The Most Unusual Museums In Boston

One of Boston‘s hidden charms is its art scene. With dozens of museums to pick from, the options can be overwhelming. If you’re looking to visit somewhere a bit different, check out these places below.

The Museum of Bad Art

With the slogan, ‘Art too bad to be ignored,’ how can you not pay a visit to The Museum of Bad Art? Housed in the basement of the Somerville Theatre, MOBA’s mission is to bring the worst art to a wider audience.

USS Constitution

MIT Museum

If you’re looking for a change from the much-frequented Boston Museum of Science, head across the river to the MIT Museum. Here you can learn about 3D printing, robots, and explore a vast array of projects underway at the university.

Arnold Arboretum

If you’re pining for an outdoor museum experience, Harvard University’s Arnold Arboretum is the perfect spot. Covering nearly 300 acres, guided tours are offered as well as the opportunity to simply explore the living collection of trees, flowers, and other plant life.

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

Many historical homes in New England have been transformed into museums for preservation, but none compare to Isabella Stewart Gardner’s. Inspired by 15th-century Venetian palaces, the museum houses an expansive art collection as well a courtyard that Gardner invited artists, performers, and scholars to for inspiration.

Local tip: Isabella Gardner was an avid Red Sox fan, so to this day, if you wear Red Sox gear, you’ll be given a discount. Also, anyone named Isabella has free admission for life.

Courtyard of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

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