Want to Visit One of Massachusetts’ Museums for Free? September 21 Is Your Day

Thanks to Smithsonian Magazine, over 40 museums in the state will offer admission gratis.


MFA photo courtesy MFA Boston, Harvard Art Museums photo by Olga Khvan, Fruitlands photo courtesy of the Trustees

Ever wanted to play with an antique typesetting machine, check out some women-made fiber art, or visit the largest private collection of Russian icons in North America…for free? Well, here’s your chance—once again, Smithsonian magazine is sponsoring a free museum day, and artsy institutions all over the state are getting in on the action later this month.

How does Museum Day work? Search for the museum you want to visit on the Smithsonian’s website, then enter your email address and claim a free ticket, which admits two people. Only one ticket is permitted per email address, and admission is only valid on Museum Day, which is Saturday, September 21.

If you’re not sure which spot you want to visit, check out the full list of participating Massachusetts institutions below. And if one day at a museum isn’t enough to satisfy your arts and culture craving, check out our fall arts preview for more.

In the Boston area: 
Cooper-Frost-Austin House, Cambridge
Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate, Boston
Gibson House Museum, Boston
Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge
Harvard Museum of Natural History, Cambridge
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Cambridge
The Mary Baker Eddy Library, Boston
USS Constitution Museum, Charlestown
William Hickling Prescott House, Boston

Outside Boston:
Armenian Museum of America, Watertown
Atwood Museum – Home of the Chatham Historical Society, Chatham
Beneski Museum of Natural History at Amherst College, Amherst
Cahoon Museum of American Art, Cotuit
Cape Cod Maritime Museum, Hyannis
Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation, Waltham
Cogswell’s Grant, Essex
Davis Museum at Wellesley College, Wellesley
Discovery Museum, Acton
Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds, Newton
EcoTarium, Worcester
Falmouth Museums on the Green, Falmouth
Fitchburg Art Museum, Fitchburg
Fruitlands Museum, Harvard
Jackson Homestead and Museum, Newton
John Cabot House, Beverly
John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum Foundation, Hyannis
John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site, Brookline
Marblehead Museum, Marblehead
Mattapoisett Museum, Mattapoisett
Mead Art Museum, Amherst
Merwin House, Stockbridge
Museum of Printing, Haverhill
Museum of Russian Icons, Clinton
New Bedford Whaling Museum, New Bedford
Old Colony History Museum, Taunton
Quincy Homestead, Quincy
Rotch-Jones-Duff House and Garden Museum, New Bedford
Sandwich Glass Museum, Sandwich
Spellman Museum of Stamps & Postal History, Weston
Springfield Museums, Springfield
Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum, Adams
The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Amherst
The Gardner Museum, Gardner
Wenham Museum, Wenham
Worcester Art Museum, Worcester
Worcester Historical Museum, Worcester
Yiddish Book Center, Amherst