Ride Back In Time With Boston’s Rich History & Culture

Just Take the Train to Explore the History and Culture of Boston & Cambridge

History and culture come alive in the city of Boston. In the North End, Downtown Boston, Cambridge, Seaport, and Fenway neighborhoods, you’ll find a mixture of museums, from hidden gems to more well-known ones, that show a piece of the city’s history and culture. Ride the Commuter Rail and take the journey to North Station, South Station, and Ruggles Station, right in the heart of Boston, or Cambridge’s Porter Station. When you travel on a weekend you can make as many stops along the way as you’d like with the $10 Unlimited Ride Weekend Pass and Kids 11 & Under Ride for Free. 

Note: The following Commuter Rail Lines that travel to South Station include Fairmount, Framingham/Worcester, Franklin/Foxboro, Greenbush, Kingston, Middleborough/Lakeville, Needham, and Providence/Stoughton. The Haverhill, Lowell, and Newburyport/Rockport Lines travel to North Station. The Fitchburg Line goes to Porter Station. The Franklin/Foxboro, Needham, and Providence/Stoughton Lines also go to Ruggles Station.

Museums Near North Station that are Hidden Gems Waiting to Be Discovered  

The Sports Museum

Perfect for the Boston sports fan in your life is The Sports Museum located right in TD Garden which is connected to North Station. Tour guides will lead you through the museum, including a half-mile of exhibits showcasing Boston teams like the Boston Bruins and Celtics. At the end of the tour, you can explore the new Boston Bruins Heritage Hall, including the latest technologies, exhibits, and artifacts of the hockey team. The Sports Museum is open from Monday to Sunday and tours run every hour. On game days, the first tour begins at 9:30 AM and the last tour begins at 2:30 PM. On non-game days, the first tour begins at 11:00 AM and the last tour begins at 4:00 PM.

The West End Museum

The West End Museum is a hidden gem that celebrates the history and culture of Boston’s West End neighborhood. In the West End, immigrants paved the way for Boston’s future. Here in the West End, the first American-born architect, Charles Bulfinch was born. This neighborhood also led the way for the construction of railroads, electric street cars, and more. Learn more about this neighborhood and how it evolved into what we know today by exploring the museum’s rotating exhibits. The West End Museum is open from Thursday to Sunday and is a 0.2-mile walk from North Station.

MIT Museum

Near MIT in Cambridge, MA is the MIT Museum. Founded in 1971, this museum combines the power of science, technology, the humanities, and the arts to showcase innovations of the MIT community. Discover collections and galleries about architecture, history, photography, and so much more. The museum is open daily from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. 

To get to the MIT Museum from North Station, board the Green Line inbound towards Heath Street, get off at Park Street, then take the Red Line outbound to Alewife and get off at Kendall/MIT. Walk around 300 feet to the museum. You can also take a rideshare.  However, not all Commuter Rail tickets are valid on MBTA subway lines and buses so go to https://www.mbta.com/fares to learn more.

Discover Museums Close to South Station that are Secret Treasures

WNDR Museum

Get immersed in the creativity and interactivity of the WNDR Museum, about a 0.5-mile walk from South Station (you can also take the Red Line inbound towards Alewife from South Station, get off at Downtown Crossing, and walk about 0.2 miles.) Opened in 2018, the museum sets out to transform the way we engage with art, play, and connection. Enjoy beautiful art installations from flowers to immersive theater, color and light, and more. The WNDR Museum is open daily. 

Institute of Contemporary Art

The Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) is an art museum and exhibition center located right on the Boston Harbor in the Seaport district. Established in 1913, this museum shows exhibits of contemporary artists and how art intersects with civic life. There are always new exhibitions to see here as new artists are constantly featured. The ICA also features live music and special workshops. And on Thursday nights, admission is free. However, advanced tickets are recommended and are available at 10 AM every Thursday morning. 

To get to the ICA from South Station, take the Silver Line 1, 2, or 3 bus outbound to Logan Airport, get off at the Courthouse stop, and then walk about 0.3 miles to the museum. You can also walk from South Station (0.84 mile) or take a rideshare.

Boston Children’s Museum

The Boston Children’s Museum is the perfect place for kids from infancy to three years old. 

About a 0.42-mile walk from South Station, this museum is the second-oldest children’s museum in the world, engaging kids to learn through play. There are three floors to the museum, and each floor offers children the opportunity to play, explore, and create. The museum is open from Wednesday to Sunday 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. 

*You can also hop on the South Station subway and bus connections. Use the Trip Planner for guidance. 

Boston Fire Museum

Before or after visiting the Boston Children’s Museum, check out the Boston Fire Museum which is about a 0.5-mile walk from South Station. This museum illustrates Boston’s firefighting history with exhibits on the Great Boston Fire of 1872, the Cocoanut Grove Night Club Fire in 1942, and the Beacon Street Fire in 2014. The Boston Fire Museum is free to the public and is open on Sundays from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Harvard Museum of Natural History

The Harvard Museum of Natural History, established in 1998, is a natural history museum that includes historic exhibits from Harvard University’s vast collection. Exhibits range from showcasing African wildlife to Arthropods, Asia wildlife specimens, birds of the world, effects of climate change, and more. Take a 0.86-mile walk from Porter Station to get to the museum or take a rideshare.   

More Well-Known Museums to Visit in Boston and Cambridge

Museum of Science, Boston 

The Museum of Science is Boston’s premier technology and science museum, inspiring visitors to use science for the common good. The museum has over 700 interactive exhibits and three immersive theatres, showcasing the wonders of science and nature. This is a great place for children and adults alike, as there is an exhibit for everyone to enjoy. Plus, at the museum’s adult-only night, adults can have fun at the museum after hours. The Museum of Science is open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and is a 0.7-mile walk from North Station. You can also take the Green Line outbound from North Station, get off at the Science Park/West End Station, and walk 0.2 miles. 

Museum of Fine Arts

At the Museum of Fine Arts, you’ll find more than 100 galleries of art, making it one of the top things to do in Boston and one of the best art museums in the world. The museum is a 0.4-mile walk from Ruggles Station and is open every day except for Tuesday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. For those coming from North or South Station, take a rideshare. 

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is another popular art museum in Boston filled with European, Asian, and American art. It is also where the infamous heist took place, where 13 works of art were stolen. And if your name is Isabella, you can get free admission for a lifetime! It is a 0.6-mile walk from Ruggles Station and is open every day except Tuesday from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and on Saturdays and Sundays, the museum opens an hour earlier at 10:00 AM. Take a rideshare if you are coming from either North or South Station. 

Skip the traffic and take the Commuter Rail to discover museums in Boston and Cambridge.