11 Quirky and Unusual Museums in Greater Boston
When:
Tuesday, Oct 01, 2024 9:00a -
Tuesday, Dec 31, 2024 5:00p
Tuesday, Oct 01, 2024 9:00a -
Tuesday, Dec 31, 2024 5:00p
Where:
Boston
Surrounding areas
Boston, MA
Admission:
$Varies
Categories:
Art, Date Idea, History, Innovation, Rainy Day Ideas
Boston is a hub of culture and academic achievement with tons of stunning libraries, museums, and educational institutions. But not all the organizations in Boston are exploring traditional areas of study. For an off-the-beaten-path experience, check out the quirkiest museums in Boston.
by Celina Colby
Where: South Boston
Cost: Free
Info: Learn about some of the biggest fires in Boston, like the Great Boston Fire of 1872 and the Cocoanut Grove fire in 1942, see artifacts from the city’s history of firefighting, images from historic firehouses, and more.
Where: Dorchester
Cost: Free
Info: Located inside Dorchester Brewing Company, this cheeky museum pays homage to the artworks that didn’t quite make it into the history books. The museum has been operating across Greater Boston since 1994, encouraging viewers to consider what makes “good” art.
3) Paul S. Russell, MD Museum of Medical History and Innovation
Where: Beacon Hill
Cost: Free
Info: Housed in Mass General, this unique museum showcases more than 200 years of medical research and innovation. It’s free and open to the public. If your timing is good you can also pop down the street to see the Ether Dome, the space where the first successful public surgery using anesthesia took place. The space is sometimes used for meetings so it’s hit or miss if you can peek in.
4) Museum of Modern Renaissance
Where: Somerville
Cost: Varies
Info: Local artists Nicholas Shaplyko and Ekaterina Sorokina purchased and restored this former church, turning it into a palace of art with their hand painted murals all over the walls. The museum doesn’t have regular viewing hours, but you can often visit for concerts and yoga classes.
Where: Fenway
Cost: Free, by appointment
Info: The Warren Anatomical Museum used to be its own brick and mortar building. Now the unique, and slightly chilling, collection is housed in the Harvard Countway Library Center for the History of Medicine. By appointment you can view artifacts like the skull of Phineas Gage, a man who had a 3’ 7” inch iron rod fired through his head and survived with a dramatic personality change.
6) Ancient & Honorable Artillery Company Museum
Where: Downtown
Cost: Free
Info: This museum houses tons of artifacts related to the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, which ends up providing a fascinating look at military history. You’ll see uniforms, weapons, paper documents, paintings, and more dating back to the 1600s.
OUTSIDE THE CITY
Where: Rockport, MA
Cost: $3
Info: The Paper House is exactly as it sounds, an entire house (complete with furniture and decor) that’s completely made out of newspaper. Built in 1922, the house is still standing and can be toured daily spring through fall.
Where: Gloucester, MA
Cost: $20
Info: Quirky inventor John Hays Hammond, Jr had this sprawling castle built in the 1920s. It served as his laboratory and home. The castle mixes a bunch of architectural styles and still features a lot of Hammond’s inventions.
9) Willard House & Clock Museum
Where: North Grafton, MA
Cost: $10
Info: Benjamin Willard made his first clock in 1766. His brothers joined him in the business and we now benefit from their three-generation clock making legacy. At this museum you can see many handcrafted clocks, learn about the process, and explore their family history.
10) Ponyhenge
Where: Lincoln, MA
Cost: Free
Info: No one is sure how this field of rocking horses got here, but it’s become a local cultural icon. Situated in a circle, the rocking horses, hobby horses, and former carousel horses feel eerie and abandoned but locals have begun adding their own additions in recent years.
Where: Arlington, MA
Cost: Varies
Info: Founded by Grammy-nominated composer and performer Deborah Henson-Conant, this museum showcases the crispy results of her creative cooking. The museum is only very occasionally open to the public (although for a hefty price you can book a private tour), but you can check out the exhibits online.
