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Boston's Five Best Must-See Museums

One of the best things about visiting Boston is the many museums within the city. Arts, science, medicine and much more are all represented in these institutions. Among these are a few that should not be missed, especially if there is only time to visit a handful of museums. They are among the largest, most beautiful or most educational of the bunch. Visitors can easily spend a week or more visiting these establishments alone, even eating and shopping at some.
Harvard Museum of Natural History
(Photo Credit: Harvard Museum of Natural History)

Harvard Museum Of Natural History
26 Oxford St.
Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 495-3045
www.hmnh.harvard.edu

The Harvard Museum of Natural History has arguably the best biological science exhibits in the city. New England Forests is all about the ecology found in the woods of the area. Sea Creatures in Glass and Glass Flowers are two amazing exhibits that combine the art of glass sculpture with the anatomic details required to study the flora and fauna depicted. There are also exhibitions regarding mammals, evolution, earth and planetary sciences, birds and eras long past.

Related: Boston's Weirdest Museums

The Sports Museum
(Photo Credit: The Sports Museum)

The Sports Museum
TD Garden
100 Legends Way
Boston, MA 02114
(617) 624-1234
www.sportsmuseum.org

Boston sports are a huge part of the city's culture. It boasts successful hockey, baseball and basketball teams, as well as a football team that is now shared with the region. The Sports Museum may not be the biggest or most impressive of Boston's museums, but it contains part of the city's heart. Exhibits include local college hockey, remnants of the original Boston Garden, Adam Vinatieri's shoes, women's basketball, the sad story of Tony C and, of course, some Bruins memorabilia.

Museum Of Science Boston
(Photo Credit: Museum of Science Boston)

Museum Of Science, Boston
1 Science Park
Boston, MA 02114
(617) 723-2500
www.mos.org

Boston's Museum of Science is a place with a lot more than initially meets the eye. General admission gets visitors in to see fantastic exhibits, such as the Mathematica room and the Electricity Room, where the famous lightning shows take place. It also gets visitors into the area that houses some food vendors and a fun gift shop. This is enough to warrant a visit, but it is also possible to get tickets into an IMAX theater, a butterfly exhibit and often more.

Museum of Fine Arts
(Photo Credit: Museum Of Fine Arts Boston - Facebook)

Museum Of Fine Arts, Boston
465 Huntington Ave.
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 267-9300
www.mfa.org

The best thing about the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston is the sheer size and splendor of the building in which it is housed. Visitors know immediately upon entering that they are in for a treat that they will likely not be able to fully experience in a day. Numerous temporary exhibits are always on display, as well as permanent exhibits in the various wings including everything from ancient artifacts to comparatively contemporary furniture. Galleries like Homer and the Epics and Gems and Jewelry From the Ancient Mediterranean will keep even casual visitors interested.

Related: Boston's Best Museums For Dates

isabella stewart gardner museum
(Photo Credit: Facebook/Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum)

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
25 Evans Way
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 566-1401
www.gardnermuseum.org

When art collector Isabella Stewart Gardner died, she left one of the greatest gifts Boston has ever received. She gave not only her mansion to the city, but also the works of art housed in it, including fine paintings of the woman herself. In her former home, guests will find works from all over the world and from famous artists like Rembrandt, John Singer Sargent and even Raphael. The combination of the luxuriously outfitted rooms and the pieces she collected makes for a rare treat.

Shelly Barclay is a professional freelance writer and amateur author. She writes on a variety of topics from food to mysteries. She loves to share the culture and rich history of her birthplace and home, Boston, with the rest of the world. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

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