuring over 15,000 accessioned plants is open daily and free for all to explore. Whether you are coming for a stroll, on the lookout for wildlife, or interested in learning the stories and science behind our plants, we value accessibility as an institution and offer something for everyone.
Boston National Historical ParkBoston
Boston is called the "Cradle of Liberty". This park offers visitors a look throughout American History in the part that Boston has played in liberty for all Americans.
PhotoWalksBoston
Discover Boston on a history and photography walking tour with PhotoWalks! Capture amazing pictures of the cityscape, iconic landmarks and must-see attractions. Learn how to see creatively using your camera or smartphone, whether you're a newbie, amateur or advanced photographer. All ages and skill levels are welcome.
Tufts University Art GalleriesBoston & Medford
As the home for visual arts at Tufts University, the Tufts University Art Galleries (TUAG) create a dynamic learning space through a responsive program of exhibitions, events, collecting, and scholarship across our two locations—in Medford at the Aidekman Arts Center, and in Boston at SMFA at Tufts. Tufts University Art Galleries oversee the exhibition spaces in the Shirley and Alex Aidekman Arts Center in Medford, the galleries and public programs at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA) at Tufts in Boston, and Tufts University’s Permanent and Public Art Collection. We present up to four major exhibitions per semester, including one-person and group exhibitions, centered on contemporary topics. The Tufts University Permanent Art Collection includes approximately 2,400 works, spanning from ancient Mediterranean and pre-Columbian sculpture to modern and contemporary painting, sculpture, photography, and video.
Museum of African American HistoryBoston and Nantucket
The Museum of African American History is New England's largest museum dedicated to preserving, conserving and interpreting the contributions of African Americans. In Boston and Nantucket, the Museum has preserved four historic sites and two Black Heritage Trails® that tell the story of organized black communities from the Colonial Period through the 19th century.
Aptucxet Trading Post MuseumBourne
Aptucxet Trading Post may have the earliest remains of a Pilgrim building. The known facts present a fascinating story, not only of an antique building but also of Bourne's participation in 17th-century events. The structure existing today is a replica erected on the original 1627 foundation, which was archaeologically excavated in the 1920s, and is surrounded by 12 acres of recreational land.
New England Botanic Garden at Tower HillBoylston
Today’s Garden sits on nearly 200 acres. It includes conservatories, formal and naturalistic gardens, a café, Garden Shop, walking trails, accessible pathways, and expansive views of the Wachusett Reservoir. A nonprofit organization and AAM-accredited museum, we care for an irreplaceable collection of plants and place sustainability and environmental stewardship at the forefront of our work. A robust, year-round calendar of educational classes, activities, and events engages people of all ages in meaningful experiences with plants. Guided and self-guided field trips available with advance reservations.
Cape Cod Museum of Natural HistoryBrewster
The Cape Cod Museum of Natural History in Brewster, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod, was founded in 1954. There are two floors of exhibits about the flora and fauna of Cape Cod, including exhibits on whales, indigenous birds, and coastal change, and several aquaria holding different species of crustaceans, mollusks, fish, frogs, turtles, and snakes. Several displays are interactive and geared to children. Special, temporary exhibits enhance the permanent collection.
Brockton Fire MuseumBrockton
Opened in May of 1992, the Brockton Fire Museum was constructed for the purpose of preserving the proud history of fire fighting in the Brockton area. The artfully designed building, with wide pumpkin pine floors and subdued lighting, effectively conveys the atmosphere of a classic Brockton fire station during Victorian times. Literally thousands of fascinating fire fighting artifacts are preserved within the 2000 square-foot structure. The largest object on display is the beautifully restored 1850s Hand-Tub Pumper called "The Protector." There is also a touching memorial dedicated to the memory of the 13 Brockton firemen who were killed in the Strand Theater disaster in 1941 - the most firemen killed in a building fire in the nation's history.
Fuller Craft MuseumBrockton
Come to Fuller Craft Museum and discover the world of contemporary craft! Contemporary craft includes one-of-a-kind works of art in a variety of media—such as glass, metal, wood, ceramics, and fiber—with a basis in both form and function. Fuller Craft Museum is now the premier destination for contemporary craft in all of New England, and one of a select few craft museums in the United States. The Museum showcases master craftspeople as well as emerging contemporary artists who use craft materials in new ways; makers who work primarily with their hands in materials that are tactile and familiar have stretched the boundaries of these functional everyday objects into the conceptual, the personal, the virtuosic, and the wildly imaginative realms. Admission is offered on a pay-what-you-can basis. Guided and self-guided tours are available with advance reservations. There is a fee for guided group tours.
John F. Kennedy National Historic SiteBrookline
Preserving the birthplace of America's 35th president. In 1967, the president's mother returned here, where Kennedy spent his boyhood, and restored the house to her recollection of its 1917 appearance. Each year, thousands of visitors join NPS staff to share Mrs. Kennedy's memories in a tour of the house and neighborhood that, in her words, hold "many happy memories." Lesson plans are available.
Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic SiteBrookline
Frederick Law Olmsted (1822-1903) is recognized as the founder of American landscape architecture and the nation's foremost parkmaker. Olmsted moved his home to suburban Boston in 1883 and established the world's first full-scale professional office for the practice of landscape design. During the next century, his sons and successors perpetuated Olmsted's design ideals, philosophy, and influence. Discover the workings of the country's first professional landscape architecture office and explore the influence Frederick Law Olmsted, his sons, and their associates had on the American landscape. Join a ranger on an expedition through the country's first full-scale landscape architecture office. A guided tour takes you through the Historic Design Office, where ideas were expressed through the creation of plans, drawings, photographs, and other materials, which were then used to build landscapes across the nation. After the tour, stroll through our self-guided exhibits to learn more about the wide spectrum of work and happenings of the Olmsted office.
Larz Anderson Auto MuseumBrookline
Just a ten-minute drive from downtown Boston, the Larz Anderson Auto Museum in the 64-acre Larz Anderson Park showcases "America’s Oldest Car Collection" in the historic Carriage House. The museum offers engaging attractions, including Lawn Events, family-friendly gatherings, and car history lectures. A visit promises a day of exploration and enjoyment, creating lasting memories. The Andersons' collection began with an 1899 Winton 4-hp Runabout and grew to include 32 motorcars and horse-drawn carriages. After Isabel Anderson's death in 1948, the collection was entrusted to the VMCCA, forming the Larz Anderson Auto Museum. The museum features exhibits, educational forums, and themed Lawn Events. Group tours of the Museum are available by reservation year-round, Tuesday through Friday, and can be scheduled between 10 am and 3 pm. The Museum offers an enjoyable and informative tour of the Museum with in depth discussions on the automobiles, the history of the unique Carriage House, and the Andersons, which can be catered to any group and their needs. Tours range from 50 minutes to 75 minutes, and each one includes a guided tour of the current exhibit and permanent collection, and the history behind the Museum.
Harvard Art MuseumsCambridge
Just steps away from Harvard Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the Harvard Art Museums welcome visitors from around the corner and around the world. Visitors can enjoy the many amenities that greet them upon entering the museums’ beautifully restored Calderwood Courtyard on the first floor—our own version of a town square. From there, grab a coffee or snack in Jenny’s Cafe or browse the many unique gifts in the museum shop before exploring over 50 galleries of art across three floors. The Harvard Art Museums are comprised of three museums—the Fogg Museum, Busch-Reisinger Museum, and Arthur M. Sackler Museum—each with a different history, collection, guiding philosophy, and identity. With an early collection that consisted largely of plaster casts and photographs, the Fogg Museum is now renowned for its holdings of western paintings, sculpture, decorative arts, photographs, prints, and drawings dating from the Middle Ages to the present. The Busch-Reisinger Museum’s holdings include significant works of Austrian Secession art, German expressionism, 1920s abstraction, and materials related to the Bauhaus. Other strengths include late-medieval sculpture and 18th-century art. The museum also holds noteworthy postwar and contemporary art from German-speaking Europe. The Arthur M. Sackler Museum is dedicated to works from Asia, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean. The museums are open Tuesday through Sunday, from 10am to 5pm, and are free to all visitors every day.
Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters National Historic SiteCambridge
Longfellow National Historic Site is the home of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, one of the world's foremost 19th-century poets. The house also served as headquarters for General George Washington during the Siege of Boston, July 1775 - April 1776.
Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site website
Peabody Museum of Archaeology and EthnologyCambridge
Founded in 1866, the Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology is one of the oldest museum in the world devoted to anthropology and houses one of the most comprehensive records of human cultural history in the Western Hemisphere.
Harvard Museum of Natural HistoryCambridge
The Harvard Museum of Natural History was established in 1998 as the public face of three research museum: the Museum of Comparative Zoology, the Harvard University Herbaria, and the Mineralogical and Geological Museum. Presenting the incomparable collections of these parent museum and the research of scientists across the University, it has a mission to enhance public understanding and appreciation of the natural world and the human place in it, sparking curiosity and a spirit of discovery in people of all ages.
MIT MuseumCambridge
The MIT Museum invites you to explore invention, ideas, and innovation. Through interactive exhibitions, public programs, experimental projects and its renown collections, the MIT Museum showcases the fascinating world of MIT, and inspires people of all ages about the possibilities and opportunities offered by science and technology. Guided and self-guided tours available with advance reservations.
Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near EastCambridge
By housing ancient Near Eastern exhibitions, the Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East explores the rich history of cultures connected by the family of Semitic languages. Exhibitions include a full-scale replica of an ancient Israelite home, life-sized casts of famous Mesopotamian monuments, authentic mummy coffins, and tablets containing the earliest forms of writing. Like the artifacts it displays, the museum itself has a rich and nuanced history.
Great Brook Farm State ParkCarlisle
This 1000-acre park features more than 20 miles of trails. You can see notable Native American sites and 17th-century cellar holes leftover from English settlers. Take a free guided tour of a working dairy farm that was home to the first robotic milking system in Massachusetts. Don’t forget to stop by the ice cream stand after your tour.
Capen Hill Nature SanctuaryCharlton
Our 86-acres of trails are open to public from dawn to dusk daily. The Visitor Center with 35+ animal residents, mineral collection, and library is also open free of charge during regular business hours.
"Old Chelmsford" Garrison HouseChelmsford
Located in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, the “Old Chelmsford” Garrison House was one of 19 British garrisons in Chelmsford in 1691. The house has been designated as a National Historical Place and is a practically unspoiled museum piece. It is a rare example of where and how the common family lived in the early days. Inside, the house is furnished with beautiful antique furniture and dishes, clothes, cooking equipment, and many other items that a family would have used in their everyday life. In addition to the house, we have a barn with a fascinating collection of old farm tools and vehicles, a summer kitchen, a working blacksmith shop, an herb garden, the craft house, the Hill Jock House, the Fiske House barn, the Loudon Building, and the DeWolf-Clark Building. The buildings are only available to the public during special events. See website for calendar.
Barrett-Byam HomesteadChelmsford
At the Barrett-Byam Homestead-home of the Chelmsford Historical Society-visitors of all ages learn about Chelmsford's rich history and culture by touring period rooms and exhibits, delving into family or local history, and participating in educational programs and social activities. Open for tours by appointment only and during special events. Send an email to arrange a tour or check their Events page to see scheduled events.
Old ManseConcord
Experience the site of two American revolutions: the first shots of the Revolutionary War were fired nearby -- and, less than a century later, Emerson, Hawthorne, and Thoreau spawned a revolution in American philosophy from here. Join us throughout the year for tours! Space is limited, and pre-registration is recommended.
Concord MuseumConcord
The Concord Museum collection began around 1850 and was exhibited before the Civil War; only a handful of Americana collections can claim to be as old or as remarkably well-documented. The Concord Museum collection is a distinguished one containing numerous examples of 17th, 18th, and 19th-century decorative arts -- case furniture, tables, seating furniture, clocks, looking glasses, textiles, ceramics, and metalware -- all with histories linking them to first owners in Concord. The collection has been recognized for its national significance by curators, historians, and educators for more than a century.
Louisa May Alcott Memorial - Orchard HouseConcord
Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House, home of Little Women, is a historic house museum owned and operated by the Louisa May Alcott Memorial Association. Orchard House is only shown by guided tour as the rooms and artifacts take on enhanced significance through your personal interactions with our Staff and other visitors. The visit experience lasts approximately 45 minutes, and is currently comprised of a closed-captioned informational video followed by a guided tour. Groups of more than 10 will need to call or email at least 6 weeks in advance to determine if your group will need an advance reservation.
Minute Man National Historical ParkConcord
A Revolution begins - A Nation is born. On April 19, 1775, the American Revolution began at Lexington and Concord with a clash of arms known to history as "the shot heard round the world." At Minute Man National Historical Park, the opening battle of the Revolution is brought to life as visitors explore the battlefields and witness the American revolutionary spirit through the writings of the Concord authors. Guided and self-guided tours available.
Cahoon Museum of American ArtCotuit
Ebenezer Crocker erected the stately colonial building forming the original part of the Museum in 1775. By 1821, Crocker's grandson operated the building as a tavern along the stagecoach line between Hyannis and Sandwich, Massachusetts. The building continued under Crocker ownership for five generations until the 1920s. In 1945, the structure Ralph and Martha Cahoon purchased the structure for use as a spacious art studio and home. Here, Cape Cod's most famous native folk artists created much of their painted furniture, and Ralph and Martha executed many of their well-known paintings. Upon Ralph's death in 1982, Cotuit art collector Rosemary Rapp purchased the farmhouse with a vision of opening a museum, a dream that bore fruit in 1984 with the founding of the Cahoon Museum of American Art. Today, the Cahoon Museum of American Art is a showcase for a stellar collection of the folk painting of Ralph and Martha Cahoon, as well as a choice collection of 19th, 20th, and 21st century American art. Bring your group of at least 5 students to the museum for an interactive tour of the museum’s exhibitions and access to the activities provided at the Art Cart and in the Learning Center.
William Cullen Bryant HomesteadCummington
From its iconic red barn to an elegant allée of maples, this lovely home is testament to the celebrated poet's ideal of living mindfully on the land. The Homestead's pastoral landscape, largely unchanged for more than 150 years, includes pastures, fields, maple sugar bush (that has been tapped for more than 200 years), and woodlands. A self-guided map highlights the Rivulet Trail, where old growth, including ancient specimens of hemlock and a magnificent cherry tree, rise near the Rivulet, a trickling stream immortalized by Bryant's 1823 poem of the same name. The grounds and trails are open daily, sunrise to sunset, free for all. The house is open for tours on select days. Check the website for event dates.
Fairbanks HouseDedham
The Fairbanks House in Dedham, MA is the oldest known timber frame house still standing in North America. Built circa 1637 for Jonathan and Grace Fairbanks and their six children, it was home to eight generations of the Fairbanks family over the course of 269 years. The Fairbanks House is now a historic house museum and on the National Register of Historic Places. 50-minute tours are available by reservation on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from May through October (online tour reservations become available in March).
Historic DeerfieldDeerfield
This quintessential New England village is surrounded by working farms and rolling cornfields along the Deerfield River. Here in western Massachusetts, Historic Deerfield's museum houses range in date from the 1730s to the 1840s. Inside you will find one of the best public collections of art and antiques in America while you explore the lifestyle of early New England in a working village of endless beauty. Many of our field trip programs for schoolchildren can be adapted to suit the needs of today’s homeschooling families. We work closely with a coordinating parent to create a program suited to your curriculum, age range of the children, and any special needs. Depending on the size of the group, we can accommodate young children and their parents in a special separate program designed for children under the age of five. For more information, please contact fieldtrips@historic-deerfield.org.
Cape Cod Museum of ArtDennis
Founded by artists in 1981, CCMoA is the home of Cape Cod Art. The Museum preserves the work of the Cape’s finest artists and celebrates the distinctive artistic identity of the Cape, the Islands and the region. It is a major hub of the cultural life of the region. Through its outstanding art collection and diverse programming, CCMoA educates, inspires, and excites the imagination while caring for and connecting the Cape's many communities. The Museum is situated in a beautiful setting surrounded by a Sculpture Garden at the Cape Cod Center for the Arts. CCMoA has seven galleries, a museum shop, and a film screening room.
Franklin Park ZooDorchester
Franklin Park Zoo is a 72-acre site nestled in Boston's historic Franklin Park, long considered the "crown jewel" of Frederick Law Olmsted's Emerald Necklace Park System. Franklin Park Zoo's homeschool programs allows students to participate in hands-on activities that are age appropriate, have animal encounters, and more. Classes are for children ages 6 to 12 years old.
The Art Complex MuseumDuxbury
The Art Complex Museum is located in the historic town of Duxbury, Massachusetts, 33 miles south of Boston. It houses the impressive art collection of the Carl A. Weyerhaeuser family. The collection includes over 8,000 art objects, including American and European prints, rare books, American paintings, Shaker furniture, Asian art, and additional treasures. The museum offers a year-round schedule of exhibitions, featuring thematic shows from the permanent collection and shows by contemporary artists. Additional programming includes lectures, concerts, education programs, demonstrations, and Japanese tea ceremonies. This unique venue offers visitors an inviting place for viewing and learning about art in an intimate and comfortable setting. Admission to the museum and all exhibits is free.
Alden House Historic SiteDuxbury
Visit Alden House Historic Site and step into one of America's founding stories. Explore colonial history at the family homestead of Mayflower Pilgrims John and Priscilla Mullins Alden in Duxbury and "First Site" foundation. Experience history that comes alive through interactive tours of authentic historic sites and hands-on adventures. Engage in one of America's founding stories in the place where history happened. Reservations are required for groups of 10 or more.
Myles Standish Monument State ReservationDuxbury
High atop Captain's Hill, 200 feet above sea level, stands the Myles Standish Monument, a 116-foot granite shaft crowned by a 14-foot statue of Captain Myles Standish, military leader of Plymouth Colony. When the tower is open, visitors can climb 125 steps to a small viewing area at the top. The monument offers a panoramic view of the South Shore-church spires, several 19th-century lighthouses, Duxbury Beach, Plymouth Harbor, and the Blue Hills. Open weekends from 9am-5pm Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.
Green Briar Nature CenterEast Sandwich
At the Green Briar Nature Center, you will find a quiet corner of Cape Cod - a sanctuary of peace and beauty in all seasons. Located on the shores of Smiling Pool and adjacent to the famous Briar Patch of Thornton Burgess's stories, Green Briar offers interpreted nature trails and a spectacular wild flower garden. Natural history programs for children and adults are offered year-round and include classes, field trips, guided walks, and workshops on the natural sciences. We also have our very popular nature-related birthday parties.
Benjamin Nye Homestead & MuseumEast Sandwich
The beautiful natural setting of the Benjamin Nye Homestead & Museum surrounded by several other 18th century colonial homes makes it unique. The house was built by Benjamin Nye, one of the first fifty men to settle in Sandwich. Given permission by the town to erect a mill by the stream from his pond, Benjamin Nye built one of the first grist mills in the country in 1669. Later he also built a fulling mill nearby, and his home by 1681. Although the mills are no longer there, the house remains as an excellent example of early living. Now visitors who travel the ancient way once used by stage coaches and farmers can see time turned back as they view the Benjamin Nye Homestead & Museum in its peaceful surroundings.
The Children's Museum in EastonEaston
Housed in a charming Old Fire Station in historic North Easton, Massachusetts, the Children's Museum in Easton offers a warm and friendly environment for children and families to explore together! The Museum has three floors of interactive hands-on exhibits. Blast off into space, discover in the S.T.E.A.M. Lab, create in the MakerSpace, and so much more awaits your imagination! Our interactive exhibits are designed to serve the developmental and creative needs of ages 1 to 7.
Martha's Vineyard MuseumEdgartown
The MVM is the Island's largest repository of cultural artifacts, historic photographs, archival records, and genealogical records. We strive to broaden awareness and access to the Island's history and shared memory. Come join us and discover our past and present.
Essex Shipbuilding MuseumEssex
The Essex Shipbuilding Museum tells the extraordinary story of a small New England village that built more two-masted wooden fishing schooners than any other place in the world. The Museum was established in 1976 as part of the town's observation of the American Revolutionary Bicentennial. Preserving the history of the wooden shipbuilding industry, an integral part of the economy and culture in New England and the United States since the 1630s, the Museum maintains one of the best maritime collections in the region.
Battleship CoveFall River
The home to five National Historic Landmarks and Official Veteran Memorials on both state and national levels, Battleship Cove has been providing the preservation of both the military heritage of the New England region and that of the United States since 1965. With battleship USS Massachusetts (BB-59), destroyer USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr (DD-850), submarine USS Lionfish (SS-298), and PT Boats 617 and 796, you will be sure to have an educational and memorable visit to "America's Fleet Museum". Offers homeschool days, field trips, and overnight experiences.
Falmouth Museums on the GreenFalmouth
Our beautiful two-acre campus features two 18th-century homes, an early 20th-century reconstructed barn, a vibrant Cultural Center, Colonial gardens, 2 historic cannons, stocks, and a four-seater outhouse. Look closely and you can even see the life-size outline of a ship on the lawn near the whaling pots. Each building and exhibit tells a story about those who have lived in and visited this seaside community.
Danforth Museum of ArtFramingham
Focusing on American art from the 18th century to present day, the Danforth Museum of Art is dedicated to showing the very best examples of contemporary art by both emerging and established artists, as well as an exploration of the School of Boston Expressionism. Our compelling exhibitions and permanent collection of over 3,500 works of art offer countless opportunities for all ages to explore a range of media and artistic forms of expression from the traditional to installation and new media. Our mission strongly supports education, and the 400 yearly studio art courses offered in our Museum School, our family workshops and artist lectures offer our members and visitors numerous opportunities to learn and create.
Adventures at Pilgrim Day CampFramingham
Bring your students on a field trip to experience our 150-acre outdoor classroom at Pilgrim Day Camp. Explore the outdoor classroom with full of hands-on activities. All of the field trips are custom-tailored to your group, and the center can provide an unparalleled outdoor learning experience for students in all grade levels. Pair environmental education lessons and interpersonal games for the ultimate field trip experience!
Framingham History CenterFramingham
Travel back in time with a tour of Framingham's former Academy building, built in 1837. March to fife and drum music, practice straw braiding, string a Dennison Mfg Co tag, and much more while exploring 4 centuries of Framingham's expansive history. Interested in the Civil War? The permanent Civil War exhibit highlights the life of General George H. Gordon of the 2nd Mass. Regiment and other soldier stories, as well as what life was like in Framingham while the men were away.
Garden in the WoodsFramingham
The New England Wild Flower Society is recognized as one of the nation's leading plant conservation organizations. The Society owns and operates Garden in the Woods, the largest landscaped collection of wildflowers in the Northeast, as its headquarters and as a public botanic garden. This ever-changing living museum--New England's premier wildflower garden--has more than 1,000 native plant species, with many rare and endangered native specimens throughout the gardens, as well as the unique "New England Garden of Rare and Endangered Plants." Like our other education programs at Garden in the Woods, our school programs promote awareness, understanding, and appreciation of the botanical and natural world through experiential and inquiry-based learning. Our site covers 45 acres, threaded with miles of paths that meander through gardens, woods, wetlands, brooks, a pond, and glacier-sculpted ridges. This diversity of topography and habitat affords students an opportunity to observe an unusual variety of plants and wildlife in a relatively small area. Our school programs meet the Massachusetts Science and Technology/Engineering curriculum standards. Each garden visit is one hour long and is accompanied by pre- and post-classroom activities. Programs are led by committed teacher-naturalists who guide students in hands-on field investigations of plant life, diverse habitats, and the effects of weather and climate at Garden in Woods.
Christa McAuliffe Center and Framingham State University PlanetariumFramingham
Space mission simulations in the Challenger Learning Center offer totally immersive, hands-on STEM education experiences to learners in middle school and up that activate teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. During interactive planetarium programs, learners in elementary school and up can enjoy full-dome films and engage in presentations on a wide range of earth and space science topics. Interested groups can schedule mission simulations and planetarium programs individually, or combine a mission simulation and planetarium program at a discounted rate.
Christa McAuliffe Center and Framingham State University Planetarium website
Schooner AdventureGloucester
The Schooner Adventure was designed by Thomas J. McManus and built in 1926. Subsequently refitted as a windjammer, Adventure carried passengers along the coast of Maine until 1987. Her grace, beauty, and prowess as a sailing vessel earned her the nickname "Queen of the Windjammers." In 1988, Adventure was given to the people of Gloucester to be preserved as Gloucester's historic tall ship and to be used to inform and educate the public about the important role of fishing in American history.
Sargent House MuseumGloucester
For over 100 years, the Sargent House Museum was the home of sea merchants, patriots and community leaders. A fine example of high-style Georgian domestic architecture, the house was built in 1782 for Judith Sargent Murray (1751-1820), a philosopher, writer and an early advocate of women's equality. Visitors to the Sargent House Museum learn about the early history of Gloucester from its beginnings as a farming and lumbering outpost to its evolution into the country's premier seaport. Visitors will also see a collection of original works by the great portrait painter John Singer Sargent (1856-1925) descendant of the Sargent family, who loved the house and its ties to Colonial Gloucester.
Hammond Castle MuseumGloucester
John Hays Hammond Jr., known as "The Father of Radio Control," was one of America's most prolific inventors and a protege of Guglielmo Marconi, Nikola Tesla, Thomas Edison, and Alexander Graham Bell. Built from 1926 through 1929, and incorporated as a museum in 1930, the castle's architectural style is a mix of a medieval castle, a medieval French village, and a Gothic cathedral. It was custom built to encompass Hammond's private residence, laboratory, and museum-quality collection of architectural elements from his travels throughout Europe. Also on display is Hammond's extensive list of patents, his work with radio control, and his work on guided torpedoes for the military. Hammond Castle Museum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Museum offers guided tours and numerous educational and cultural events throughout its season. At nearly a century old, Hammond Castle Museum is not handicapped accessible. Advanced ticket reservations are encouraged.
Cape Ann MuseumGloucester
America's oldest fishing port. Cape Ann - which includes the city of Gloucester as well as the towns of Rockport, Manchester and Essex - has also been a leading center for artists since the 19th century and the source of granite for building projects up and down the East coast. The Museum maintains and exhibits material relating to these major themes.
Fruitlands MuseumHarvard
Explore a bygone Transcendentalist community, whose pastoral landscape houses wide-ranging collections of art and artifacts. In 1843, Amos Bronson Alcott and Charles Lane turned a swath of Harvard farmland into a Transcendentalist experiment in subsistence farming and Emersonian self-reliance, named Fruitlands, which ultimately disbanded after only seven months. In 1914, Clara Endicott Sears opened the grounds to the public, establishing a museum in the property’s 1820s farmhouse. Now, the 210-acre landscape encompasses five collections first established by Sears: the original Fruitlands Farmhouse; the Shaker Museum, the first such museum in the country; the Wayside Visitor Center, a classroom, education, and exhibit space; the Seasonal Gallery; and the Four Seasons Gallery.
Buttonwoods MuseumHaverhill
"The Buttonwoods", an historic site overlooking the Merrimack River. From Native American settlement to the present, the Buttonwoods Museum tells the story of life in the Merrimack Valley. Visit the John Ward House, the Duncan House and the Daniel Hunkins Shoe Shop. Experience our hands-on education and outreach programs that make this unique history come alive for people of all ages.
Children's Museum at HolyokeHolyoke
The Children's Museum at Holyoke provides a unique setting in which children and adults learn together about art, science and the world around them. Through hands-on exhibits, children challenge themselves, discover how the world works, explore new roles for themselves, and learn by doing.
Wistariahurst MuseumHolyoke
Wistariahurst Museum, originally the home of prominent silk manufacturer, William Skinner and his family, has stood as an example of elegance and fine architecture since 1874. The museum features original leather wall coverings, columns, elaborate woodwork and an interesting tale of how two generations perceived and used the house very differently. The museum's permanent collection includes decorative arts; paintings and prints, textiles and a rich manuscript collection of family and local papers. Wistariahurst Museum offers a wide variety of programs and events including: workshops, concerts, lectures and demonstrations.
International Volleyball Hall of FameHolyoke
The International Volleyball Hall of Fame is committed to honoring the legends, recognizing the greats, and preserving the history of volleyball. View hundreds of artifacts from the International Volleyball Hall of Fame's collection. Completely redesigned, the new Museum offers a comprehensive and intriguing narrative of volleyball history in an engaging manner. Now celebrating 130 years, volleyball has a storied history rooted in inspirational champions, impactful leaders, and great moments that have influenced history, on and off the court. The Museum at the International Volleyball Hall of Fame shares the narrative of volleyball history from its origins through present day. Guided and self-guided tours available for groups with advance registration.
Holyoke Heritage State ParkHolyoke
The park's Visitors' Center features exhibits about paper manufacturing and Holyoke's industrial history. A slide show celebrates the city's rich blend of cultures and people. Special programs are offered year-round. The Children's Museum, the restored antique Holyoke Merry-Go-Round and the Volleyball Hall of Fame are also located within the park.
American Heritage MuseumHudson
The American Heritage Museum features one of the world's largest collection of armored vehicles and tanks. All displayed in unique dioramas and exhibits. There are over twenty captivating exhibits from the Revolutionary War up to current times including the WWI Trench Experience and Clash of Steel exhibitions. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10:00am to 5:00pm.
Ipswich Historical Society & MuseumIpswich
The Ipswich Museum oversees three historical homes: The Whipple House (1677), The Heard House (1795-1800), and the Alexander Knight House. We offer guided tours on a seasonal basis. Our museum is anchored by two significant properties: the 1677 Whipple House and the 1800 Heard House, which serves as our headquarters. Both properties are filled with original architectural detail, furnishings, and artifacts that give visitors an intimate glimpse into the lives of early Ipswich residents. We also have the Alexander Knight House on-site, directly next to the Whipple House. The house is a model of an original structure built in 1657 and an example of a more typical first-period home.
Lawrence Heritage State ParkLawrence
Lawrence, MA was one of the nation's first planned cities, and you can learn about its history and development at Lawrence Heritage State Park. The exhibits in the Visitors Center, a restored 1840s boarding house, tell the stories of Lawrence's mill workers, including their role in the 1912 Bread and Roses Strike. You can also learn about the immigrant populations who settled in Lawrence, and test your skills by planning your own industrial city. Visitors can also walk the esplanade alongside the Merrimac River.
Berkshire Scenic Railway MuseumLenox
An operating museum dedicated to preserving the history of railroading in the Berkshire Hills of Western Massachusetts. Whether you choose the 90-minute round trip to Stockbridge, or the 45-minute round trip to Lee, you'll experience the excitement of rail travel in restored 1920's passenger cars staffed by our friendly volunteer train crew. Your trip begins at the historic Lenox Station, a restored landmark housing exhibits about trains, trolleys and the mansions of the Gilded Age. Listen for the conductor's call of "All Aboard!" while you sit back and relax in our vintage coaches. Watch for wildlife as we roll along the banks of the Housatonic River and learn about our region's rich industrial origins. Experience the Berkshires in a way you won't see from your car. Combine your trip with a visit to historic Lee or the world-renowned Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge. A ride on the Berkshire Scenic Railway is an entertaining and educational experience for the whole family. All aboard!
The Mount Estate & GardensLenox
Edith Wharton (1862-1937) was born into a tightly controlled society at a time when women were discouraged from achieving anything beyond a proper marriage. Wharton broke through these strictures to become one of America’s greatest writers. Author of The Age of Innocence, Ethan Frome, and The House of Mirth, she wrote over 40 books in 40 years, including authoritative works on architecture, gardens, interior design, and travel. She was the first woman awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, an honorary Doctorate of Letters from Yale University, and a full membership in the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Edith Wharton designed and built The Mount in 1902, based on the principles outlined in her influential book, The Decoration of Houses (1897), co-authored with architect Ogden Codman, Jr. This classical revival house represents the only full expression we have of Wharton's architectural interests. The Mount is the only U.S. monument to Edith Wharton. It is also one of the mere 5% of National Historic Landmarks dedicated to women.
Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & LibraryLexington
The National Heritage Museum is located in historic Lexington, the birthplace of the American Revolution. We present history by telling stories that are rich in content, use compelling narrative, and are supported by dynamic displays and interactive hands-on activities. Formerly known as National Heritage Museum. Guided and self-guided tours available for groups with reservations.
Hancock-Clarke HouseLexington
The only extant residence associated with John Hancock, this was his boyhood home. In 1744, upon the death of his father at Quincy, the 7-year-old boy came to live at this house with his grandfather, Rev. John Hancock. In 1750, the lad joined his childless uncle, Thomas Hancock, a wealthy Boston merchant who adopted him. By the time of the Revolution, Rev. Jonas Clarke, a relative by marriage of the Hancocks, occupied the house, which had been built as a parsonage by Rev. John Hancock. Clarke encouraged Revolutionaries to use his home as a meeting place and refuge. On the evening of April 18, 1775, patriot leaders Hancock and Samuel Adams were visiting there. Around midnight, after everyone had gone to bed, Paul Revere and late,r William Dawes, warning the countryside of the approach of British troops, galloped up and informed the household. Restored to its 18th-century appearance and well maintained, the Hancock-Clarke House is open to the public.
deCordova Sculpture Park and MuseumLincoln
The deCordova Museum and Sculpture Park is a public museum of art established to educate as broad and diverse a public as possible about modern and contemporary American art. The Museum accomplishes this mission by focusing primarily, though not exclusively, on the art of the New England region. The deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum is the largest park of its kind in New England, providing a constantly changing landscape of large-scale, outdoor, modern, and contemporary sculpture and site-specific installations of more than 60 works.
Gropius HouseLincoln
Walter Gropius, founder of the German design school known as the Bauhaus, was one of the most influential architects of the 20th century. He designed this house as his family home in 1937, when he came to teach at Harvard's Graduate School of Design. Modest in scale, the house was revolutionary in impact. It combined the traditional elements of New England architecture -- wood, brick, and fieldstone -- with innovative materials rarely used in domestic settings at that time -- glass block, acoustical plaster, and chrome banisters, along with the latest technology in fixtures. In keeping with Bauhaus philosophy, every aspect of the house and its surrounding landscape was planned for maximum efficiency and simplicity of design. The house contains an important collection of furniture designed by Marcel Breuer and made for the Gropiuses in the Bauhaus workshops. With all the family possessions still in place, the house has an immediacy rarely found in house museum.
Walden Pond State ReservationLincoln
Walden Pond has been designated a National Historic Landmark and is considered the birthplace of the conservation movement. Park Interpreters provide tours and ongoing educational programs. In the spring and fall, many people hike the trails that ring the pond and visit the replica of Thoreau's one-room cabin. Year-round interpretive programs and guided walks are offered. Organized groups must call in advance to make a reservation. Park hours vary seasonally.
Longmeadow Historical Society - Storrs HouseLongmeadow
Visitors to the Storrs House are impressed with this colonial home. Its large rooms with its many fine pieces of early furniture, choice items of tableware, and paintings and portraits on view never fail to delight. The wide central staircase leading to the second floor provides an entry to four rooms, three of which are bedrooms. The closets of each are crowded with gowns, coats, and hats made of natural fibers that are rarely used in their manufacture in our world of synthetics.
Merrimack Repertory TheatreLowell
Merrimack Repertory Theatre Student Matinees provide many students with their first exposure to professional theatre. It gives them the opportunity to experience literature in a different way, often resulting in a deeper connection to the story and characters. Attending MRT meets many MCAS and NHCF requirements. Student Matinees start at 10:30 a.m. Teachers are provided with copies of the script upon request in advance. For select productions there are PlayGuides, which contain background material. See website for available dates. Welcoming homeschool groups!
Whistler House Museum of ArtLowell
The Whistler House Museum of Art, birthplace of artist James Abbott McNeill Whistler, was established in 1908 as the permanent home of the Lowell Art Association. Founded in 1878, the Lowell Art Association owns and operates the Museum as a historic site. Built in 1823, the Whistler House presents the richness of the history and the art of Lowell. The Museum maintains its permanent collection and organizes contemporary and historical fine arts exhibitions. It also sponsors varied educational and community oriented cultural programs. - Come see where Whistler first met his mother!
Tsongas Industrial History Center at Lowell National Historical ParkLowell
The Tsongas Industrial History Center is a hands-on education center where students learn about the American Industrial Revolution through activities and tours of the sites where history and science happened. Students "do history" by weaving, working on an assembly line, role-playing immigrants, voting in a town meeting, or becoming inventors. Students can also "do science" as they use the engineering design process, manipulate simple machines, create canal systems and test water wheels, measure water quality, trace the flow of groundwater pollution, or discover river cleanup techniques.
Tsongas Industrial History Center at Lowell National Historical Park website
New England Quilt MuseumLowell
Visitors to the NEQM experience global exhibitions that explore the artistry, history and importance of quiltmaking, past and present. Changing gallery exhibitions (8 - 10 each year) feature the innovative works of prominent quilt artists, as well as historical themes that highlight the most important and beautifully preserved antique quilts in America. A small selection of the NEQM's renowned collection is always on view and changes periodically in the designated Nancy Donahue Gallery. The NEQM collection includes more than 450 antique and contemporary quilts, historical textiles, and related objects representing the history of American quiltmaking and textile arts. From whole cloth quilts made in the late 18th century to contemporary art quilts made by some of the world’s most innovative artists, the NEQM collection reflects 250 years of quilt history. Guided tours can be arranged for groups of eight or more guests. Reservations are required no less than two weeks in advance.
Lowell Heritage State ParkLowell
Lowell Heritage State Park features exhibits, created in partnership with the National Park Service, that will teach you about the historic network of canals and mills constructed in the 19th century to power Lowell's then-bustling textile industry.
Lynn Museum & Arts CenterLynn
Initially located in a residential building on Green Street, the Museum resides in the former Heritage State Park Visitor Center, a unique loft space that reflects the city’s industrial past. Its current home is ideal for the Museum to display its extensive fine art collection, photography, furniture, textiles, ephemera, archival materials, and other authentic artifacts through innovative changing exhibitions. Steeped in Lynn’s rich heritage, the Museum tells the compelling stories of manufacturing, industry, labor, abolitionism, women’s rights, and more that have shaped our nation. In 2014, the Lynn Museum & Historical Society merged with its neighbors on Exchange Street, LynnArts, offering studio, gallery, and theatre space. Now undergoing a rebrand toward a common identity on the shared cultural campus, the Lynn Museum & Arts Center is looking forward intently. With history as our guide, we engage the region’s ever-changing community through exhibitions and programs illuminating the past, celebrating the present, and informing the future. Lynn Museum & Arts Center staff are happy to schedule tours with visitors in advance. Whether it is a general tour of our exhibits or something more personally tailored to your needs and interests, we are flexible and willing to provide the best educational experience!
Cape Cod Children's MuseumMashpee
The Cape Cod Children's Museum offers educational programs that enhance the teachings of preschools, elementary schools, and other children's organizations with fun and engaging hands-on learning.
Mattapoisett MuseumMattapoisett
The Museum of the Mattapoisett Historical Society is an adventure in 19th Century living. Housed in a charming Meeting House dating from 1821 and now beautifully restored, the ancient pews, graceful galleries, and its replica of the old high pulpit with sounding board above, carry one back to an age when life in this quiet New England village revolved around the Church and Town Meeting. The Meeting House is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Attached to the Meeting House is a replica of a two hundred year old barn (known as the Carriage House). Its huge timbers of native white pine remind one of construction techniques practiced by the same sturdy artisans who used the ancient tools making up the exhibits housed in the barn. Life in the 19th century comes alive for those who visit here.
Forbes House MuseumMilton
Captain Robert Bennet Forbes (1804 ~ 1889) was a member of the network of prominent families who helped shape maritime and trading history during the Golden Era of sailing ships. He and his Perkins uncles spearheaded the expansion of U.S trade with China, contributing to Boston's status as the second busiest port in America during the mid 1830's. Captain Forbes was a China Trade merchant, ship owner, designer, writer, and philanthropist of international stature. The Forbes House Charitable Trust was established in 1984 to ensure the preservation of the house, collections, and grounds at 215 Adams Street. These treasures are interpreted through tours, lectures, programs, and special exhibitions and events.
Blue Hills Trailside MuseumMilton
Operated in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Blue Hills Trailside Museum is the welcome center for the 7,000-acre Blue Hills Reservation, featuring a natural history museum and indoor and outdoor live animal exhibits of non-releasable native wildlife.
Bidwell House MuseumMonterey
The museum, set in the Berkshire hills, is an elegant Georgian saltbox originally built circa 1750 as a parsonage. Authentically restored, filled with antiques and surrounded by beautiful grounds and hiking trails, the museum is open Thursday through Monday between 11 am and 4 pm from May 27th to mid October.
Nantucket Shipwreck & Lifesaving MuseumNantucket
The Nantucket Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum, an affiliate of Egan Maritime Institute, is dedicated to honoring Nantucket's history of shipwrecks, lifesaving, and rescuers. These men served in organizations devoted to maritime rescue, such as the Massachusetts Humane Society, United States Life-Saving Service and the United States Coast Guard. The museum is located at the edge of Folger’s Marsh, and the grounds are open year-round.
Whaling MuseumNantucket
The Nantucket Whaling Museum features a restored 1847 candle factory, expanded top-quality exhibition space, a fully accessible rooftop observation deck overlooking Nantucket harbor, and the sperm whale skeleton.
The Old MillNantucket
Traditionally said to have been built in 1746, the Old Mill is believed to be the oldest operating windmill in the United States. It is the only surviving mill of the five that once stood overlooking Nantucket town. After some minor repairs over the years — and major overhauls in 1930, 1936, and 1983 — the mill is capable of grinding corn just as it has for more than two centuries.
The Quaker MeetinghouseNantucket
In 1701 Mary Coffin Starbuck became interested in the faith of the Quakers after hearing itinerant Quaker preacher John Richardson speak before a crowd of Nantucketers. It was in her house, situated now at 10 Pine Street, that early Quaker meetings took place. In the years after 1708, the Nantucket Meeting outgrew a series of meetinghouses, the largest being the Great Meeting House on the site of the Quaker Burial Ground at the end of Main Street.
Hadwen HouseNantucket
The Hadwen House is a Greek Revival mansion built in 1846 by whaling merchant and silver retailer William Hadwen at the peak of Nantucket’s prosperity as the whaling capital of the world. The home is one of the most elaborate examples of Greek revival architecture on the island and the only publicly accessible mansion of its age in the area.
The Oldest House & the Historic GardenNantucket
The Oldest House on Sunset Hill, also known as the Jethro Coffin House, was built in 1686 and is believed to be the oldest residence on Nantucket still on its original site. In 1987, it was struck by lightning, which caused extensive damage necessitating substantial repairs to and partial reconstruction of the roof and chimney. Today, the house stands as a monument to the lives of the island’s earliest English settlers and offers visitors a glimpse of daily life on Nantucket in the seventeenth century. The kitchen garden, located behind the house, is a reconstruction of a circa-1700 herb and vegetable garden and is maintained without the use of modern fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides. Plants are grown in a raised-bed system typical of the time and include common vegetable staples such as carrots, onions, cabbages, and parsnips, as well as approximately thirty varieties of herbs grown for culinary, medicinal, or household use.
Natick Community Organic FarmNatick
Explore the Farm through an interactive tours and see what farming is all about. Learn about different farm animals, and the plants grown in the garden, greenhouses, compost piles, and the maple sugar shack and honey bee hives. Tours are 60 mins., $7 per child, with a 6 child minimum. Tours are scheduled Mon-Sat, 9am-5pm, and times are subject to teacher availability.
Natick Historical Society and MuseumNatick
Housed on the lower level of the Bacon Free Library building in South Natick, the Historical Society's museum features among its collections the Indian Bible of the 17th century missionary, John Eliot, founder of the Natick Indian Community. The museum collection also includes artifacts of Archaic and Woodland as well as Christian Indian cultures. Students of literature and history will be interested in the museum's collection of memorabilia of many of Natick's most distinguished citizen's including Harriet Beecher Stowe, Horatio Alger Jr., and Henry Wilson, the 20th Vice-President of the United States. The Wilson Memorial Shoe Shop stands on West Central Street. Early maps, photographs, furnishings, tools, and costumes are displayed to illustrate the community's daily life in earlier periods. Of particular interest to students of ornithology is the museum's natural history collection that features an outstanding array of birds of North and South America.
New Bedford Whaling NHPNew Bedford
Nestled in the heart of a bustling coastal city, New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park offers visitors a unique opportunity to explore the profound legacy of this historic seaport. As a small urban park, we serve as a gateway to the city's rich cultural and maritime heritage, blending historic charm with modern vibrancy. Here, you’ll walk the same streets as abolitionists, whalemen, and entrepreneurs who shaped New Bedford into the “City That Lit the World.” From its pivotal role in the global whaling industry to its contributions to the abolitionist movement and environmental conservation, New Bedford is a testament to the power of innovation, resilience, and community. With historic landmarks, engaging programs, and lively downtown streets full of art, culture, and local flavor, this compact yet dynamic park invites you to uncover the treasures of a city where history and progress meet.
New Bedford Whaling MuseumNew Bedford
The New Bedford Whaling Museum is the largest museum in America devoted to the history of the American whaling industry and its greatest port. Through exhibits, publications, and programs, the Museum brings to life the whaling era and the history of the local area. It houses the most extensive collection of art, artifacts, and manuscripts pertaining to American whaling in the age of sail - late eighteenth century to the early twentieth, when sailing ships dominated merchant trade and whaling.
Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden MuseumNew Bedford
The Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum is so named for the three prominent families who resided at 396 County Street. The house and gardens chronicle 150 years (1834-1981) of economic and social life in the city, as reflected in the lives and stories of those who lived and worked at the property. Furnished period rooms display the decorative arts, furniture and belongings of the families and time frame. The Museum offers permanent and changing exhibits, lecture series, community and educational programs.
New Bedford Art MuseumNew Bedford
We welcome students grades pre-K-12 to the New Bedford Art Museum for interactive gallery lessons. Students will view the art on exhibit and then participate in lively activities designed to encourage them to think critically and share their impressions of the art. Gallery lessons are offered Tuesday-Friday from 10:00-3:00.
Buttonwood Park ZooNew Bedford
The Buttonwood Park Zoo, established in 1894, is the 12th oldest zoo in the United States and has been an important part of the South Coast community for 130 years. The Zoo features over 240 species, most notably Asian elephant, red pandas, cougars, eagles, seals, otters, South American primates and numerous waterfowl species. BPZOO is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and has been recognized as “one of the finest small zoos in the United States”. Looking for a fun and educational after-hours adventure for your school group? Buttonwood Park Zoo in New Bedford, MA offers TWO exciting options for your group to explore: Critter Camp-Ins: Spend the night at the zoo! Enjoy dinner and dessert, a nighttime tour, a creature feature movie with popcorn, animal encounters, a light morning breakfast, and an unforgettable experience. Twilight Tours: Experience the zoo as the sun sets! Enjoy dinner, a guided nighttime tour, activities, and a sweet ice cream farewell. Discover what the animals are up to after hours in a whole new light. Whether you want to camp out or explore the zoo under the stars, Buttonwood Park Zoo has the perfect after-hours adventure for your school group!
Spencer-Peirce-Little FarmNewbury
Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm is a family-friendly National Historic Landmark with activities for all ages. The 230-acre site includes a 1690 manor house that served as the country seat of wealthy Newburyport merchants and an attached farmhouse that was home to a Lithuanian family for most of the twentieth century. Take a tour or come to one of the farm’s many outdoor events, including Vintage Base Ball from May to October. Learn about life on a farm over the centuries through hands-on activities. Pump water from a well outside the kitchen or sit in a horsehair-covered rocking chair and look through a stereo-viewer in the nineteenth-century parlor. Explore nature trails and enjoy a picnic under ancient maple trees. Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm fosters animals in partnership with the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Visit friendly sheep, goats, chickens, and a horse throughout the year.
Custom House, Maritime MuseumNewburyport
The Newburyport Custom House Maritime Museum was designed by architect Robert Mills, who also designed such historical buildings as the Washington Monument. Built in 1835, this building was originally used as a Custom house in which the federal government collected taxes on imported goods brought home to Newburyport by ship captains from faraway ports. The Museum maintains original artifacts from the prosperous trade era, maritime art, models of Newburyport-built vessels, trade routes and journals, and old maps showing the city's birth. Exhibitions focus on Newburyport's role in privateering, and fame and fortune - it brought to local captains such as Moses Brown. Tours for students, programs for families and kids, and lectures for the maritime enthusiast all feature Newburyport's connection to the sea and rich maritime heritage.
Cushing House Museum and GardenNewburyport
The brick, Federal mansion that houses the Museum of Old Newbury's headquarters was built in 1808 for Captain William Hunt. The home boasts many architectural elements typical of the Federal period, including its symmetrical design, hipped roof, double-hung sash windows, louvered shutters, and the fanlight window over its front door. The house has served as both a single and two-family home, and over the years, its grounds have evolved to include a carriage house, garden, orchard, and privy. Today, when you visit the Cushing House, you will see a mix of period rooms and gallery spaces that tell the stories of the past 300 years in the Newburys. Many features, such as carpeting, light fixtures, balustrades, and faux-marbled floors, remain intact from the home’s 132-year-long occupancy by the Cushing family. Against this historic backdrop, the stories of the Newburys unfold, including those of ship captains, craftsmen, politicians, and artists.
Exxcel Gymnastics and ClimbingNewton
Exxcel is the perfect place to have your next Fit Trip. Opportunities are available for 1 to 2 hours for any organization looking for fun & fitness to challenge any child's strength and creativity. Our 15,000 square foot gym is fully equipped with state of the art Olympic apparatus, foam pit, bungee, trapeze, zip line and includes a 20'x60' rock wall. Exxcel provides a vast array of activities for children to exercise in fun and safety.
Newton History MuseumNewton
Historic Newton maintains two museums and three historic burying grounds in the City of Newton. The Jackson Homestead and Museum displays rotating and permanent exhibits about the history of Newton, Massachusetts, and the Underground Railroad. At the 1734 Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds, you don’t just look at history—you try it out for yourself. The burying grounds are important as civic and cultural resources. Buried here are many of Newton’s earliest European settlers, as well as veterans of the Revolutionary War—families now commemorated in the names of the City’s streets, schools, public buildings, and parks. The burying grounds also contain some of the finest examples of early American gravestone art—slate and marble monuments embellished with skulls, cherubs, urns, willows, and other motifs of mourning in an irreplaceable outdoor “gallery.”
Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary ArtNorth Adams
Since opening in 1999, MASS MoCA has become one of the world's premier centers for making and showing the best art of our time. With annual attendance of 120,000, it ranks among the most visited institutions in the United States dedicated to new art. More than 80 major new works of art and more than 50 performances have been created through fabrication and rehearsal residencies in North Adams, making MASS MoCA perhaps the most fertile site in the country for new art. The museum thrives on making and presenting work that is fresh, surprising, and challenging.
Western Gateway Heritage State ParkNorth Adams
Visitors to this former railroad yard in North Adams, MA, will learn about the controversial and dangerous construction of the Hoosac Tunnel, which spanned 1851-1875. 200 people were killed while building this 4.75-mile tunnel. Visitors can see historical artifacts and exhibits to better understand this historic engineering feat.
Natural Bridge State ParkNorth Adams
Natural Bridge State Park is home to the only natural white marble arch in North America. According to geologists, the park's namesake natural bridge, made of 550-million-year-old bedrock marble, was carved into its iconic arch by the forces of glacial meltwater over 13,000 years ago. Today, the bridge spans the bubbling Hudson Brook as it twists and tumbles through a steep 60-foot gorge--one of the best demonstrations of glacial erosion in New England. Inside the park, visitors can also tour an abandoned marble quarry and check out a man-made white marble dam--also the only one in North America.
Museum of PrintingNorth Andover
The Museum of Printing is dedicated to preserving the history of the graphic arts, printing equipment and printing craftsmanship. In addition to many special collections and small exhibits, the Museum contains hundreds of antique printing, typesetting and bindery machines, as well as a library of books and printing related documents. A knowledgeable tour guide takes visitors around.
North Andover Historical SocietyNorth Andover
The Society maintains two sites that feature museum galleries: 1715 Parson Barnard House and 1789 Johnson Cottage. Permanent and changing exhibits featuring North Andover in the 17th through the 20th centuries. The North Andover Historical Society is dedicated to fun and engaging programs that educate and inspire students of all ages, from 7 to 700. Enrichment programs can be booked for homeschooling pods, scouting troups, clubs, and other groups. To discuss developing a program for your group, please email the museum educator. We continue to preserve and promote textile history, following in the tradition of the American Textile History Museum. However, The Stevens Center is now a Net Zero Energy Use building, and we are happy to include STEM education in addition to our history education. A trip to the North Andover Historical Society offers families an experience in which they can investigate the world they live in by exploring history, science, arts and culture.
Stevens-Coolidge PlaceNorth Andover
Enter a world of a former farm that became an early-20th-century estate, where a newly expanded array of bountiful gardens and plantings complements a gracious and refined home. Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens was the summer home of Helen Stevens Coolidge and her husband, John Gardner Coolidge—a diplomat descended from Thomas Jefferson and a nephew to Isabella Stewart Gardner—from 1914 to 1962.
Top Secret ScienceNorth Chelmsford
First in the country glow-in-the-dark science laboratory for groups (up to 20) PreK to 6th grade students with a state of the art high tech laboratory filled with wild and wacky special effects, laser light systems, digital sound processors and so much more. They have over 600 hands-on STEM experiments and projects.
Borderland State ParkNorth Easton
Borderland State Park features a historic mansion open for tours.
Willard House and Clock MuseumNorth Grafton
Benjamin Willard began making clocks in his small, rural Massachusetts workshop in 1766. His three younger brothers, Simon, Ephraim and Aaron, quickly learned the trade and began a three-generation clockmaking legacy in the Grafton workshop. Today, over 80 Willard clocks are exhibited in the birthplace and original workshop of the Willard clockmakers, along with family portraits, furnishings and other Willard family heirlooms. Works of brothers Franklin and Zabdiel are also documented.
Clara Barton Birthplace MuseumNorth Oxford
The Clara Barton Birthplace Museum teaches the timeless lessons of compassion and service through Clara Barton's life story. Throughout her long life she sought to improve people's lives by, in her own words, "offering a hand up, not a handout." Clara Barton has inspired countless teachers, medical professionals and social workers. Almost two centuries after her birth, the incredible stories of this great humanitarian continue to draw students and families to her childhood home to learn about her boundless mercy and commitment.
Smith College Museum of ArtNorthampton
The Smith College Museum of Art is a teaching museum devoted to providing visitors of all ages with lively educational experiences that instill an appreciation of art and the enjoyment to be found in museum. SCMA offers a number of special events for children ages 4--10, accompanied by an adult, such as Family Days. These events feature art projects and hands-on activities throughout the museum. The Smith College Museum of Art welcomes everyone! You do not have to be affiliated with Smith to visit the museum or to participate in the museum's programs. Children, adults, families, students, non-students--all are welcome!
The Botanic Garden of Smith CollegeNorthampton
The Botanic Garden of Smith College is free and open to the public year round. We want everyone to be able to visit, spend time connecting to the plant world, learning from our collections, and being part of our community. Come explore our 127-acre arboretum, the 6 acres of managed outdoor gardens, and our 12,000 square foot conservatory.
Historic NorthamptonNorthampton
Historic Northampton is a museum of local history in the heart of the Connecticut River Valley of western Massachusetts. Its collection of approximately 50,000 objects and three historic buildings is the repository of Northampton and Connecticut Valley history from the Pre-Contact era to the present. The museum maintains a permanent exhibit chronicling the rich history of Northampton in its main gallery and features changing exhibitions in its rotating exhibit space. Historic Northampton constitutes a campus of three contiguous historic houses, all on their original sites. The grounds themselves are part of an original Northampton homelot, laid out in 1654.
Memorial Hall MuseumOld Deerfield
Surrounded by gentle meadows and wooded hills, the 300 year old village of Deerfield speaks with quiet eloquence of New England's rural past. The village museum, Memorial Hall, is one of New England's oldest museum. When Deerfield Academy's original 1798 school building became available, antiquarian George Sheldon organized the collection of artifacts he was assembling and in 1880, Memorial Hall opened. The museum's extraordinary collection of furnishings, paintings, textiles and Indian artifacts is "the finest collection of local antiquities in New England and one of America's oldest museum."
Osterville Historical MuseumOsterville
Located in Osterville village, the museum complex includes three historic buildings set on two acres of beautiful grounds, providing a lovely setting for a picnic lunch prior to touring the museum. The Captain Jonathan Parker House, circa 1824, the Cammett House, circa 1730, and the Herbert F. Crosby Boat Shop, circa 1855 present different views of the village that spans three centuries of Osterville and Cape Cod history.
North Shore Children's MuseumPeabody
North Shore Children's Museum is located in Peabody, Massachusetts, and serves children ages 2-8. Within our 15 exhibits, the NSCM encourages children and families to learn through play and exploration. We are closed to the public to accommodate field trips on Mondays & Tuesdays from 9-11 & 12-2. For more information on booking a field trip, please contact Susie at susan.lord@peabody-ma.gov.
Peabody Historical Society and MuseumPeabody
The Peabody Historical Society's extensive collections, gathered over the course of the past century, document over 300 years of the region's history. The collections include: Paintings, Prints & Drawings, Furniture & Decorative Arts, Costumes & Textiles, Ceramics, Glass & Metalwork and Historical Artifacts.
Fisher Museum Harvard ForestPetersham
The Fisher Museum’s primary exhibit is 23 internationally acclaimed models (dioramas), the first seven of which depict 230 years of landscape change in central New England, beginning with European colonization in 1700. The remaining dioramas portray 20th-century forest management techniques and a series of conservation challenges, including erosion and fire. Additional displays now bring the story up to modern times, begin to address the harmful erasure of Indigenous people in our land narratives (this work is ongoing in partnership with the Nipmuc tribe), and include a brief overview of current Harvard Forest research.
Hancock Shaker VillagePittsfield
A living history museum in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, Hancock Shaker Village brings the Shaker story to life and preserves it for future generations.
Berkshire MuseumPittsfield
At the Berkshire Museum, there's something for everyone. We offer a unique blend of exhibitions, galleries, and attractions for families of all ages. See exhibitions, fine art, and sculpture from around the world. Explore our touch tank and aquarium. Be amazed at our collection of artifacts from Native American cultures and ancient cultures of Egypt, China, and more. Marvel at the technology that awaits in the new Feigenbaum Hall of Innovation.
Berkshire Historical Society - ArrowheadPittsfield
Currently, the Berkshire County Historical Society operates Arrowhead as a historic house museum, giving tours of the home in which Herman Melville produced some of his greatest work.
Sparrow House PotteryPlymouth
Richard Sparrow, his wife Pandora, and son Jonathan, left their home in England, and arrived in New Plimoth by 1633. As a freeman, Richard was granted a house tract of six acres in 1636, which required him to construct a house within four years. The original two-story house contained one room on each level and utilized cross summer beam construction. With its large rooms, leaded glass windows and paneled walls, it was a grand home on the banks of what is now known as Town Brook. Today it is an Historic House Museum and Art Gallery.
Pilgrim Hall MuseumPlymouth
The Pilgrim Story — the hazardous Mayflower voyage, the 1620 landing, the fearful first winter, the First Thanksgiving at Plymouth — is one of America’s enduring founding narratives. This dramatic saga of courage and perseverance has inspired generations as an iconic immigration experience and was the reason our organization was established in 1820. As the nation’s oldest continuously operating public museum, we embrace a commitment to telling this story with historical accuracy, inclusion, and renewed recognition for histories that traditionally have been submerged, silenced, or erased. Pilgrim Hall Museum houses an unmatched collection of Pilgrim possessions, revealing the stories of ordinary yet determined men and women building new lives and homes for their families in a new world. On display are William Bradford’s Bible, the only portrait of a Pilgrim (Edward Winslow) painted from life, the cradle brought by expectant mother Susanna White on the Mayflower, the great chair of the colony’s spiritual leader William Brewster, and the earliest sampler made in America, embroidered by Myles Standish’s daughter, Loara. At Pilgrim Hall Museum, our core focus encompasses the presence and experiences of the Wampanoag, "People of the Dawn," the Indigenous People who inhabited this area for over 13,000 years before the arrival of the English colonists and who are still here today. Exhibitions and programs trace the story of the interrelationship between the Wampanoag and the early colonial settlers from first encounters through the disastrous conflict of the 1670s, known as King Philip's War.
Plymouth Antiquarian SocietyPlymouth
The Plymouth Antiquarian Society, founded in 1919, is Plymouth's largest organization dedicated to preserving historic houses and landmarks. The Society owns and maintains three historic houses from different centuries: the 1677 Harlow House, the 1749 Spooner House, and the 1809 Hedge House, and an ancient Native American site, Sacrifice Rock. Since 1920, PAS has welcomed the public to its historic properties for tours, exhibits, and programs. The historic houses tell the story of everyday life in Plymouth from the mid-1600s to the present, with period rooms featuring early American furnishings and domestic artifacts. The Society also offers a seasonal calendar of special events and a children's summer series on local history.
Pilgrim Memorial State ParkPlymouth
This waterfront park, home to historic Plymouth Rock and the Mayflower II museum, draws more than 1 million visitors each year. You'll also find fantastic views of Plymouth Harbor and monuments.
Pilgrim Monument & Provincetown MuseumProvincetown
Pilgrim Monument stands high on a hill, overlooking the town center. It is the symbol of Provincetown built to commemorate the "first landing" of the Mayflower Pilgrims in Provincetown on November 21, 1620, and their signing of the Mayflower Compact here. Each year at Thanksgiving townsfolk celebrate that historic event with the Lighting of the Monument.
United States Naval Shipbuilding MuseumQuincy
Welcome to the United States Naval Shipbuilding Museum Online. Located in historic Quincy, Massachusetts. The USNSM is home to the USS Salem CA 139, the world's only preserved Heavy Cruiser. This 716.5 foot long Cold War veteran served proudly as the Flag Ship of the 6th Fleet and now serves as a memorial to the proud shipbuilding heritage of this country and specifically this area. We are located in the former Fore River Shipyard, Quincy, once one of the Nation's largest Shipbuilding Enterprises.
Adams National Historical ParkQuincy
There are a variety of ways that kids can experience the park! Many of our special events are designed with our younger audience in mind. An extended park tour includes the Adams Farm at Penn's Hill (John Adams and John Quincy Adams Birthplaces) and the Old House at Peace field. Younger visitors may be particularly interested in a tour of the Adams Farm at Penn's Hill which includes the boyhood homes of our two Presidents, John and John Quincy Adams. The serious young historian may choose to continue on tour to the Old House at Peace field, which was home to four generations of Patriots, Presidents, First Ladies, Ambassadors, Writers, and Historians.
Carpenter MuseumRehoboth
In 1884 a young Rehoboth minister, George H. Tilton, decided that something should be done to preserve the remnants of the town's colonial past. Thus inspired he founded the Rehoboth Antiquarian Society in March of that year. The Society was established for several purposes: to preserve artifacts relating to Rehoboth's history, to maintain a meeting hall, and to run a consolidated school. Modeled after a local 1760 gambrel-roofed house, the Museum contains exhibit rooms, artifact storage area, and social room with kitchen facilities. Also on the grounds is a reproduction of a 1746 post-and-beam barn. It was constructed in 1993 with a community barn raising, one of the events that celebrated Rehoboth's 350th anniversary.
Fort RevereRoad Hull
Fort Revere Park is an 8+ acre historic site located atop Telegraph Hill in Hull Village. The Park contains the remains of two seacoast fortifications, a water tower with an observation deck, a military history museum and picnic facilities. Fort Revere Park is open daily, sunrise to sunset, year round. Tower and Museum will be open 10 am to 5pm, weekends and holidays, May 24 through September 1. The tower and Museum may also be open at other times by arrangement with the park staff.
James Babson MuseumRockport
Roger W. Babson first opened the small stone structure called the James Babson Museum during the first Babson family reunion event in July 1931. Situated on the site of a land grant given to Isabel Babson in 1658 and used as a location for a cooperage by her son James, the current structure was originally part of a farm building complex inhabited by individuals and families beginning in 1770s with Col. Joseph Foster. With the opening in 1931, Roger created a one room museum and filled the small stone building with a collection of tools and artifacts from over 3 centuries of handicraft/trade activity. On display are tools for making of barrels and an incredible mix of wooden and metal objects as diverse as oxen yokes to butter churns.
Rockport Art Association & MuseumRockport
The Rockport Art Association & Museum in Rockport, MA, offers 6 art galleries hosting many exhibitions and shows throughout the year. Learn about the style and history of the Cape Ann school of art, admire contemporary works by artist members, and try out one of our free monthly Create Together sessions, where we host an all-ages workshop and free-draw one Sunday each month! Admission is free for everyone, and we are happy to curate an engaging and enriching field trip tailored to your interests.
National Center of Afro-American ArtistsRoxbury
Housed since 1980 in the historic Abbotsford Estate in Boston’s Roxbury neighborhood, NCAAA has provided a continual platform for established, new, and underrepresented artists of the African diaspora, harnessing the power of art to bring people together, catalyze movements, and address issues of social justice, race, and power. In addition to presenting critically acclaimed exhibitions and serving as a cultural and academic repository, NCAAA houses a collection of over 3,000 objects, and its music division produces and performs its distinctive Black Nativity as written by Langston Hughes. Over fifty years, Black Nativity has become a cherished Boston tradition.
Shirley-Eustis HouseRoxbury
Royal Governor William Shirley's Georgian mansion is the only remaining country house in America built by a British Royal Colonial Governor. This imposing design is attributed to Peter Harrison, "America's first architect."
Roxbury Heritage State ParkRoxbury
The Dillaway-Thomas House at Roxbury Heritage State Park was built in 1750 and served as headquarters for General John Thomas and the Continental Army during the siege of Boston in 1775. The house has been restored to show how it changed over two centuries and now offers exhibits which interpret both the past and present history of Roxbury and its people and cultures. A new park adjacent to the Dillaway-Thomas House provides a scenic overlook of downtown Boston.
Real Pirates SalemSalem
Immerse yourself in the stories of Real Pirates! The family-friendly pirate experience features the true tale of “Black Sam” Bellamy – the richest and one of the youngest pirates of all time – and Maria Hallett, the love of his life and so-called “Witch of Wellfleet.” During the early 1700s, Bellamy captured the infamous slave ship Whydah, as well as more than 50 other ships, earning him the nickname the “Prince of Pirates.” Meet the crew and follow their journey as they seek fortune on the high seas, amass the greatest pirate treasure of all times, and ultimately meet their untimely fate when the Whydah sinks in a violent Nor’easter off the coast of Cape Cod. See the world’s only fully authenticated pirate treasure ever discovered – including coins, jewelry, and weapons – retrieved from the wreck, and last touched by the hands of pirates more than 300 years ago.
Salem Maritime National Historic SiteSalem
Salem Maritime National Historical Park consists of nine acres of land and twelve historic structures along the Salem waterfront, as well as a downtown visitor center. Located in the urban setting of Salem, the park preserves and interprets over 600 years of New England's maritime history and global stories.
Salem Witch MuseumSalem
The Salem Witch Museum examines one of the most enduring and emotional events in American History, the Salem witch trials of 1692. The museum consists of two presentations. The first provides an immersive look into the events of 1692. Visitors experience the drama of that dark time though thirteen life-size stage sets, figures, lighting and narration as they are witness to the web of lies and intrigue of the Salem witch-hunt. Our second exhibit, Witches: Evolving Perceptions, explores the meaning behind the word witch and evolution of the image of the witch over time. This presentation focuses on the European witch trials and the background leading to the Salem witch trials. In addition, this presentation discusses the emergence of the stereotypical witch and the phenomenon of witch-hunting. Note that the museum presentation depicts tragic history, including a tableau of the Devil, the pressing of Giles Corey, and hanging of George Burroughs. These tableaux may not be suitable for all audiences. Each family will need to determine if the exhibits are appropriate for their students before making plans to visit.
House of the Seven GablesSalem
Discover 330 years of Salem's history as you experience this museum and collection of historic buildings. Professional guides will warmly greet you for an unforgettable historical experience. Outside, spectacular seaside gardens await you. Inside of The House of the Seven Gables, also known as the Turner-Ingersoll Mansion, you will discover a mysterious secret staircase where you least expect it! Built in 1668, this is the oldest surviving 17th century wooden mansion in New England. The House of the Seven Gables inspired author Nathaniel Hawthorne to write his legendary novel of the same name. As a matter of fact, the very home where Hawthorne was born, was moved to The House of the Seven Gables and now lies just feet away from the mysterious mansion made famous in fiction. The House of the Seven Gables also has an 18th century granite sea wall, and two seaside Colonial Revival Gardens. The museum houses more than 2,000 artifacts and objects, more than 40 framed works, 500 photographs and glass plate negatives, and more than 650 volumes in our research and rare book library.
Peabody Essex MuseumSalem
The Peabody Essex Museum's student programs motivate student learning by providing opportunities to discover and explore unique works of art and culture from around the world. Hands-on art-making programs focus on the creative process, exploration of art materials and self-expression.
Sandwich Glass MuseumSandwich
Nestled in the very heart of scenic Sandwich Massachusetts, the first town on Cape Cod, the Sandwich Glass Museum is a must-see attraction for all visitors to Cape Cod. There are so many things to do: watch a live demonstration of glass blowing, offered every hour on the hour; watch an educational video about the glass factory that brought prosperity to the Town of Sandwich in the nineteenth century; stroll through the permanent collection galleries that wind through the our genuinely antique building; learn about the science and chemistry of glass making; admire the beauty and variety of pressed and hand blown glass of yesteryear, marvel at the creative genius of contemporary glass artisans whose work is on display in our contemporary galleries, and last but not least, browse our fabulous museum gift shop for a unique handmade souvenir of your visit. The best attractions are the ones that offer the visitor a unique perspective, and the Sandwich Glass Museum is the perfect place to spend several hours immersed in the past and present world of glass manufacturing and studio artistry.
Heritage Museums & GardensSandwich
Heritage is comprised of three indoor gallery spaces along with 100 acres of outdoor gardens. A Shaker round barn houses the J. K. Lilly III Antique Automobile Collection with its stunning display of antique automobiles. An operating hand-carved carousel and many of America's most distinguished artists' works are on exhibit in the Art Museum.
Saugus Iron WorksSaugus
Explore the place where European iron makers brought their special skills to a young Massachusetts colony. Saugus Iron Works is a twelve-acre National Historic Site that includes working waterwheels, forges, mills, a historic 17th-century home, and a lush river basin.
Ashley HouseSheffield
The Ashley House tells the intertwined stories of the Ashleys and the enslaved African Americans who lived here in the 18th century. Col. John Ashley built the house in 1735, and spent the next decades accumulating wealth and land. By the time of his death in 1802, Ashley owned more than 3,000 acres -- including the land that is now The Trustees' Bartholomew's Cobble. Ashley supported the American Revolution, heading a committee that wrote the fiery Sheffield Resolves, a petition against British tyranny and manifesto for individual rights, in 1773. His financial success was based in part on the labor of five enslaved African Americans. Inspired by Revolutionary-era rhetoric and her own desire for freedom, Mum Bett, who was enslaved in the Ashley House, helped end slavery in Massachusetts. In 1781, she sued Col. Ashley for her freedom -- and won. Mum Bett was and remains an inspiration to all who learn her story.
Shelburne Falls Trolley MuseumShelburne Falls
The Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum is dedicated to preserving and operating Shelburne Falls & Colrain Street Railway trolley car No. 10. Visit our operating museum, located near the Historic Bridge of Flowers, glacial potholes and village of Shelburne Falls. You can take a ride on Trolley No. 10 and our old fashioned pump car, browse historical photos from the time of trolleys in our Visitors Center, climb into our big red Caboose, and afterwards stroll among the artisan shops, galleries and restaurants in Shelburne Falls.
Magic WingsSouth Deerfield
The Lepidoptera source in Western Massachusetts, featuring an 8,000-square foot indoor conservatory home to nearly 4,000 exotic and domestic butterflies in a tropical environment, Magic Wings focuses on butterfly-related education, recreation, entertainment and gardening needs.
Mount Holyoke College Art MuseumSouth Hadley
Founded in 1876, the Mount Holyoke College Art Museum was one of the first collegiate museum in the United States. The Museum has acquired more than 15,000 objects ranging from ancient Egypt, China, and Peru to contemporary America.
George Walter Vincent Smith Art MuseumSpringfield
The George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum is one of the two Springfield museum dedicated to fine and decorative arts. It represents the personal taste and Victorian aesthetic of the collector whose name it bears. The museum was built in 1895 in the style of an elegant Italian villa and opened to the public in 1896 as the "Art Museum." Smith made his fortune as a carriage manufacturer in New York City and retired when he was just 35 years old. He and his Springfield-born wife, Belle Townsley Smith, moved to Springfield in 1871 and devoted their lives to collecting art. Although Smith never visited Asia, by buying from dealers in New York and Europe he became a leading 19th-century collector of Chinese, Japanese and Middle Eastern art, and also amassed an outstanding selection of 19th-century American paintings.
Michele & Donald D'Amour Museum of Fine ArtsSpringfield
The Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts, established in 1933 and housed in an Art Deco style building, includes a comprehensive collection of American and European paintings, prints, watercolors, and sculpture as well as a large collection of Japanese prints and representative examples of drawing, furniture, metalwork, textiles, glass and ceramics. The Museum houses a comprehensive collection of European Art (French, Dutch, and Italian) and the Currier & Ives (active 1834-1907) collection, one of the largest holdings of lithographs in the nation.
Springfield Armory National Historic SiteSpringfield
Springfield Armory National Historic Site showcases the critical role of the nation's first armory. It contains the world's largest historic US military small arms collection, along with historic archives, buildings, and landscapes.
Basketball Hall of FameSpringfield
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame has honored and celebrated the game's greatest moments and brightest stars. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is home to nearly three hundred inductees and more than 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Located on the picturesque banks of the Connecticut River, the new museum is a fitting shrine to the game Dr. Naismith invented more than a century ago. The landmark structure is one of the world's most distinctive monuments punctuating the Springfield skyline and stirring the spirits of basketball fans everywhere. Hundreds of interactive exhibits share the spotlight with skills challenges, live clinics, and shooting contests. And of course there is enough basketball history to impress the world's most avid sports fans!
Museum of Springfield HistorySpringfield
The Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History is known for its local history research facilities, its comprehensive program of changing exhibitions, its diverse educational offerings, and it’s wide ranging collections illuminating the history of the Connecticut River Valley. The Indian Motocycle Collection is the largest collection of Indian cycles and memorabilia in the world. The Firearms Collection includes more than 1,600 firearms, with the largest collection of Smith & Wesson guns in the world. The Automobile Collection includes an 1899 Knox, a 1901 Crestmobile, a 1925 Rolls-Royce roadster, and a 1928 Rolls-Royce roadster.
Springfield Science MuseumSpringfield
The Springfield Science Museum, founded in 1859 in City Hall, officially opened in 1899 in a classical revival building, expanded in 1932 with an Art Deco addition, and expanded again in 1970 with the Tolman addition that included a public observatory. In 2004, the Welcome Center was added to the Science Museum to serve as the main entrance to the entire campus. The Science Museum houses permanent collections of Natural Science, Anthropology and Physical Science. The Science Museum’s Seymour Planetarium consists of the historic Korkosz Starball, now the oldest operating star-projector in the United States.
Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture GardenSpringfield
An exhibition that tells the story of Theodor Geisel's (Dr. Seuss's) childhood in Springfield with family photographs and genealogical information about the Seuss-Geisel family history. The exhibit features comparisons of Dr. Seuss's fanciful illustrations with actual places in Springfield that he would have known. A gallery devoted to the creation of the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden is located on the second floor of The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum, which opened fifteen years after the sculpture garden was installed.
ChesterwoodStockbridge
Chesterwood is the country home, studio and gardens of Daniel Chester French (1850-1931) sculptor of the statue of Abraham Lincoln in the Memorial in Washington, DC, and The Minute Man, Concord, MA. The buildings are furnished with American and European decorative arts and paintings collected by the sculptor. Woodland walks featuring mountain vistas and perennial gardens are French's own design. The Studio has a standard-gauge railroad track used to roll large sculpture outdoors for viewing in natural light. The museum holds what is probably the largest single collection of work by any American sculptor.
NaumkeagStockbridge
Gilded Age 44-room summer estate of Joseph Choate. Built in 1885 and designed by Stanford White, Naumkeag also includes eight acres of formal landscaped gardens designed by Fletcher Steele.
Norman Rockwell MuseumStockbridge
Norman Rockwell Museum is dedicated to education and art appreciation inspired by the legacy of Norman Rockwell. The museum preserves, studies and communicates with a worldwide audience the life, art and spirit of Norman Rockwell in the field of illustration. The museum is a gathering place for reflection, involvement, and discovery through the enjoyment of the artist's work. Norman Rockwell's unique contributions to art and society, popular culture and social commentary influence the museum's programs and interpretations.
Berkshire Botanical GardenStockbridge
Renowned for its inspiring gardens, educational programs and exquisite setting, the Berkshire Botanical Garden is one of New England's oldest and most treasured public gardens. Established in 1934, its mission was to inspire and educate the community in responsible horticulture and home grown food. Today, with a year-round schedule of gardening classes, prestigious guest lecturers and a horticulture certification program in addition to our special events, we honor these founding values that are timelier than ever. Come roam the Garden's 15 lush acres where 3,000 regionally appropriate plant species, significant trees, unique shrubs and exotic botanical collections take center stage in an ever-changing theater of the senses.
Stone ZooStoneham
Stone Zoo is located on a 26-acre site near the sparkling Spot Pond reservoir in Stoneham, MA. The Zoo is open year round.
Old Sturbridge VillageSturbridge
Come ride our stagecoach, meet our farm animals, talk with costumed historians, and watch the blacksmith, cooper, potter, and farmers at work. Experience life in the 1830s -- visit our 40 antique homes, buildings and water-powered mills. We offer hands-on crafts year-round, free parking and a free second-day visit within 10 days.
Old Colony History MuseumTaunton
Housed in the 1852 Bristol Academy building designed by Richard Upjohn, the museum contains extensive collections representing the history of the Taunton region of Massachusetts. Special collections include portraits, silver, military artifacts, fire fighting equipment, Rogers Groups, stoves, toys and dolls, furniture, and Native American artifacts. Important items include early silver, portraits, a 1790s fire wagon, a 1630-50 fowling gun, a Revolutionary War drum, and the 1729 Crossman Chest. Guided tours are offered daily.
Xperiment Virtual RealityTrumbull
Xperiment VR is the newest place to experience the power of virtual reality. They host birthday parties, events, and free play whenever you're in the mood to step into another reality. Xperiment VR is a fully immersive virtual reality social play space that delivers the best VR experiences without hassle and expensive home setups. Prepare to jump into realistic worlds with explosive visuals as you step beyond reality and explore just about anything you can imagine. Whether you’re playing games, exploring the world, or unleashing your artistic talents, it’s fun for EVERYONE and a great way to stay active!
Highland House MuseumTruro
The Highland House Museum occupies one of Truro’s best-known landmarks, the Highland House, a seasonal hotel built on the Highlands in 1907. Located near the Highland Light in North Truro, the museum building is a classic example of a turn-of-the-century summer resort hotel. Visit the museum for a look inside the lives of the people of Truro and the Outer Cape. Explore permanent exhibits about the Indigenous people who lived here for hundreds of years before the arrival of the Europeans. Travel back to a time when local residents devoted themselves to the salt mill industry, the railroad, and domestic crafts, such as weaving and embroidery. Discover a collection of art that showcases a deep reservoir of talent that reflects an enduring admiration for the natural beauty of this area.
Rose Art MuseumWaltham
The Rose Art Museum's collection is internationally recognized for its quality and comprehensiveness. The collection numbers more than 9,000 objects and is particularly strong in American art of the 1960s and 1970s. The collection includes works by Mark Bradford, Willem de Kooning, Jasper Johns, Yayoi Kusama, Roy Lichtenstein, Al Loving, Robert Motherwell, Louise Nevelson, Pablo Picasso, Betye Saar, Cindy Sherman, Andy Warhol, and Jack Whitten. Recent acquisitions include works by Radcliffe Bailey, Jeffrey Gibson, Barkley L. Hendricks, Noé Martínez, Elle Pérez, Peter Sacks, Tuesday Smillie, and Marie Watt. The Rose Art Museum is open to all with free admission.
Gore PlaceWaltham
The Federal period, historic house and estate of Massachusetts Governor Christopher Gore includes a small farm with sheep, goats and poultry. The elegantly furnished mansion has been called "the Monticello of the North" and architectural historians consider it to be the most significant Federal period mansion in New England.
Charles River Museum of Industry & InnovationWaltham
Power up your imagination! Get your inventiveness in gear! For an industrial strength museum experience, come visit the Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation. Explore the inventions that powered America into the modern age -- steam engines, generators, timepieces, machine tools, bicycles, automobiles, and hundreds of other gizmos - plus the geniuses who perfected them.
Onset Bay CenterWareham
Take experiential education to the next level on and around Onset Bay with year-round, hands-on activities aligned with MA curriculum standards! Onset Bay Center offers on-and-around-the-water field trips on Onset Beach to all groups and schools, augmenting existing science, STEM, and social-emotional curriculum at little to no cost! Through activities like crabbing, shellfishing, sailing and paddling adventures, ecological observations and experiments, learn and discover for yourself all that Onset Bay has to offer.
Armenian Library and Museum of AmericaWatertown
The main exhibit gallery in Bedoukian Hall focuses on the art and achievement of the Armenian people. ALMA's museum holdings, now totaling approximately 6,000 objects, comprise a diverse collection of textiles, rugs, ceramics, religious art, coins, metalware, stamps, Uration architecture models, costumes, geological and botanical specimens, utensils and other artifacts. A vital part of the Armenian community, ALMA is truly a living library and museum, and a valuable resource to the community at large. Above all, ALMA is trying to fulfill its role as a surrogate grandparent, a guardian who can honor, protect and pass on the traditional values of Armenian culture to future generations, so that all our children, both Armenian and non-Armenian, may be inspired by the history and culture of Armenia.
Samuel Slater ExperienceWebster
The Samuel Slater Experience is not a museum in the traditional sense, with visitors simply looking at artifacts and static displays. Rather, the Samuel Slater story is told with high-tech media: video, audio, motion, wind, and scents, to create an immersive experience. The Samuel Slater Experience is designed to be toured in small groups of 6-8 people, with a new group entering every 10-15 minutes. Each guided tour lasts about an hour and a half. We recommend ages 8 and above, but all ages are welcome.
Davis Museum and Cultural CenterWellesley
Welcome to one of the oldest and most acclaimed academic fine arts museums in the United States. Founded in 1889 by the first President of Wellesley College, the Davis Museum and Cultural Center is characterized by collections that span global history from Ancient times to yesterday. With masterpieces from almost every continent, with collections installed in one of this country's most significant examples of museum architecture, and with a rotating series of temporary exhibitions that challenge our understanding of history and the role of the arts in society, the museum provides an exciting environment to see, hear, experience, and learn about the visual arts.
Wenham MuseumWenham
The Wenham Museum currently stewards a diverse collection of approximately 58,000 artifacts. Bring the entire family to discover the treasures of childhood and explore how New Englanders have lived, worked, dressed and played from the 17th century to today at the Wenham Museum.
Storrowton Village MuseumWest Springfield
Storrowton Village Museum is an authentic recreation of a 19th century village, consisting of nine historical buildings assembled around a traditional Green. Storrowton's antique buildings were purchased from various Massachusetts and New Hampshire locations, dismantled and reconstructed to create a village such as our forefathers built on hills, crossroads and along rivers.
Spellman Museum of Stamps & Postal HistoryWeston
The Spellman Museum engages diverse audiences of all ages in the opportunities to learn from stamps and postal history. It welcomes stamp collectors and philatelic students from around the world.
Golden Ball TavernWeston
The Golden Ball Tavern Museum offers visitors a different perspective on the American Revolution. Our museum, housed in a historic Pre-Revolutionary home and tavern in Weston, Massachusetts, tells the other side of the story – that of the Loyalists during the War of Independence. Notably, the Museum is among only a handful of institutions in the country dedicated to bringing to life the Loyalist experience. The Tavern was opened in 1770 by Isaac Jones, a Loyalist (or Tory) who advocated compromise over conflict with Great Britain at considerable personal risk. He ultimately joined the Patriot cause and went on to make significant contributions to the new republic. The Museum also tells the story of the six generations of the Jones family - Isaac’s direct descendants - who lived here for nearly 200 years up until the 1960s. The original house and tavern (built by Isaac 1765-1768) have been preserved in ways that allow each generation’s stories to come to light by exposing the structural layers of change specific to each time period. More than 70 percent of the items in the Museum’s collections are original to the Jones family. The Museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is entirely self-sustaining.
Sterling and Francine Clark Art InstituteWilliamstown
Opened to the public in 1955, the Institute has built upon the original extraordinary group of works to become one of the most beloved and respected art museums in the world, known for its intimate galleries and stunning natural environment.
Griffin Museum of PhotographyWinchester
Welcome to the Griffin Museum of Photography, a nonprofit organization dedicated solely to the art of photography. Through our many exhibitions, programs and lectures, we strive to encourage a broader understanding and appreciation of the visual, emotional and social impact of photographic art. At the Griffin Museum, you will find exhibitions from well-known photographers to those emerging on the scene that explore important themes and thought-provoking ideas. All of our exhibitions and programs are designed to encourage the passionate exploration of the art of photography.
Kidstock! Creative TheaterWinchester
Kidstock! Creative Theater is open for field trip opportunities which expose students to workshops in acting, movement, and art. Every student has a chance to watch a lived staged show and explore with being onstage in an interactive, pressure free environment. Suitable for both children and adults, homeschool families are encouraged to contact us to explore custom opportunities that best meet the needs of each group.
Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation AreaWinthrop
Here is a place where you can walk a Civil War-era fort, visit historic lighthouses, explore tide pools, hike lush trails, camp under the stars, or relax while fishing, picnicking or swimming--all within reach of downtown Boston. Youth programs, visitor services, research, wildlife management, and more are coordinated on the park's 34 islands and peninsulas by the Boston Harbor Islands Partnership.
Worcester Art MuseumWorcester
Our wide-ranging exhibitions tell global stories—from art made thousands of years ago to works being created today. The Museum’s collection of nearly 40,000 objects, assembled since its opening in 1898, provides a foundation to connect visitors of all ages with art, artists, and the ideas they spark. With strong ties to both our local community and the international art world, the Worcester Art Museum is an essential cultural venue for Central Massachusetts and beyond.
Museum of Worcester and Salisbury MansionWorcester
Our mission is to celebrate and preserve the diverse heritage of our region, fostering inclusion and connection among all visitors. Through engaging exhibits, interactive programs, and vibrant local events, we invite everyone to explore and share their unique stories. Formerly Worcester Historical Museum. The Salisbury Mansion was built in 1772 by Stephen Salisbury, with an attached storehouse from which he sold imported goods. Today, the mansion is a living museum and the only historic house within the city of Worcester.
EcoTariumWorcester
The EcoTarium museum of science and nature in Worcester, Massachusetts, offers an indoor-outdoor experience to visitors of all ages. Guests are encouraged to explore three floors of indoor interactive exhibits, live animal habitats, daily Science Discovery programs, hikes through forest and meadow nature trails, outdoor imaginative play, and a train ride (seasonal) around the 45+ acre campus.
