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Museums and galleries in Cambridge

10 museums and galleries in Cambridge, from the big collections to small independent spaces.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

Museums and galleries in Cambridge

  1. See

    Harvard Art Museums

    This collection of museums includes three once separate entities. The Fogg Museum, known for western art from the Middle Ages to the present, with particular strengths in Italian early Renaissance, British pre-Raphaelite, and 19th-century French art. The Busch-Reisinger Museum, which is devoted to promoting the informed enjoyment and critical understanding of the arts of Central and Northern Europe, with a special emphasis on the German-speaking countries. Finally, the Arthur M. Sackler Museum holds a superb collection of ancient, Islamic, Asian, and later Indian art.

    10AM-5PM daily$15, seniors $13, students $10, under 18 free

  2. See

    Harvard Museum of Natural History

    Drawing from the University's vast natural history collections, the HMNH displays the famous Blaschka 'Glass Flowers' collection, dinosaurs (the world's only mounted long Kronosaurus), minerals, meteorites, gemstones (a amethyst geode), and hundreds of 'stuffed' animals and birds. Fun for the whole family. It's an 8-minute walk across the historic Harvard Yard from Harvard Square (Red Line MBTA). Lectures & educational programs for all ages.

    9AM-5PM daily$12, student/senior $10, under 18 $8

  3. See

    Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East

    formerly Semitic Museum

    See a collection of over 40,000 artifacts from the Near East across multiple ancient civilizations.

    Sun-Fri 11AM-4PMFree

  4. See

    MIT Museum

    Has a huge collection of holography, rotating exhibits, and showcases some of the best "hacks" performed by students. Hacks at MIT are practical physical jokes taking place around the institute. For example: installing a somewhat functioning police car (complete with instructions for how to remove it) atop the great dome. This museum is great for kids and many exhibits are hands-on, including moving sculptures and a shadow room.

    Sep-Jun: 10AM-5PM daily; Jul-Aug: 10AM-6PM dailyAdults $10, youth/students/seniors $5, children under 5 free. Free admission last Sunday of the month Sep-Jun

  5. See

    Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology

    One of the oldest museums in the world devoted to anthropology, it houses one of the most comprehensive records of human cultural history in the Western Hemisphere.

    9AM-5PM daily$12, students/seniors $10, under 18 $8

  6. See

    Putnam Gallery

    The Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments

    Representing a broad range of scientific studies, this museum holds over 20,000 unique instruments dating from 1400 to present day.

    Sun-Fri 11AM-4PMFree

  7. See

    Stata Center

    Likely the most striking building on MIT's campus, built in 2004 in a very modern architectural form. Contains a small branch of the MIT Museum (see below).

  8. Do

    The Lilypad

    A performance space, art gallery and community space for anything from yoga, to jazz jam nights, to lectures and workshops.

    Afternoons and eveningsUsually no cover

  9. Do

    The Middle East

    This legendary Cambridge institution consists of an art gallery, 4 live music venues, 4 full bars, and no less than 3 dining areas (including the upscale Zuzu, below). Sample a large variety of Lebanese dishes served in a vibrant, artsy setting. The "Corner" dining area (enter at 480) features live music every night, often free, with belly dancing on Su and W. Extensive vegetarian menu.

    Sun-Wed 11AM-midnight, Thu-Sat 11AM-1AM$4-12

  10. See

    Cambridge Arts Council Gallery

    344 Broadway

    Mon 8:30AM-8PM, Tue-Thu 8:30AM-5PM, Fri 8:30AM-noonFree

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Cambridge (CC BY-SA 4.0).