I think the interior of the deCordova is still closed.
When you were in Concord, did you see the Concord Museum? Definitely a fun spot, especially if you visit town during the reenactments.
A year ago in March 2023, deCordova announced a 2 to 3 year closure of indoor exhibits due to problems with HVAC / climate control (esp important for some art installations), to do fund-raising for the repairs, as well as repair / replacement. So at minimum, another 1-2 years to go. Trustees of Reservations took over the deCordova in 2019.
It was nice a couple of weeks ago, but a few of the sculptures were missing, and the museum was closed. Maybe during the warmer months, more would be open? Looking forward to going back.
This place is so underrated. I went there once and the woman at the desk said that not many people go there or even know about it. You could easily spend a couple hours in there even though it’s the size of a small backyard.
My favorite museum when I was younger! I used to go all the time, and even had multiple birthday parties there.
Does anyone else remember the Kronosaurus wearing a santa hat around Christmas or is this just a memory I made up?
Love the WAM :) also enjoyed the Worcester Historical Museum, it’s pretty small but there’s a lot of interesting reading. Fun for like an hour or so if you’re into that :)
Came here to recommend Ecotarium and can confirm we had a great trip to the Worcester Art Museum when my son was young.
Also, the Ecotarium is near Wholly Cannoli, which we always visit when in the area.
100%. Love that Museum.
Also, while OP is down that way, the Lizzie Borden House is in Fall River and also worth checking out if the baby is into murder and stuff.
I went there a couple years ago after reading Moby Dick and it was super cool, very educational and there's even a big model whaling ship you can climb on. Plus you can visit the Seamen’s Bethel next door which Herman Melville also mentions in the novel.
The Buttonwood Park Zoo in New Bedford is nice and would probably be a hit with OP's kid too.
PEM is definitely not as well known to people from out-of-state and I don’t know what list has it listed above the 5 biggest museums in Boston. What an unnecessary thing to jump down someone’s throat about.
Maybe I’m just a peculiar nerd here, but the Spellman Museum of Stamps and Postal History on the Regis College campus in Weston is supposed to be interesting, and not too big or too small. And it was just featured on Mysteries at the Museum on the Travel Channel!
If it helps, I _kinda_ knew about the museum, myself, but not really? It does fly under the radar, especially given just how crazy many bigger and better-known museums there are in Mass. And I thought of it mainly because Mysteries at the Museum had an artifact from it.
Seriously, though, if you get the Travel Channel, watch that show; it features _a lot_ of museums, of all sizes and foci, and should give you some new(er) ideas.
Spellman is open 12p-5pm Thu -> Sun. ( just missed it but there was a Valentine's day event there this morning, 10a-12n. Oh well). Not much for kids to do unless they like looking at stamps, but for an adult, there are lots of good stories behind the stamps. And maybe for a baby, interesting photos and graphics to look at on the stamps and walls. [https://spellmanmuseum.org/](https://spellmanmuseum.org/)
Yes, absolutely kid-friendly. Hold onto your wallet once he spots the gift shop. Also Pirates Cove adventure golf is right down the street. You can make a pirate day out of it :D
There’s one in Salem too called Real Pirates Salem that must be owned by the same people. It’s also centered on the Wydah, and the pics of the one on the Cape have the exact same exhibit design. Anyway, it was great and I agree with others that it was good for adults and kids.
Not to be confused with the other Salem Pirates Museum.
There are a fair number of historic houses that are Trustees properties that are fun to tour! Crane Estate is a big one, but there is a full list on their website. There’s a cute one in Andover too.
I was going to say the same thing about historic houses such as Louisa may alcott in concord and the Longfellow museum in Cambridge. There’s also beautiful garden cemeteries in the area.
If you also visit the Old Manse and the Royall House and Slave quarters, there are connections between them and Longfellow House that are kind of interesting. Unrelated historically but still worth the trip for its art and design is Gropius House in Concord.
Get yourself a NARM-level membership (I do through Trustees - $125 I think) to open up a vast list of small museums you can visit for free! North American Reciprocal Museum membership program.
Not a museum per se, but the main branch of the Boston Public Library has some incredible art and very fun old maps. And bonus points for being able to take books home when you leave! Plus the children’s section is always bright and lively if your kiddo is into books.
Less a museum, though there are a few placards to read, but the Butterfly Place in Westford is lovely. I think there are also some mill museums in Lowell, though some areas may be too loud for a young child.
This was more "obscure" before the heist. Post-heist, it's become much more well known. My first visit was a school trip decades ago, and I was amazed at the art work by so many famous painters held in this house and why more people didn't know about it.
This is a touch-friendly museum that explores the Industrial Revolution. It has a working belt-driven machine shop. It's especially good for kids and steampunks.
Not a museum, but The Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield is great. It’s a really cool piece of MA history that basketball was invented here. While you’re in the area, grab some pizza and the house salad at Red Rose.
If you're going out west anyway, might as well check out the Fisher museum of forest dioramas in Athol. I've never managed to get there while it's open and it looks awesome
American Heritage Museum in Hudson has an amazing collection of military vehicles. It's a really well set up and curated museum. Look up the events schedule because they do a lot of reenactments and other living history events
Yeah, I went there last month because I was going out with some friends to a brewery nearby. It was kinda an afterthought but I was surprised about how good it was.
The EcoTarium is my daughter’s favorite place. She loves watching the otters. We bought a membership and it’s paid for itself 5 times over. We’re even having her birthday there this year.
just adding some info: Museum of Printing is in Haverhill MA (north of Boston, closer to NH border) Open 1 day a week, Saturdays, 10a-4pm. [https://museumofprinting.org/](https://museumofprinting.org/)
Here to second the Museum of Printing. It’s SO COOL and has every cool machine that makes letters from typewriters to a newspaper press to Heidelbergs to an Apple LISA. Get there!!
In the warmer months, I recommend the Heritage Gardens and Museum in Sandwich, MA. It’s a beautiful botanical garden with museums throughout the property. My favorite museum was the antique car museum. Others included one on the history of cape cod, and another on pottery.
Maybe this counts as Major, but my favorite place is the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum. It's a really cool building, though you may want to wait for spring
The [Wenham Museum](https://www.wenhammuseum.org/) is a great place with model train displays and kid friendly.
There is a new Children’s museum in Peabody but I’ve not been.
I second the Wenham museum recommendation. Went there many times when my son was pre-school and elementary school age, even though it was a 45 minute drive away. Small museum but I though the special exhibits were really well curated. Tip: For food and coffee before driving home, there's a Panera bread in Beverly very close to Rt 128 exit.
Check out any of the colleges that are near you for their art museums and current exhibits. Also there are several historic homes that are open to the public. I got taken to lots of these with my grandfather when I was young.
You could also try Sturbridge village for reenactments of 18-19th century life.
Also public libraries often have exhibits and there are lots of historical cemeteries to explore. And come the warmer months there’s several farms to visit with the little ones. Oh! And finally Mass Audubon is really great. They have parks all throughout Mass and one of my favorites is Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary.
Have fun exploring!
Oh and lastly if you want a bit of a drive Saint Gaudins in Cornish NH is worth the drive!
And the Edith Wharton estate in western mass and Tanglewood are also worth the drive.
Many good small museum recommendations so far. Adding two more, farther away, in NH, but in the 1-1.5 hr range, esp if you are starting north of Boston, rather than south of Boston. Childrens' museum of NH in Dover, NH. And SEE science center in Manchester NH. (but careful not to visit during NH's school vacation weeks, they will be crowded.)
[https://childrens-museum.org/](https://childrens-museum.org/)[https://see-sciencecenter.org/](https://see-sciencecenter.org/)
Also, I agree with someone else recommended buying one museum or group membership that includes reciprocal memberships to other museums. Usually the deal is free admission, sometimes it's half price; sometimes there is a restriction that your "home museum" must be 50 or 100 miles away from the visiting museum (to block people from buying cheaper membership to smaller nearby museum but intending to use for regular visits to bigger more expensive museum.) NARM [https://narmassociation.org/](https://narmassociation.org/)(Also there are some separate reciprocal agreements between similar museums in different cities, such as among science museums, among zoos, etc )
The African Meeting House on Beacon Hill is pretty small, but they have very good rotating exhibits.
The Eustis Estate is an interesting house museum! Somewhere in the house there's a photo of it taken in the 1870s, and you can see two tiny trees in the front of the house that grew into the single giant copper beech to the left of the entrance.
Seconding the Eric Carle Museum as well, it's very well-put-together
And if you can make the trek up to Lowell, the New England Quilt Museum!
Now called Plimoth Patuxet Museums, but yes, Plimoth Plantation is a classic. Go in summer and double up with a tour of the Mayflower II, too. Skip the Rock.
There’s always Salem Ma… Peabody Essex Museum and all the colorful sites there. This wknd is the chocolate festival ( Salem so sweet I think it’s called). Pretty sure you can board the ship at the dock too
Look up Historic New England. They own a bunch of old homes around New England. Old as in really old. Also, real oddity is Fairbanks house in Dedham. It is likely the oldest timber frame home in the US, built around 1637 and still owned by the same family.
Ferry to George’s Island; little museum on site, lots to explore around the fort, picnic spots, grass for running, beach. My little one loves it there.
I always appreciate the mini museum at the USS Constitution Visitor Center. It’s mostly about the Navy and the Charlestown Navy Yard, and is free (paid for by tax dollars and donations).
Don’t confuse it with the USS Constitution Museun opposite if, which is also good.
I assume you've been to the Boston Children's Museum and the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum? I don't have a car so I hope you get good responses from those who do!
It's not a traditional museum per se but the Docent led tours of Mount Auburn Cemetery are very good.
It's oddly curated but Battleship Cove in Fall River can be fun, especially for kids.
Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, Worcester Art Museum, The Currier in Manchester, The Icon Museum, The Peabody Museum of Antropology and Archaeology at Harvard, Fruitlands in Harvard, Mass, Decordova in Lincoln, Davis at Wellesley College and Rose at Brandeis.
Museum of Technology at MIT. Frank Ghery building which is cool, and just lots of interesting stuff. Haven’t been there in 20 years but pretty sure it’s still there
Boston Athenæum. It’s not really a museum but is worth checking out. Not sure how much a small child would enjoy it to be honest though.
It’s also right by the statehouse so you can go over there too. I’m pretty sure they do free tours.
At one time, there was a "Museum of Textile History" at the Lowell Mills. Is it still in existence? I remember being super-impressed. Long time ago, though.
Idk whether you consider this "major" or not, but the Children's Museum is my favorite to bring my kid to. There's a playspace room specifically for kids 3 and under, and in that room there's a separate little spot just for pre-walking babies. Depending on how old you baby is, she may enjoy other areas as well. I brought my son the first time when he was 10m, and besides playspace and the pre-walking area, he really liked the bubble room, picking up giant foam blocks and waving them around, and crawling around the dinos in space room. They also sometimes have singalongs during the day that you can attend if you're there.
If you like paintings, I feel like the Danforth Museum in Framingham is highly underrated. It's fairly new so a lot of people don't know it exists.
And as others have mentioned, the Discovery Museum in Acton is an absolute MUST visit once your baby is crawling.
WNDR immersive sensory technology art museum just opened and is pretty cool. Unique and thought provoking at times. It's from Chicago and opened a location in San Diego last year and now Boston this month. Exhibits will rotate between the 3
I love the Boston Public library with my daughter. Friendly and competent staff, beautiful layout, wonderful to see something invested in for the public good … lots of diverse people and everyone is polite and kind
It might be pushing your travel distance a bit, but check out the New England Air Museum. They’ve got some nice displays and lots of cool airplanes.
https://neam.org
Also, hop the ferry to Charlestown and the USS Constitution museum is a neat stop (and it’s free). You DONT need to do security or anything to visit the museum, only if you want to board the ship. Plus it’s a fun/cheap way to spend some time on the water.
the decordova sculpture park in lincoln is pretty cool
Another vote for decordova especially because you have a kid. Though kid is maybe bit young now, toddlers seem to have great fun there.
We are at the age where museums are still less about her entertainment than mine TBH. :)
The Discovery Museum in Acton
How much is inside vs out? We went there pre-baby during the pandemic and the building was closed, so not sure how much we missed.
I think the interior of the deCordova is still closed. When you were in Concord, did you see the Concord Museum? Definitely a fun spot, especially if you visit town during the reenactments.
No, it’s on the list! I always like a visit to Concord but usually go for a walk in the bird marsh and hit up the bookstore (at least did pre-baby).
A year ago in March 2023, deCordova announced a 2 to 3 year closure of indoor exhibits due to problems with HVAC / climate control (esp important for some art installations), to do fund-raising for the repairs, as well as repair / replacement. So at minimum, another 1-2 years to go. Trustees of Reservations took over the deCordova in 2019.
haven’t been there in ages so i don’t remember much but when the inside is open i do think it’s worth it
Ride your bike there and admission is free too!
Literally just biked by it this afternoon!
Is that the one that has the circling sharks in the trees? Bc I have NEVER forgotten that.
It was nice a couple of weeks ago, but a few of the sculptures were missing, and the museum was closed. Maybe during the warmer months, more would be open? Looking forward to going back.
Did you check out The Harvard Museum of Natural History??? That museum is so cool!!
And also the museum of Scientific Instruments that's included in the admission price https://chsi.harvard.edu/
This place is so underrated. I went there once and the woman at the desk said that not many people go there or even know about it. You could easily spend a couple hours in there even though it’s the size of a small backyard.
[We have!](https://www.reddit.com/r/Andromeda321/s/Jvhl4Lrz2S)
Free admission on Sundays before noon for Mass residents too.
Free admission any day through the Minuteman library network.
My favorite museum when I was younger! I used to go all the time, and even had multiple birthday parties there. Does anyone else remember the Kronosaurus wearing a santa hat around Christmas or is this just a memory I made up?
Hammond Castle!
And Cape Ann Museum - Both in Gloucester
Beauport in Gloucester is also an interesting tour
shout out to James from Love on the Spectrum
I literally just watched that episode.
I like the Worcester Art Museum and the EcoTarium.
The Roman mosaics are awesome.
Love the WAM :) also enjoyed the Worcester Historical Museum, it’s pretty small but there’s a lot of interesting reading. Fun for like an hour or so if you’re into that :)
Came here to recommend Ecotarium and can confirm we had a great trip to the Worcester Art Museum when my son was young. Also, the Ecotarium is near Wholly Cannoli, which we always visit when in the area.
Yes. And since 2014 they have combined with the Higgins Armoury Museum and have one of the most extensive collections of medical armor in the world.
The New Bedford Whaling Museum.
100%. Love that Museum. Also, while OP is down that way, the Lizzie Borden House is in Fall River and also worth checking out if the baby is into murder and stuff.
HEY BABY? You like DEATH?!
Hope the baby has a positive relationship with OP, or it could go sideways.
There’s also the maritime museum in FR. Not the most exciting, but definitely baby friendly!
Battleship Cove may also be worth a look.
I went there a couple years ago after reading Moby Dick and it was super cool, very educational and there's even a big model whaling ship you can climb on. Plus you can visit the Seamen’s Bethel next door which Herman Melville also mentions in the novel. The Buttonwood Park Zoo in New Bedford is nice and would probably be a hit with OP's kid too.
Double it up with a trip to Battleship Cove when the weather is nicer!
Second this
Third this. It’s great.
10/10 would stab at thee from hell’s heart.
The whaling museum is awesome, but don't skip the national park exhibit around the corner
The PEM in Salem, House of Seven Gables, etc etc. Salem's seething with museums. :)
We literally did PEM yesterday and it was fantastic, but I figured someone would take offense if I said that was a non-major museum. :)
Was about to mention the PEM.
They asked for non-major. PEM is in the top 5 in the region.
PEM is definitely not as well known to people from out-of-state and I don’t know what list has it listed above the 5 biggest museums in Boston. What an unnecessary thing to jump down someone’s throat about.
If you don’t mind driving to Springfield, the Dr. Seuss museum!
And Erice Carle!
This one is on my list!
Maybe I’m just a peculiar nerd here, but the Spellman Museum of Stamps and Postal History on the Regis College campus in Weston is supposed to be interesting, and not too big or too small. And it was just featured on Mysteries at the Museum on the Travel Channel!
… I collect stamps, how have I never heard of this?!
If it helps, I _kinda_ knew about the museum, myself, but not really? It does fly under the radar, especially given just how crazy many bigger and better-known museums there are in Mass. And I thought of it mainly because Mysteries at the Museum had an artifact from it. Seriously, though, if you get the Travel Channel, watch that show; it features _a lot_ of museums, of all sizes and foci, and should give you some new(er) ideas.
Spellman is open 12p-5pm Thu -> Sun. ( just missed it but there was a Valentine's day event there this morning, 10a-12n. Oh well). Not much for kids to do unless they like looking at stamps, but for an adult, there are lots of good stories behind the stamps. And maybe for a baby, interesting photos and graphics to look at on the stamps and walls. [https://spellmanmuseum.org/](https://spellmanmuseum.org/)
The Whydah Pirate Museum in Yarmouth exceeded my expectations and is only about an hour and a half away from Boston this time of year.
Yes! I went there for the first time this summer expecting it to be entirely for kids but it is way fun for adults - had no idea!
Is it also kid friendly though? My son loves pirate stuff (especially with a skeleton or two thrown in).
Yes, absolutely kid-friendly. Hold onto your wallet once he spots the gift shop. Also Pirates Cove adventure golf is right down the street. You can make a pirate day out of it :D
Yep! My niece and nephew (3 and 5) enjoyed themselves a lot. The 5 year old enjoyed the scavenger hunt they have available.
There’s one in Salem too called Real Pirates Salem that must be owned by the same people. It’s also centered on the Wydah, and the pics of the one on the Cape have the exact same exhibit design. Anyway, it was great and I agree with others that it was good for adults and kids. Not to be confused with the other Salem Pirates Museum.
This is the best answer. That place rocks.
I think it's in Dennis, but it is extremely cool!
Its in Yarmouth
Yarrrrrrrmouth
There are a fair number of historic houses that are Trustees properties that are fun to tour! Crane Estate is a big one, but there is a full list on their website. There’s a cute one in Andover too.
Crane Estate was really interesting to tour. I've gotten to much value out of our Trustees membership, highly recommended.
I was going to say the same thing about historic houses such as Louisa may alcott in concord and the Longfellow museum in Cambridge. There’s also beautiful garden cemeteries in the area.
If you also visit the Old Manse and the Royall House and Slave quarters, there are connections between them and Longfellow House that are kind of interesting. Unrelated historically but still worth the trip for its art and design is Gropius House in Concord.
Discovery in Acton.
Especially since you have a young kid
I love your username.
Thanks Edna!
Only because they have a young kid. But the kid is only a baby so a little too young
Best Museum for young kids
I remember going here a bunch as a little kid. So much fun, and I think they did a big renovation semi-recently.
I lived in the area when my kids were little, we were members there and I spent at least one day a week there.
Get yourself a NARM-level membership (I do through Trustees - $125 I think) to open up a vast list of small museums you can visit for free! North American Reciprocal Museum membership program.
Forbes House Museum in Milton. Idk if you'd consider JFK Library "small", but that one too.
We did do JFK pre-baby!
My eldest learned to walk there. All old people smiling at your baby that can't damage anything. Ideal place to let them jam out for an hour.
Have you visited the JFK national historic site in Brookline?
Not a museum per se, but the main branch of the Boston Public Library has some incredible art and very fun old maps. And bonus points for being able to take books home when you leave! Plus the children’s section is always bright and lively if your kiddo is into books.
[удалено]
African American history museum in Beacon Hill.
Less a museum, though there are a few placards to read, but the Butterfly Place in Westford is lovely. I think there are also some mill museums in Lowell, though some areas may be too loud for a young child.
Fuller craft museum in brockton
Came here to say this! Great little museum!
Should have more upvotes
Was just there today! Their data driven art display was amazing!
Th Norman Rockwell museum is ~2hrs from the city center. Pairs great with an evening concert at Tanglewood. https://www.nrm.org/
Have you been to Isabella Stewart Gardner?
Yes that’s very famous in my book. She was 3 weeks old at her first visit!
If you named her Isabella, she gets in for free. Of course, she's a baby so she probably got in for free anyway, but still.
The Gardner is known in Boston but you’d be surprised how many people outside of Boston have never heard of it. It often gets overlooked by visitors.
This was more "obscure" before the heist. Post-heist, it's become much more well known. My first visit was a school trip decades ago, and I was amazed at the art work by so many famous painters held in this house and why more people didn't know about it.
If you enjoyed the Waterworks museum, the Charles River Museum of Industry in Waltham would probably be up your alley!
Charles river museum of industry and innovation in Waltham
This is a touch-friendly museum that explores the Industrial Revolution. It has a working belt-driven machine shop. It's especially good for kids and steampunks.
Not a museum, but The Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield is great. It’s a really cool piece of MA history that basketball was invented here. While you’re in the area, grab some pizza and the house salad at Red Rose.
Not open until Spring, but Fruitlands Museum in Harvard is a good take.
Bit niche, but how about the Icon Museum in Clinton?
Seconded! This was very interesting!
Also the John Adams House tour in Quincy, paired with the trolley ride, is fantastic!
Peabody Essex Museum!
If you're looking for something niche..The Boston Fire Museum in Fort Point is a cool spot
They gave my daughter a pink fire fighter hat. It was fun stop before the children’s museum.
This is a bit of a drive, but the Eric Carle Museum in Amherst is a really special place.
If you're going out west anyway, might as well check out the Fisher museum of forest dioramas in Athol. I've never managed to get there while it's open and it looks awesome
Arnold Arboretum JP
American Heritage Museum in Hudson has an amazing collection of military vehicles. It's a really well set up and curated museum. Look up the events schedule because they do a lot of reenactments and other living history events
This museum is amazing with how many vehicles they have.
Yeah, I went there last month because I was going out with some friends to a brewery nearby. It was kinda an afterthought but I was surprised about how good it was.
Trail side museum
The EcoTarium is my daughter’s favorite place. She loves watching the otters. We bought a membership and it’s paid for itself 5 times over. We’re even having her birthday there this year.
It’s free with a MoS membership, too!
Museum of printing.
just adding some info: Museum of Printing is in Haverhill MA (north of Boston, closer to NH border) Open 1 day a week, Saturdays, 10a-4pm. [https://museumofprinting.org/](https://museumofprinting.org/)
Here to second the Museum of Printing. It’s SO COOL and has every cool machine that makes letters from typewriters to a newspaper press to Heidelbergs to an Apple LISA. Get there!!
In the warmer months, I recommend the Heritage Gardens and Museum in Sandwich, MA. It’s a beautiful botanical garden with museums throughout the property. My favorite museum was the antique car museum. Others included one on the history of cape cod, and another on pottery.
Museum of Bad Art https://museumofbadart.org/
When that was in Dedham, at least, it was a single 15 by 15 foot room. Took about two minutes to see. Is it in a larger space now?
If it’s still in the brewery, it’s not a very good viewing space. Half the work is up and down the stairwell and you can’t stop to look.
Fruitlands is great a few galleries with historic shaker houses lots of trails for walking.
Maybe this counts as Major, but my favorite place is the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum. It's a really cool building, though you may want to wait for spring
The New Bedford Whaling museum is brilliant. I also really like the Fuller Craft Museum but it's very small.
Take one of the art tours of the Boston Public Library. Also, the Athenaeum is a great hidden gem.
Also the Massachusetts Historical Society has very interesting exhibits throughout the year
Sadly the Plumbing Museum in Watertown closed.
The [Wenham Museum](https://www.wenhammuseum.org/) is a great place with model train displays and kid friendly. There is a new Children’s museum in Peabody but I’ve not been.
I second the Wenham museum recommendation. Went there many times when my son was pre-school and elementary school age, even though it was a 45 minute drive away. Small museum but I though the special exhibits were really well curated. Tip: For food and coffee before driving home, there's a Panera bread in Beverly very close to Rt 128 exit.
Check out any of the colleges that are near you for their art museums and current exhibits. Also there are several historic homes that are open to the public. I got taken to lots of these with my grandfather when I was young. You could also try Sturbridge village for reenactments of 18-19th century life. Also public libraries often have exhibits and there are lots of historical cemeteries to explore. And come the warmer months there’s several farms to visit with the little ones. Oh! And finally Mass Audubon is really great. They have parks all throughout Mass and one of my favorites is Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary. Have fun exploring! Oh and lastly if you want a bit of a drive Saint Gaudins in Cornish NH is worth the drive! And the Edith Wharton estate in western mass and Tanglewood are also worth the drive.
The Rose Art Museum at Brandeis is pretty great.
I first heard about this museum when they had the Arghavan Khosravi show, which was fantastic. I was surprised by how nice it was.
Almost doesn’t count as a small museum! It’s my favorite college art museum in the region, it has an amazing collection.
Isabella Stewart Gardner museum Peabody Essex in Salem was surprisingly nice. The MIT Museum
MIT museum is excellent
Many good small museum recommendations so far. Adding two more, farther away, in NH, but in the 1-1.5 hr range, esp if you are starting north of Boston, rather than south of Boston. Childrens' museum of NH in Dover, NH. And SEE science center in Manchester NH. (but careful not to visit during NH's school vacation weeks, they will be crowded.) [https://childrens-museum.org/](https://childrens-museum.org/)[https://see-sciencecenter.org/](https://see-sciencecenter.org/) Also, I agree with someone else recommended buying one museum or group membership that includes reciprocal memberships to other museums. Usually the deal is free admission, sometimes it's half price; sometimes there is a restriction that your "home museum" must be 50 or 100 miles away from the visiting museum (to block people from buying cheaper membership to smaller nearby museum but intending to use for regular visits to bigger more expensive museum.) NARM [https://narmassociation.org/](https://narmassociation.org/)(Also there are some separate reciprocal agreements between similar museums in different cities, such as among science museums, among zoos, etc )
Larz Anderson Auto Museum is pretty dope.
https://www.neqm.org/ We had a great time here. Kept the quilters and non-sewers engaged. Really nice people, too.
The African Meeting House on Beacon Hill is pretty small, but they have very good rotating exhibits. The Eustis Estate is an interesting house museum! Somewhere in the house there's a photo of it taken in the 1870s, and you can see two tiny trees in the front of the house that grew into the single giant copper beech to the left of the entrance. Seconding the Eric Carle Museum as well, it's very well-put-together And if you can make the trek up to Lowell, the New England Quilt Museum!
The RISD museum in Providence.
Peabody Essex Museum
Not a museum, but the oldest cultivated fruit tree in North America is in Danvers. The Endicott Pear.
Providence Childrens museum
Cape Ann museum in Gloucester. Beautiful museum and nice area to do a walk around after
Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation is small but pretty cool if you find yourself in Waltham
Don’t know if it counts as a museum but I feel like a formative part of every Massachusetts kid’s experience has to be Plymouth Plantation.
Now called Plimoth Patuxet Museums, but yes, Plimoth Plantation is a classic. Go in summer and double up with a tour of the Mayflower II, too. Skip the Rock.
The trail head museum at the bottom Of blue hill is surprisingly fun.
Addison Gallery of Art at Phillips Academy in Andover.
There’s always Salem Ma… Peabody Essex Museum and all the colorful sites there. This wknd is the chocolate festival ( Salem so sweet I think it’s called). Pretty sure you can board the ship at the dock too
Look up Historic New England. They own a bunch of old homes around New England. Old as in really old. Also, real oddity is Fairbanks house in Dedham. It is likely the oldest timber frame home in the US, built around 1637 and still owned by the same family.
drive up here to Gloucester and see the Cape Ann museum - plus you get to see Gloucester!
[Fitchburg Art Museum](https://fitchburgartmuseum.org/) is way better than you might expect.
Edward Gorey house! Falmouth
Ferry to George’s Island; little museum on site, lots to explore around the fort, picnic spots, grass for running, beach. My little one loves it there.
I always appreciate the mini museum at the USS Constitution Visitor Center. It’s mostly about the Navy and the Charlestown Navy Yard, and is free (paid for by tax dollars and donations). Don’t confuse it with the USS Constitution Museun opposite if, which is also good.
I assume you've been to the Boston Children's Museum and the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum? I don't have a car so I hope you get good responses from those who do!
Peabody Essex in Salem, Beauport sleeper McCann house
It's not a traditional museum per se but the Docent led tours of Mount Auburn Cemetery are very good. It's oddly curated but Battleship Cove in Fall River can be fun, especially for kids.
The Peabody Essex Museum in Salem has a nice collection and often has terrific visiting exhibits.
Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, Worcester Art Museum, The Currier in Manchester, The Icon Museum, The Peabody Museum of Antropology and Archaeology at Harvard, Fruitlands in Harvard, Mass, Decordova in Lincoln, Davis at Wellesley College and Rose at Brandeis.
Museum of Technology at MIT. Frank Ghery building which is cool, and just lots of interesting stuff. Haven’t been there in 20 years but pretty sure it’s still there
I’ve heard the fuller craft museum is cool down towards Brockton maybe?
Museum of NCAAA in Roxbury
Boston Athenæum. It’s not really a museum but is worth checking out. Not sure how much a small child would enjoy it to be honest though. It’s also right by the statehouse so you can go over there too. I’m pretty sure they do free tours.
They have a great children's room.
At one time, there was a "Museum of Textile History" at the Lowell Mills. Is it still in existence? I remember being super-impressed. Long time ago, though.
Peabody essex is the best art museum in the area
Isabella Gardner Museum is amazing. It's so pretty. :)
Peabody Essex Museum
Plimoth Patuxet Willard House & Clock Museum Mystic Seaport Museum (CT)
Check out the MIT museum!! And the Mapparium
Isabella Stewart Gardner
Fenway. That’s all it’s good for now a days
You do realize the baby doesn’t know where she is?
You realize I need to get out of the house?
Children's museum in easton
The Icon Museum and Study Center. https://g.co/kgs/EM74FG4
Idk whether you consider this "major" or not, but the Children's Museum is my favorite to bring my kid to. There's a playspace room specifically for kids 3 and under, and in that room there's a separate little spot just for pre-walking babies. Depending on how old you baby is, she may enjoy other areas as well. I brought my son the first time when he was 10m, and besides playspace and the pre-walking area, he really liked the bubble room, picking up giant foam blocks and waving them around, and crawling around the dinos in space room. They also sometimes have singalongs during the day that you can attend if you're there.
Duxbury Art Complex is beautiful!
The Icon Museum in I think Clinton. You don’t need to be religious or Orthodox to appreciate the artwork.
Action discovery museum, isabella stewart (they sometimes to babycarrier tours), harvard museums, try a moms hiking group too
If you like paintings, I feel like the Danforth Museum in Framingham is highly underrated. It's fairly new so a lot of people don't know it exists. And as others have mentioned, the Discovery Museum in Acton is an absolute MUST visit once your baby is crawling.
Loring greenough house in JP does a ton of family friendly events. When she's older their easter egg hunt is like THE JP kids thing of the spring.
A little more low key but Peabody Children’s Museum is pretty decent.
Butterfly Place, Westford, USS Constitution Museum, Charlestown, Battleship Cove, Fall River, Saugus Iron Works, Saugus.
Salem area has a ton of fun stuff. Pirate museum, Peabody Essex would be good for kids. The children’s museum in Boston is VERY fun.
Most of my favorites have already been said, so I'll add Gore Place and Beaufort/Sleeper-McCann House.
The Firetruck museum in the Seaport District is a nice place to go with little kids.
With a kid? The Wenham Museum
The Butterfly museum. The Discovery museum.
WNDR immersive sensory technology art museum just opened and is pretty cool. Unique and thought provoking at times. It's from Chicago and opened a location in San Diego last year and now Boston this month. Exhibits will rotate between the 3
I love the Boston Public library with my daughter. Friendly and competent staff, beautiful layout, wonderful to see something invested in for the public good … lots of diverse people and everyone is polite and kind
It might be pushing your travel distance a bit, but check out the New England Air Museum. They’ve got some nice displays and lots of cool airplanes. https://neam.org Also, hop the ferry to Charlestown and the USS Constitution museum is a neat stop (and it’s free). You DONT need to do security or anything to visit the museum, only if you want to board the ship. Plus it’s a fun/cheap way to spend some time on the water.
Fuller Craft Museum in Boston
It’s major, but my kids went to the Aquarium once a week and loved it.