Museums & Galleries
The museums of New England offer a window into the astonishing variety of art, history, culture, and science that is typical of all of New England. Every state has museum exhibits and images that are famous across the nation and the world: the historic homes of Mark Twain and Harriett Beecher Stowe in Connecticut; the paintings of Winslow Homer in Maine; Early American and maritime history along the coast. Specialized or quirky subjects – museums of Russian icons or American urban trolleys – can be found around any corner. Museum visits are a great indoor thing to do on a family vacation.
Museums by State:
Connecticut • Maine • Massachusetts • New Hampshire • Rhode Island • Vermont20 listings
Worcester, MA
Featured listing: Worcester Art Museum
55 Salisbury Street 508-799-4406Travel across time and space through art
Connect with global stories at the Worcester Art Museum. Discover ancient mosaics, medieval arms and armor, contemporary paintings and sculptures, and much more in the Museum’s wide-ranging collection and exhibitions. Meet your new favorite artist, ask questions, or enjoy an escape. There are endless ways to experience the Worcester Art Museum.
Looking to dive deeper? Develop your own skills and expand your creativity in studio art classes. Find creative and hands-on activities for all ages across the Museum’s many galleries. And relax in the courtyard or enjoy lunch at the café surrounded by art.
Free admission for Members, children 17 and under, and students at participating College Partner schools.
Hartford, CT
Mark Twain House & Museum
351 Farmington Avenue 860-247-0998Step into the home of the author who created “The Gilded Age”
Walk in the rooms and hallways where Samuel Clemens walked and reconnect to the author who gave us Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn, and other beloved characters. At the Mark Twain House & Museum, daily tours take you through the richly decorated rooms of this lovingly restored Victorian home, which Clemens said was the site of the happiest years of his life. The museum’s collection of 16,000 artifacts includes period furniture, paintings, photos, first editions, and books by other authors with notes from Clemens in the margins. Rotating special exhibits and talks on everything from the Gilded Age to abolitionists make the National Historic Landmark a must for history and literature buffs. There’s an extensive museum store and a cafe serving food from local vendors.
Sturbridge, MA
Old Sturbridge Village
1 Old Sturbridge Village Road, off Route 20 508-347-3362Making a museum come alive is the goal at this lovingly re-created New England village
At Old Sturbridge Village, the idea is to make history, and a 200-acre museum in Sturbridge, MA, come alive. As you stroll through heirloom gardens, admire textiles being made on a loom or a barrel being crafted by a cooper in his shop, you’ll be transported back to a typical rural New England village of the 1830s. Costumed historians will be happy to answer questions or demonstrate crafts as you explore everything from the 1810 general store to the Greek-Revival bank to the functioning gristmill, cider mill and sawmill. Check the website for special exhibits and daily activities, including guided tours, musical performances and talks on everything from dentistry to the life of a peddler. At the Freeman Farm, kids especially will enjoy getting to know sheep, cows, pigs and chickens.
Salem, NH
America's Stonehenge
105 Haverhill Road 603-893-8300The hidden truths of America, right in your backyard
Did other Europeans with knowledge of astronomy and stone construction reach North America a thousand years or more ahead of Columbus? Some say they came and left evidence of their visits -- megaliths and stone chambers -- throughout New England. You can explore one of the largest collections of artifacts at America's Stonehenge in Salem, New Hampshire. Some believe the site includes a stone astronomical calendar, like the one found at Stonehenge. A video in our museum gives you all the background you'll need. Then it's time to hit the half-mile trail through the pine forest to see for yourself. Along the way you may meet a few alpacas who share the property. Don't worry -- they're gentle creatures who enjoy greeting visitors.
Essex, CT
Connecticut River Museum
67 Main Street, Steamboat Dock 860-767-8269River museum’s exhibits, murals — and sailing excursions — educate and entertain
Explore art, history, and the environment — and have a fun time doing it — at the CT River Museum, celebrating its 50th anniversary. Permanent exhibits explore the River’s history from Indigenous peoples through the 20th century, and illustrate its environmental impact and importance in the region for water power, quarrying and the fishing industry. A vertical mural of the river winds up and down three floors of a Museum stairwell. Changing exhibits on the third floor explore art, history, and the environment. Day and sunset cruises are also offered aboard the Onrust, a re-creation of a 1614 vessel; and the RiverQuest, a 64-foot eco-tour boat. Learn about the River’s wildlife, observe bald eagles, or just enjoy a quiet sunset cruise. On Thursday evenings in July and August, live music is provided dockside.
Bretton Woods, NH
Mount Washington Cog Railway
Off Route 302 603-278-5404This exciting railway ride up Mt. Washington also comes with museums at both ends of the trip
Not many train rides can boast museums at either end of the ride. When you travel up majestic Mt. Washington on the historic Cog Railway, the first mountain-climbing cog railway in the world, you begin at the Marshfield, NH Base Station, which houses the interactive (and free) Cog Railway Museum. Open year-round, the museum shows you how the railroad, celebrating its 152nd season, was built, with examples of technology from past eras, including steam engines. Up at the summit of Mt. Washington, you’ll have time to explore the Sherman Adams Visitor Center and rooftop observation deck as well as an interactive weather exhibit, “Extreme Mount Washington”. Adjacent to the center is the Tip Top House, an original summit hotel dating back to 1853 and now a museum. Trains run from late April through November.
Warwick, RI
Clouds Hill Museum
4157 Post Road 401-884-9490Gothic Revival home, carriage house, grounds invite visitors to step into 19th century
Built as a wedding present for Elizabeth Ives Slater, the daughter of William Smith Slater, the House at Clouds Hill is the stately centerpiece of the Clouds Hill Museum, where visitors can experience life in the late 19th century. In addition to the Gothic Revival-style home, with its original interiors and furnishings as well as fine porcelain, textile and glass collections, the museum includes a carriage house with over a dozen carriages (including a “gypsy wagon”), and a Center for the Outdoors. The grounds are home to 70 species of trees and shrubs. Call to arrange a tour or check the website for a prescheduled opening. No reservations are required. The home is decorated for the holidays starting in early December.
Boston, MA
Meet Boston
Information Centers on Boston Common and Prudential Towers (Center Court) 888-733-2678Art, science, history and so much more celebrated in the eclectic museums of Boston
Gaze at the gardens of Monet, hobnob with dinosaurs, admire a Venetian courtyard: Boston’s museums are waiting for you! From the Museum of Fine Arts, with its collection of Impressionist art, to the Museum of Science with dinosaurs and a butterfly garden, there is something for everyone in this vibrant city. See tea getting tossed at the Tea Party Ships & Museum, or let the kids climb a three-story structure in the Boston Children’s Museum. Check out sculptures at the Institute of Contemporary Art in the bustling Seaport district, walk through the Paul Revere House or take the Black Heritage Trail. Visit the gorgeous Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, modeled after a Venetian palazzo, or learn inspiring stories at the Museum of Afro-American History.
Warwick, RI
Visit Warwick, RI
3275 Post RoadWarwick showcases its rich history, celebrates the work of area’s many artists
With its rich variety of museums and art galleries, Warwick, RI celebrates its past and looks to its creative future. Today’s art scene is the focus of YJ Contemporary, and the Warwick Center for the Arts features the work of local artists. The Victorian Era comes to life at the magnificent Clouds Hill Victorian House Museum, and visitors who schedule a trip to the Steamship Historical Society of America will feel a new appreciation for the grand age of those vessels. You can also tour Warwick City Hall, built in 1894 and featuring a six-story clock tower. The Warwick Historical Society offers several public open house exhibits and tours where you can step inside the village’s oldest house or ring the bell at the Old School Baptist Meeting House.
Warwick, RI
Steamship Historical Society of America
2500 Post Road 401-463-3570Society celebrates history of steam-powered vessels with artifacts, artwork
At the Steamship Historical Society of America, the world’s leading organization dedicated to preserving and sharing history of steam engine-powered vessels, they would like to take you on a trip through history. Go to the society’s website and enter a virtual museum. Archives go back to 1807 with the first commercially viable American steam engines successfully powered ships and include thousands of photos, ship plans and blueprints, brochures, newspaper clippings, tickets, advertisements, iconic posters, video and audio recordings, ship logs and other amazing artifacts. See the first-class deck plan of the Titanic and a brochure from a cruise down the Amazon. You can visit and see the society’s building and archives by making an appointment through its website.
Warwick, RI
Warwick Center for the Arts
3259 Boston Post Road 401-737-0010Arts center, site of former armory, a hub for area artists, performers and their audiences
A welcoming gathering place for artists, artisans and performers and those who appreciate their work, the Warwick Center for the Arts showcases a rotating art exhibit in its main gallery that features the work of emerging and established artists. In addition to exhibits from student art to juried plain-air paintings, the center offers art demonstrations, gallery talks and classes for children and adults. There are two improv club sessions on Friday nights, and cultural experiences include concerts, poetry readings and dance troupe performances. The center’s stately brick building, a National Historic Landmark, is on the former site of a 19th century armory and houses replicas of two Revolutionary War cannons. An annual winter market sells the work of local artists.
Providence, RI
Go Providence
1 Sabin Street 401-751-1177Providence’s many museums open their doors to lovers of art, science, history, nature
From natural history to the history of Rhode Island, the Providence, RI area offers visitors a variety of fascinating museums. At the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, you can learn about urban wildlife; at the Providence Children’s Museum kids can play in the innovation lab. The John Brown House Museum allows visitors to step into the world of 18th century wealth and power. The Woonsocket Museum of Work & Culture tells the story of immigrants who settled in 19th century mill towns. The Governor Henry Lippit House Museum’s Victorian interior and original furnishings reflect the city’s Golden Age. Art aficionados will appreciate exhibits and programs at the RISD Museum, and Gallery Night on the third Thursday of the month, with a free bus stopping at galleries, art shops and museums. For more info, visit GoProvidence.com
MA
Visit Concord MA
From the historical to the contemporary, Concord, MA has it all
Concord, MA is a haven for art, culture, and history, offering museums, galleries, and performing arts centers that showcase everything from the historical to the contemporary. At the Concord Museum, visitors can explore not only Revolutionary War artifacts like the original 1775 lantern from Paul Revere’s famous midnight ride, but also exhibits that explore the activism of Concord women to help abolish slavery, Ralph Waldo Emerson’s study, and the world of Henry David Thoreau. At the Umbrella Arts Center, you’ll find studios of 60+ working artists, dance studios, gallery spaces, performing arts facilities, and more. Don’t miss the Umbrella Concert Series (think: John Mayer and Brandi Carlile!) or the Umbrella Film Series. For lovers of performing arts, 51 Walden is home to local theater productions, symphony performances, and more. Follow our link above to explore upcoming exhibits, events, and performances!
Darien, CT
The Mather Homestead
19 Stephen Mather Road 203-202-7602The Mather Homestead, Darien’s only National Historic Landmark, is a beautifully preserved 1778 home with a rich American story spanning more than two centuries. Built during the Revolutionary War, the home was designed to keep the Mather family safe from Tory raids. Deacon Joseph Mather, son of the influential patriot preacher Reverend Moses Mather, lived here with his wife and their eleven children. In 1906, Stephen Tyng Mather, borax entrepreneur and first director of the National Park Service, occupied the home as his summer residence and added the beautiful gardens that continue to grace the property. Today, guided tours (Monday through Friday) tell the Mather family story and bring American history to life, from the Revolutionary era through the early 2000s, when the home was entrusted to The Mather Homestead Foundation.
Duxbury, MA
Art Complex Museum
189 Alden Street 781-934-6634A Dynamic Blend of Art, Culture, and Nature
Situated on 13 acres, the Art Complex Museum houses the art collection of co-founders, Carl A. and Edith Weyerhaeuser.
Opened in 1971, the museum offers 10 shows each year, featuring the work of contemporary artists and thematic exhibits curated from the museum's collection. The collection features American paintings, Works on Paper, Asian Art, Shaker Furniture, and other treasures. (See artcomplex.org for a current schedule.)
The museum grounds are home to a sculpture garden and a Japanese Tea Hut. Other programming features Japanese Tea Ceremonies, concerts, galley talks, and educational offerings in our art studio.
Admission: Free
Arlington, MA
Arlington Historical Society
7 Jason Street, 781-648-4300Experience the Past Through Rare Artifacts and Revolutionary History
The Arlington Historical Society: Jason Russell House & Museum brings together two distinct collections under one mission: preserving and sharing Arlington's rich history. The Jason Russell House offers an up-close look at one of the most consequential sites of the Revolutionary War, with exhibitions and public programs that explore the people and events of the era in depth. The Smith Museum complements the experience with a broader lens on Arlington's past, housing artifacts, manuscripts, and the notable Arlington Mastodon Tusk. Together, the two spaces make for a full and rewarding visit for history lovers of any background.
Gloucester, MA
Hammond Castle Museum
80 Hesperus Avenue 978-283-2080Explore the Castle-Home & Legacy of a Remarkable Mind
Hammond Castle Museum offers families an unforgettable adventure along the rocky Atlantic coast of Gloucester, Massachusetts. This medieval-style castle was built by prolific inventor John Hays Hammond Jr. It blends history, science, and imagination into a one-of-a-kind Museum, featuring works of marble and stone. Guided and self-guided tours make it easy to explore at your own pace. Seasonal events, theatrical performances, and family-friendly programming round out the experience. Open daily now through January 3rd, including all major summer holidays. Little ones 4 and under are free with a reserved ticket. Advance reservations strongly encouraged.
Canterbury, NH
Canterbury Shaker Village
288 Shaker Road 603-783-9511National Historic Landmark Celebrates the Shakers
The Shaker religious sect is considered by many historians to be the most successful communitarian society in America. This beautiful outdoor museum and National Historic Landmark was once home to 300 Shakers. Today, expert tour guides share the story of the Shakers’ 200-year history on this site and their beliefs in simple living, gender equality, pacifism, and work as worship. Explore the architecture and collections in the Village’s 25 restored historic buildings, learn about Shaker inventiveness and industry, and explore 700 acres including organic gardens, orchards, and scenic mill pond. See craft demonstrations of oval box making, letterpress printing, and broom making. Enjoy a simple lunch at the Horse Barn Cafe and shop New Hampshire’s premier store for Shaker reproductions. Richly authentic, Canterbury Shaker Village is a place for learning, reflection and renewal of the human spirit.
Hudson, MA
American Heritage Museum
568 Main Street 978-562-9182From trenches to battlefields, museum exhibits will bring you into the heart of America’s greatest conflicts
The museum is now open! Wednesdays-Sundays from 10am-5pm. Advance ticketing is preferred - Please call or visit our website.
Detailed and engaging exhibits at the American Heritage Museum will make you feel you were there for the battles that have defined America’s defense of freedom. Dioramas and exhibits include a World War I trench experience, with a Ford Model T ambulance and German machine gun; D-Day, with a Higgins Boat landing craft; the Battle of the Bulge, with a Sherman Jumbo tank; the Korean War, with a Pershing tank; the Vietnam War, with an exhibit detailing the Hanoi Hilton prison camp; and the War on Terror, with a structure from the World Trade Center. The museum also includes vintage aircraft, autos and other vehicles and weaponry. Arrange ahead of time to ride (or drive) a tank. Check the website for special event weekends, including re-enactments.
Andover, MA
Andover Center for History & Culture
97 Main Street 978-475-2236Tours of the 1820 Blanchard House & Barn
Guided Historic House Tours are available Wednesdays through Saturdays at 11:00 am, 1:30 pm and 3:00 pm
Tour the recreated rooms of the 1820 Amos Blanchard House illustrating the daily life of the Blanchard family in the 1830s. The Blanchards represent a typical upper middle class family in Andover. Amos Blanchard was a Deacon of South Parish Church and the first cashier of the Andover Bank. Elizabeth Blanchard was involved in issues of the day, including Temperance and the missionary movement, sending Christian missionaries around the world. They lived here with their two sons and housekeeper, Ann Wood.
House and Barn tours are offered free of charge. Donations are appreciated.
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