Only the mischief-makers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) would come up with the kind of quirky stuff that's on display here. An exhibit on artificial intelligence, for example, traces the birth of robotics at MIT, featuring some longtime favorite robotic friends, Kismet, Cog and Troody. Sculptor Arthur Ganson explores the fine line between art and engineering with his display of interactive sculpture. Additional temporary exhibits are varied and intriguing.

The MIT Museum will undergo a radical upgrade in the coming years, due to open in a new state-of-the-art facility in Kendall Square in 2021.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

2. Ray & Maria Stata Center

0.4 MILES

The Stata Center for Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) was designed by the renowned architect, Frank Gehry. Like something out…

3. List Visual Arts Center

0.49 MILES

The stated goal of the List Center is to explore the boundaries of artistic inquiry – to use art to ask questions, not only about aesthetics, but also…

4. Citgo Sign

0.9 MILES

London has Big Ben, Paris has the Eiffel Tower and Boston has the Citgo sign. It’s an unlikely landmark in this high-minded city, but Bostonians love the…

5. Mugar Memorial Library

0.94 MILES

The special collections of BU’s Mugar Memorial Library are housed in the Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center, an outstanding 20th-century archive that…

6. Fenway Park

1.09 MILES

Home of the Boston Red Sox since 1912, Fenway Park is the oldest operating baseball park in the country. As such, the park has many quirks that make for a…

7. Charles River Esplanade

1.1 MILES

The southern bank of the Charles River Basin is an enticing urban escape, with grassy knolls and cooling waterways, all designed by Frederick Law Olmsted…

8. Harvard Art Museums

1.18 MILES

The 2014 renovation and expansion of Harvard's art museums allowed the university's massive 250,000-piece collection to come together under one very…