The best Boston museums to check out right now

There are more than 100 galleries at the Museum of Fine Arts (aka MFA), beholden to some 450,000 objects from across the globe. Founded in 1870, the MFA moved from Copley Square to its current home, a Neoclassical granite building on Huntington Avenue—the so-called “Avenue of the Arts”—in 1909. Today, it’s the 14th-largest art museum in the world. An array of performances and special events attract culture hounds of all ages throughout the year.

Serving as a party spot during the recent celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, this floating museum thrills history buffs with live reenactments and multimedia exhibits explaining the famous event that changed the course of American history. The one-hour tour features historical interpreters, interactive exhibits and full-scale, restored 18th century sailing vessels meant to replicate the ships involved in the tea party on the night of December 16, 1773. Visitors can also get a taste of history by sampling the five teas thrown overboard that evening, and score a photo op while dumping “tea” themselves.

The Gardner is a lavish reconstruction of a 15th century Venetian palace, complete with a luxurious interior courtyard and seasonally changing floral display. First opened in 1903, the museum is notable for its varied collection, which includes European, Asian and Islamic art from classical times to the turn of the 20th century. Wondering why some art frames hang empty throughout the museum? They’re placeholders from the famous 1990 heist, the largest property theft in recorded history. For more in-depth investigation into the famous heist, check out WBUR’s podcast Last Seen.

One of America’s oldest contemporary museums, the ICA’s spacious Seaport home is the cultural cornerstone of the waterfront. Within its 65,000-square-foot floor space, the dramatic glass-walled building houses galleries, a theater, and a café. Whether it’s a film, a performance or traditional visual media, the ICA engages your senses in the most unique ways (past exhibits have included two-story slides). Today, the museum prides itself on being a platform for offbeat, sometimes challenging, contemporary works. For a lighter experience, catch a concert or DJ set on the breezy, scenic back deck. During the summer, take the water taxi (included in admission price) to the ICA Watershed in East Boston for unique seasonal installations.

The museum reminds us nature is the original masterpiece. The main area is a compact maze of glass cases stuffed with thousands of different types of animals, birds and bugs – from the tiniest hummingbirds and deer mouse to huge giraffes, whales, and one of the largest Amazon pirarucu ever caught. View fossils and dinosaur skeletons (they have a 42-foot prehistoric marine reptile) alongside marvelous meteorites, gemstones, and minerals, including a 1,600-pound amethyst geode. “Glass Flowers” is a creative approach to flora, with more than 4,300 hand-blown glass plant models. The entry fee includes admission to the interconnected Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology, renowned for their anthropological exhibitions focused on the Americas.

An unparalleled immersive art and technology experience in Boston’s Downtown Crossing, this newly opened 17,000 square-foot museum will redefine the traditional museum experience of just standing, looking, and moving on to the next exhibit. Instead guests are invited to fully engage and interact with artworks and multi-sensory installations created by cutting edge artists, collectives, technologists, designers, and makers.

This exceptionally child-friendly museum is committed to providing an interactive and educational experience, making science accessible through a wealth of hands-on activities and engaging exhibits. Highlights include IMAX movies in the five-story Mugar Omni Theater and multimedia shows at the Charles Hayden Planetarium. There’s also an enormous gift shop, a variety of snack options (including pizzas from celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck) and spectacular views of the Charles River from the vast windows at the back of the museum.

This historic museum boasts a vast and slightly creepy collection of stuffed, bottled and dried creatures from around the globe—from llamas to coelacanths to butterflies. Fossil-mad children can gawk at dinosaur skeletons and admire the 42-foot kronosaurus (a prehistoric marine reptile), while rock fans will head straight for the meteorites and gemstones. The entry fee includes admission to the interconnected Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology, renowned for their anthropological exhibitions focused on the Americas.

Even if you’re not a sports fanatic, the team spirit throughout Boston is palpable so you’ll want to check out The Sports Museum at TD Garden for a slice of the city’s pride. Occupying the fifth and sixth Premium Levels of the Garden, this museum features a half-mile of sports exhibits and memorabilia. During your visit, you’ll be guided through the treasures on display, evidencing the rich heritage of Boston sports. You can also add in a tour of the TD Garden Arena in Summer 2024.

Less than 20 miles north of Boston, in Salem, the Peabody Essex Museum houses one of the largest art collections in New England (around 1.8 million works in total). It’s also one of the first museums in the country to start collecting decorative arts, including craft and interior furnishings. While the backbone is maritime art, there is also African, American, Asian, Native American, and Oceanic art to browse. Check out the 5,000-square-foot garden, or Fashion and Design (think Louboutins and Asian moon beds) in the Iris and Carl Apfel Gallery. For a break in the appreciation, relax in the atrium’s bright café.

Founded in 1913, the Children’s Museum remains a beloved local institution amongst generations of area youngsters. This Fort Point Channel landmark has seen its surrounding neighborhood explode in recent years, but once inside kids find themselves immersed in a series of spacious open areas. The centerpiece of the museum is the New Balance Foundation Climb, a twisty, turning three-story climbing structure made of serpentine wires and curved plywood sails. Fun fact: The museum is the second oldest children’s museum in the nation.

A looming concrete-and-glass monolith designed by I.M. Pei, this shrine to the life and work of the 35th U.S. President overlooks the harbor from the top of the Columbia Point peninsula. On the ground floor, the stunning atrium commands panoramic views of the sea and the city. Downstairs, the museum contains an extensive display of memorabilia, starting from JFK’s childhood and going straight through the important happenings during his presidency, including his inauguration to gifts from heads of state, in addition to a series of temporary shows.

Located a short stroll away from the oldest commissioned ship in the United States Navy in Charlestown, the USS Constitution Museum is housed in a converted pumphouse. The museum’s exhibits relate both to “Old Ironsides” itself—including the people who designed, built, and sailed the ship—and to general U.S. naval history. Interactive displays offer a simulated hands-on seafaring experience, giving visitors an idea of the thrill of handling the ship’s massive sails.