The Mary Baker Eddy Library is a public educational museum dedicated to Mary Baker Eddy's life and achievements. It offers such exhibits as The Hall Of Ideas, a Mapparium and the Quest Gallery. It also features Impressions On Paper.
The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is a unique Boston experience. Entering the beautiful flower-filled courtyard garden leading to the artfully cluttered galleries is like visiting the home of an eccentric great-aunt you didn't know you had. Built to Mrs. Gardner's specifications, almost everything in the museum was placed there by Mrs. Gardner herself when the museum opened in 1903. The result is a fascinating, sometimes frustrating collection of Renaissance, Dutch, Asian and American art, books, manuscripts and decorative arts. The Gardner is also known for its excellent concert and performance series and popular bistro cafe.
Best and worst time to visit the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Lines to enter the museum are usually long, but arrive early to mid-morning and you might get at least a few of the galleries to yourself. Afternoon brings crowds and fills up the popular Cafe G. The museum hosts its very popular Third Thursdays from 5-8, featuring music, a cash wine bar and special events in the galleries. Check the museum's calendar for concerts, open studio opportunities and even afternoon yoga classes in the courtyard. Events sell out early, so buy tickets online in advance.
Must see/do at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
In 1990 the museum was the victim of one of the great art thefts in American history. Most of the paintings, including three by Rembrandt, were taken from the Dutch Room on the second floor. There you'll see the empty frames where the missing paintings once hung -- a strangely eerie sight and something you aren't likely to see in any other museum. Downstairs on the first floor, The Blue Room features works of American portrait painter and close friend of Mrs. Gardner, John Singer Sargent. The museum's showpiece and centerpiece of the Titian Room is Titian's masterpiece, Europa. It was purchased by Mrs. Gardner in 1896 for a record-breaking price. Many art historians consider this one of the greatest European paintings on display in the United States.
Admission to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
The Gardner Museum has a variety of admission programs as well as many discounts and special offers. Admission to the museum averages about $15, with children under 18, members of the U.S. military and their families admitted free. Members of the Museum of Fine Arts and visitors who have a ticket stub from the MFA within the previous two days receive a $2 discount. (Likewise, your Gardner ticket will earn you $2 off an MFA admission.) There is also free admission to anyone celebrating a birthday and for everyone named Isabella.
Parking and public transportation to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Located in the heart of the Fenway, the very best way to get to the museum is via subway or the 'T.'
Take either the Green Line E train (make sure you're on an E train outbound toward Heath Street or Arborway, no other Green Line train will get you there) or the 39 bus to the Museum of Fine Arts stop. You'll see the Museum of Fine Arts as you disembark. Cross Huntington Avenue toward the Museum on to Louis Prang Street. The Gardner is two blocks away on your left. If you decide to drive, there is very limited on-street parking and Boston's meter maids are vigilant about ticketing expired meters. There are paid parking lots and garages near the Museum of Fine Arts on Museum Road. Once you've parked, it's a fairly pleasant walk along the Fenway toward Louis Prang Street and the museum.
Food at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Housed in the museum's new contemporary wing, Cafe G is a popular dining spot for both museum visitors as well as locals who appreciate the atmosphere as well as the food. The menu consists of seasonal specialties, small plates, main courses and desserts with prices comparable to other Boston-area restaurants. Visitors looking for a quick snack or who are dining on a budget might consider heading back down Huntington Avenue toward the Prudential Center. Here you'll find a variety of interesting budget-friendly snack options surrounding the campus of nearby Northeastern University.
Insider tip for visitors to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Ask for help. The Gardner Museum galleries are arranged in a style popular in the early 20th century -- paintings are hung practically floor to ceiling with no descriptions attached. To know what you're looking at or to find something you want to look at, spring for the self-guided audio tour or a take a noontime tour with a museum guide.
Author's bio: Frances Katz is a Massachusetts native, culture geek and former arts and entertainment writer for national publications including The Boston Herald. Her favorite Sargent painting is Mrs. Fiske Warren and Her Daughter Rachel. You are welcome to hang out with her on Twitter.
The Otis House was built in 1796 for Harrison Gray Otis, who would go on to become congressman from Massachusetts, mayor of Boston and one of the wealthiest Bostonians of the time. A U.S. National Historic Landmark, the house is now a museum, having been restored with careful attention to historical accuracy by the Historic New England organization. Museum visitors learn about the Otis family, life in Boston at the time and the history of the house from its beginning to today. Tours start every half hour and last approximately 45 minutes.
The Vilna Shul synagogue was built by Lithuanian immigrants in 1919. The building now houses a museum focusing on Jewish culture in Boston. No longer an operational synagogue, the Vilna Shul still holds prayer services one Friday each month and during holidays. The Vilna Shul is supported by private donations and is managed by a team of volunteers and two employees.
Enter the site's welcome center at 14A Beacon Street to pick up information about and maps of the Black Heritage Trail, which takes visitors along a 1.6-mile route connecting 10 historic sites.
Please note that the prices below are for admittance to the African Meeting House, the final stop of the Black Heritage Trail. Guided walks of the trail, led by National Park Service Rangers, are free and begin at the nearby Robert Gould Shaw Memorial. The tour schedule varies according to the season.
The Pierce-Hichborn House is located in the heart of Boston's historic north end. It is a national landmark. The Pierce-Hichborn House is shown by appointment only.
If you're interested in exploring the rich history of Boston's West End neighborhood, visit the West End Museum located just a short walk from the Haymarket and North Station T stops. Founded in 2003, the museum is dedicated to documenting the history of the West End of Boston especially the immigrant era which dates approximately from 1880 to the redevelopment of the area by the government's urban renewal project in 1958. Step inside and the passionate staff will happily guide you through a tour of fascinating personal photographs, objects and documented oral histories. While there is no official gift shop, t-shirts are available for purchase, along with copies of the book "The Last Tenement: Confronting Community and Urban Renewal in Boston's West End." Admission to the museum is free for all.
Walk through many of the residential streets in the Back Bay and it's clear that the buildings have stood there for a considerable amount of time. The Gibson House, a National Historic Landmark, gives visitors a chance to explore the inside of one of these classic residences, with original possessions dating from the late 18th to the early 20th century. It's a piece of history that's still picture-perfect.
The Skywalk Observatory, perched high above Boston, is accessible from inside the Prudential Center and is one of the best ways to see the historic city. With a 360-degree panoramic perspective, you can see as far as 100 miles away. Get incomparable views of nearby notable sites like Fenway Park, Boston Common, Harvard University and Hancock Tower. Part of the Skywalk Observatory is the nationally renowned restaurant Top of the Hub, where you can receive an unforgettable meal after enjoying an unforgettable view. The venue is also available for private events and can seat up to 600 guests.
