Free/Almost Free Museum Admission in Boston050

Many Boston-area museums offer free or reduced admission for kids and families on certain days throughout the year.

Our editors make every attempt to keep this list as current as possible, but changes to these programs do happen. We recommend that you visit the museum websites for exceptions, other qualifying details, and any updates before visiting the museums themselves.

Boston
The Museum of Fine Arts (MFA): Youths (ages 7-17) are admitted free on weekdays after 3pm, weekends, and public school holidays.

Boston Children's Museum: $1 admission is offered every Friday from 5pm to 9pm.

Museum of African American History: Admission is free (donations welcome).

JFK Presidential Library and Museum: Children under 12 receive free admission.

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum: Children under 18 are always free.

Cambridge
Harvard Museum of Natural History: Admission is free on Sundays from 9am to 12n (year-round, MA residents only) and on Wednesdays from 3pm to 5pm (Sep-May, MA residents only).

MIT Museum: Admission is free on Sundays from 10am to 12n.

Charlestown
USS Constitution Museum: Admission is free.

North Shore
Cape Ann Museum, Gloucester: Children under 12 are admitted free.

Peabody Essex Museum, Salem: Children 16 and under are admitted free.

South Shore
Hull Lifesaving Museum, Hull: Children 18 and under receive free admission.

Metro West
National Heritage Museum, Lexington: Admission is free.

Museum of Bad Art, Dedham: Admission is free.

Spellman Museum of Stamps and Postal History, Weston: Children (16 and under) are admitted free.