We all want to expose our kids to the excitement and education Boston museums have to offer, but culture can often come with a hefty price tag! Paying a large sum to spend an afternoon at the museum can leave many families experiencing sticker shock, and it often serves as a deterrent for lower-income families. But, good news! Many Boston-area museums offer free (or extremely discounted) admission on certain days throughout the month! Check out the list below!
Boston Fire Museum
344 Congress Street, Boston
Open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., this museum is always free! A quick walk from the Boston Children’s Museum, it is a great place to stop by and learn about the history of firefighting from volunteer firefighters. You may also get to meet Sparky, the firehouse dog!
Coit Observatory
The public open night at the Boston University Observatory is not to be missed! Guests can learn some astronomy while observing the night sky through telescopes and binoculars and see things they otherwise might not get to see. The open nights are held most Wednesday evenings throughout the year, weather permitting. Events begin promptly at 7:30 p.m. during the fall and winter months and at 8:30 p.m. during the spring and summer months. Though free, this popular event sells out quickly. Tickets go live on Thursdays at around 11 a.m. for the event the following Wednesday.
The Commonwealth Museum
220 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston
The Commonwealth Museum brings the story of Massachusetts history to life with state-of-the-art interactive exhibits. Its “treasures gallery” holds an assortment of great historic documents that are fascinating to see! Admission is always free.
deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum
51 Sandy Pond Road, Lincoln
Ages 12 and under are always admitted for free, as are Trustees Members and Lincoln residents. (There is a limit of five free children per adult.) Visitors with EBT, WIC, and Mass Health, as well as METCO students and their families, are eligible for free admission. Please select the EBT option when you check out and bring any supporting documentation to your visit.
Fuller Craft Museum
455 Oak Street, Brockton
Visit the Fuller Craft Museum for free at any time! The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Harvard Art Museums
32 Quincy Street, Cambridge
Admission is free for all visitors due to a generous contribution from the Estate of David Rockefeller and support from the Office of the President at Harvard University. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed on major holidays.
Harvard Museum of Natural History
26 Oxford Street, Cambridge
Admission is free to Massachusetts residents every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and on Wednesdays from 3–5 p.m. (September through May). Admission is also free to Massachusetts teachers (K-12), active military and their families, Massachusetts residents who present an EBT or WIC card (with up to five guests), members of the Harvard Art Museums, and Harvard University students, faculty, and staff (plus one guest).
Institute of Contemporary Art
25 Harbor Shore Drive, Boston
The ICA’s “+1 Membership” is the greatest deal around — kids and youth 18 and under have access to a free membership where they are able to bring a “plus one” guest with them each time! Even without a membership, children 18 and under and Boston Public Schools students are always free. Also, when accompanied by kids 12 and under, up to 2 adults per family are admitted free on the last Saturday of most months (use promo code PLAYDATE when reserving tickets online for these dates). Adults may enjoy free admission on Thursdays from 5–9 p.m.
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
25 Evans Way, Boston
Admission is always free for visitors ages 17 and under, college students, members of the military and their families, and everyone named Isabella. You also get free admission on your birthday!
JFK Library and Museum
Columbia Point, Boston
Admission for children 12 and under and CAC carriers of the U.S. Armed Forces are always free. Also, on the first and second Sundays of each month, Boston Public Schools students and two guests get into the museum for free as part of Mayor Michelle Wu’s Boston Family Days.
The MIT Museum
314 Main Street, Gambrill Center Building E-28, Cambridge
Admission is always free for Cambridge residents, children under 5, Massachusetts Teachers Association members, MIT ID holders, and MIT alumni (with one free guest), active duty military personnel with up to five family members, and EBT card holders and three family members.
Museum of Bad Art
1250 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston
Yes, it is exactly what it sounds like. The gallery is now open in the Dorchester Brewing Company’s tap room during all tap room operating hours. All are welcome, but no one under 21 is admitted after 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.
Museum of African American History
46 Joy Street, Boston
Children 4 and under are always admitted free.
Museum of Fine Arts
465 Huntington Avenue, Boston
Admission is free for all Massachusetts residents on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, and Juneteenth. Youths 0-6 are always free, as are military members and their families.
The Peabody Museum
26 Oxford Street, Cambridge
This museum is free for Massachusetts residents every Sunday morning (year-round) from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and on Wednesdays from 3–5 p.m. (September through May). Proof of residency is required. This spot is always free for Massachusetts teachers (grades K-12), holders of a current Harvard ID (plus one guest), and active duty military members with their families.
USS Constitution
Constitution Road, Charlestown
Visits to Old Ironsides and its accompanying kid-friendly museum are always free, though donations are requested at the museum entrance.
Waterworks Museum
2450 Beacon Street, Boston
The Waterworks Museum guides you through the creation of one of the country’s first metropolitan water systems! Visit exhibitions and educational programs on engineering, architecture, social history, and public health. Walk-in visitors are welcome Thursdays– Sundays and admission is always free. General Tours are available at set times throughout the day.
Programs That Give Free or Discounted Admission to Museums
Looking for even more options for visiting Boston museums on the cheap? There are many programs that offer discounts or free admission!
Boston Family Days
Starting in January 2025 until December 2026, on the first and second Sundays of each month, every student living in Boston enrolled in grades pre-K through 12 will get free admission along with up to two guests to Boston Children’s Museum, the Franklin Park Zoo, the Institute of Contemporary Art, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Science, the New England Aquarium, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, and the Museum of African American History.
Bank of America
Through their “Museums on Us” program, Bank of America and Meryll Lynch cardholders can receive one free general admission to participating museums during the first full weekend of every month.
Blue Star Museums
Blue Star Museums is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and museums across America. Free admission to the nation’s active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve, is granted from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. We thank you for your service!
EBT Card to Culture
Department of Transitional Assistance clients are welcome to visit a number of museums for a discounted admission rate, or for free, because of the generosity of the participating organizations.
Highland Street Foundation August Adventures
Every August, look for 31 events that are 100% FREE! August Adventures provides access and opportunities to new and old partners highlighting the geographical and cultural diversity of the Massachusetts arts and culture community. Please note some organizations require advanced registration.
Library passes
Most Boston area libraries have partnerships with area museums, providing a limited number of free or discounted passes that can be borrowed by library patrons. Any library member can reserve a pass to one of the participating museums. Contact your local library for details!
