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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe MFA got its start in 1870, on the top floor of the Boston Athenaeum<\/a> on Beacon Hill. It soon moved into its first building on Copley Square, opening its doors on July 4, 1876, as part of the nation\u2019s centennial celebration. At that time, it contained only 5,600 works of art. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The museum continued to grow, however, so in 1906, it revealed plans for a new, permanent home on the city\u2019s outskirts. Designed by local architect Guy Lowell, the gleaming Beaux Arts building began welcoming visitors in 1909. New galleries, visitor facilities and other spaces like labs have been added over the past century, expanding its footprint to an impressive 221,000 square feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fun fact: <\/strong>That makes it the fifth-largest art museum in the country!<\/p>\n\n\n\n In early 2023, renovations were completed on several Asian art rooms, and in 2021, new galleries were added for Dutch and Flemish art, as well as for treasures from ancient Greece, Rome, and the Byzantine Empire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The MFA strives to tell the complex story of the human experience over time and across cultures, so we can all gain a better understanding of the world around us. Its permanent exhibitions allow you to journey from the Giza plateau of ancient Egypt to the Acropolis of ancient Greece to 17th-century Dutch ports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Along the way, you can appreciate 35 impressionist masterpieces by Claude Monet \u2014 the largest collection outside of France \u2014 as well as the world\u2019s most comprehensive collection of work by John Singer Sargent. Other fascinating highlights include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Freedom Trail Highlights Walking Tour: Transformation Through the Ages<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tLearn More\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n A contemporary exhibit, \u201cStories Artists Tell: Art of the Americas, the 20th Century,\u201d focuses each room on a different theme, from Native American perspectives on the Southwest U.S. to the intersection of art and jazz. There\u2019s also a special exhibit called \u201cTender Loving Care,\u201d which runs through July 28, 2025, and showcases 100 works that explore acts of care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To enhance your viewing experience, download the MFA Mobile app from Apple\u2019s App Store or Google Play, and bring headphones or earbuds with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Signature Shop, located right at the Huntington Avenue Entrance across from the ticket desks, is your best bet for finding a unique souvenir or thoughtful gift. If you\u2019re a book lover, you can browse thousands of titles at the impressive Linde Family Wing Bookstore in the Druker Family Pavilion. There\u2019s also a small shop for the Gund Gallery exhibitions in the Art of the Americas Wing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As for refreshments, if you\u2019re looking for a quick pick-me-up between galleries, head to Taste, a coffee and wine bar that also serves a variety of sweet and savory desserts. For kid-friendly fare like pizza, hamburgers and sandwiches, head to the garden cafeteria. During warmer months, you can eat outside in the courtyard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For a more leisurely dining experience, the New American Caf\u00e9 in the Ruth and Carl J. Shapiro Family Courtyard offers a wide selection of creative North and South American dishes, along with wines and craft beers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The MFA sits on Huntington Avenue in Boston\u2019s Fenway-Kenmore neighborhood, along with multiple universities, Symphony Hall, and of course, Fenway Park. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At the heart of the neighborhood is Back Bay Fens, the oldest of the nine parks that make up the Emerald Necklace \u2014 a chain of over 1,000 greenways and waterways designed by Frederick Law Olmstead. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s worth taking a stroll to appreciate both the history and the natural beauty of this popular spot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Local tip: <\/strong>If you happen to be in Boston during the month of June, be sure to stop by the Kelleher Rose Garden to see more than 200 varieties of roses in bloom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you don\u2019t want to worry about navigating Boston traffic or paying for parking, take the Green Line E train to the Museum of Fine Arts stop or the Orange Line train to the Ruggles stop and then walk about 10 minutes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, if you\u2019ll be driving, there are three parking lots near the museum with entrances on Museum Road. The daytime rates run $12-$36 for non-members and $8-$24 for members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can buy tickets online or in person at the museum. Adult general admission tickets are $27, and tickets for children ages 7-17 are $10 \u2014 it\u2019s free for children up to 6. To view a special exhibition, you need to purchase a timed-entry ticket, meaning you\u2019ll need to enter the gallery within your 30-minute time slot. However, it also gives you access to the rest of the museum. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Looking to save some cash? If you\u2019re a Massachusetts resident, you can visit for free on these four holidays each year: Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Indigenous Peoples\u2019 Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes, they do sometimes have guided tours as well as other hands-on activities. Be sure to check out the calendar<\/a> to see what\u2019s offered on the day of your visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most visitors spend about 2-3 hours in the museum. I recommend downloading a map<\/a> and planning out your \u201cmust-sees\u201d in advance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You should also check and see if there are any gallery closures<\/a>. If you need a break, head outside to the Calderwood Courtyard, which is open seasonally, or take a seat under the soaring glass ceilings of the Shapiro Family Courtyard and gaze up at the Chihuly sculpture \u201cLime Green Icicle Tower\u201d (which looks exactly like its name!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can enter up to 30 minutes before the museum closes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n With its prime location in Boston\u2019s Fenway-Kenmore neighborhood, there are a few notable attractions nearby you can add on to your museum visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Less than a 10-minute walk from the MFA is another beloved Boston institution, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum<\/a>. Built to resemble a 15th-century Venetian palace, the museum features an eclectic collection of art, decorations, furniture, and textiles gathered by Isabella herself during her travels around the globe in the late 1800s. <\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat to see at the MFA<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Boston\u2019s](\"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/Bostons-Museum-of-Fine-Arts-2.jpg\")
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![\"Freedom](\"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/Freedom-Trail-Highlights-Walking-Tour-1-500x500.jpeg\")
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\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\tWhere to shop and eat at the MFA<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Boston](\"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/Boston-Chandelier.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nPlanning your visit to the MFA: Answers to your questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhere is the MFA located?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Can I take public transportation to the MFA?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How do I get tickets to the MFA?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAre there tours of the MFA Boston?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How much time should I spend at the MFA?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Things to do near MFA Boston<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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![\"Boston](\"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/Boston-Common.jpg\")
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