Boston North Station's Museum Circuit: A Visitor's Handbook

Located in Boston, Massachusetts under the TD Garden Arena, the Boston North Station is an intercity commuter rail station that serves approximately 18,427 passengers a day. The terminal was built in 1893 although it has been rebuilt several times since then. But you won’t find much to do to keep you busy.

If you are a historian or an art buff, Boston is a great place for you because they have more than 60 museums. From art galleries to zoos, Boston has it all for you to explore. Before running off to check out these museums, drop off your luggage at a suitcase storage site near Boston North Station. 

Museum of Science/Charles Hayden Planetarium

You can find the Museum of Science and the Charles Hayden Planetarium together in Science Park along the Charles River. The huge museum boasts more than 700 interactive exhibits as well as presentations, shows on the IMAX screen and the Omni Theater, and it is also home to more than 120 animals. 

The Live Animal Care Center has a variety of wild animals from around the country that have been rescued and you can see what goes on behind the scenes. Other popular exhibits include the Butterfly Garden, Dinosaurs and Fossils, Nanotechnology, the Discovery Center, and the Foucault Pendulum. 

Museum of Fine Arts 

With one of the largest collections in the Americas, the Museum of Fine Arts boasts over 450,000 pieces of art. In fact, it boasts 8,161 paintings, which is more than any other art museum in America besides the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC. The museum was founded in 1870 but was moved to Fenway in 1909. 

You can see Ancient Egyptian items like jewels, sculptures, and sarcophagi as well as the largest collection of Japanese art outside of Japan. It also features the Rockefeller collection, Rothschild Collection, and Hartley Collection. In the collections, you can find Rembrandt, Goya, Degas, Monet, and van Gogh.

The Institute of Contemporary Art

The Institute of Contemporary Art may not be as large or as old as the Museum of Fine Arts, but it is an important museum, nonetheless. In fact, it was home to the very first show of Paul Gauguin in Boston and features original costume designs by Henri Matisse from his relationship with Pablo Picasso.

Some of the most interesting contemporary sculptures are housed at the institute including Hanging Fire by Cornelia Parker, the Boston Scrambler by Ron Nagle, Halo After Botticelli by Josiah McElheny, and Love is Calling by Yayoi Kusama. But do not miss the Watershed in the Boston Harbor Shipyard.

Museum of African American History

The Boston Museum of African American History is the largest African American history museum in New England. The African Meeting House and the Abel Smith School in Beacon Hill were constructed in the 1800s in what was once the center of Boston’s African American community, and they are still there.

The school is the country’s oldest public school for African American children and today has exhibit galleries as well as a kitchen, education programs, and a store filled with books and gifts. The African Meeting House is the oldest black church in the United States and is the last stop on the Black Heritage Trail. 

Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum

Voted the #1 Best Patriotic Attraction, the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum is one of the most popular attractions in Boston. See where the Boston Tea Party was actually held in this floating museum and hear the story of how it came to be back in 1773. You can even explore both ships, the Beaver and the Eleanor. 

This is an interactive guided tour that you will play a part in. Join the countrymen throwing tea into the harbor just as they did the historic night in December. You can also see the only surviving tea chest from that night. There is also a 4D film about Paul Revere’s midnight ride that takes you into the battle leading to the American Revolution.

New England Aquarium

Who says museums have to be filled with old artifacts and artwork? The New England Aquarium is a live museum featuring more than 20,000 creatures in 600+ species. You can explore dozens of tanks including the main Giant Ocean Tank, a 200,000-gallon tank with Caribbean coral, sharks, sea turtles, and rays.

There are many other exhibits including the Thinking Tanks with sea dragons, ancient fishes, and a Goliath grouper, the Freshwater Tanks of eels, anacondas, and piranhas, and The Edge of the Sea tide pool including crabs, sea urchins, and sea stars. They also have penguins, seals, and an IMAX Theater. 

Nichols House Museum

The Nichols House Museum was created by Rose Standish Nichols to preserve the 1804 townhouse as well as a variety of art, furnishings, and other antique items. Some of the main items include classical antique Boston furniture, Japanese woodblock prints, Flemish tapestries, and a sculpture by Augustus St. Gaudens.

Whether you want a guided tour or would rather explore on your own, there are some exhibits you should not miss. The 17th century Vose furniture collection also includes chairs Rose Nichols carved. You should also see the painting by Francesco Guardi in 1712. And the sculptures by Paul Manship are fantastic.  

Before you head back to the station, grab a bite to eat at one of the finest Italian eateries in the area, Scampo. Or head over to the Alcove, which is a whole neighborhood full of restaurants, bars, and cafés. For some seafood, try Neptune Oyster, Joe’s Waterfront, the Oceanaire Seafood Room, or the Boston Sail Loft.