Cheapskate's guide: Boston's free museums
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One way to get out of the house without burning a hole in your wallet is by visiting one of Boston's free museums.
The intrigue: Many Boston-area museums and "experiences" cost as much as lunch out, but some institutions remain free.
🖼 Mass Art Museum
Your tax dollars (among other things) help pay for the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, and with it the MassArt Art Museum.
- It's free, it's vibrant and local: The paintings, textiles and other artwork come from MassArt alum, Boston-based artists and creators worldwide.
Plus: MAAM has a virtual tour of one of its most recent exhibitions, "The Myth of Normal," if you want to be inspired without leaving your house.
- MAAM also offers tutorials to make art related to some of its exhibitions and Zoom backgrounds.
Hours: 12-8pm Thursday, 12-5pm Friday-Sunday.
🎨 Harvard Art Museums
The Harvard Art Museums has offered everyone free admission since June 2023, after a major donation from the Estate of David Rockefeller, the late Harvard alumnus and banking executive.
- Their latest exhibition, "Made in Germany? Art and Identity in a Global Nation," explores art that challenges the perception of German identity as ethnically and culturally homogeneous.
Hours: 10am-5pm, Tuesday through Sunday, except major holidays.
🚿 The Waterworks Museum
The Waterworks Museum near Boston College takes you through the history of Boston's water supply systems.
- It's part public health, part engineering and lots of talk about how badly Boston smelled two centuries ago.
- If you're not sure where to start, try a free guided tour.
Plus: The nerds can get a more in-depth look at the engineers with a special access tour for $18.
Hours: 11am-4pm, Wednesday through Sunday. Closed in January and some holidays, per the website.