The Museum of Fine Arts was founded in 1870 and moved to its present building on Huntington Avenue in 1909. It holds hundreds of thousands of works, ranging from ancient Egyptian tombs to contemporary art, and is one of the most comprehensive art museums in the country. It is far too big to see in one visit, so the best approach is to choose a few galleries and do them well.
Highlights
- Art of the Americas: a wing opened in 2010, with four floors of art from ancient Mesoamerica to the twentieth century. Look for John Singleton Copley's portraits of Revolutionary-era Bostonians, including Paul Revere, and Revere's own silver work.
- John Singer Sargent: the museum's rotunda and stairway are decorated with murals Sargent painted in the 1910s and 20s, and its galleries hold many of his portraits.
- European painting: works by Monet and other Impressionists, Renoir, Van Gogh, Rembrandt and El Greco among many others. The museum's Monet collection is one of the largest outside France.
- Ancient Egypt and Nubia: mummies, sculpture and jewelry, much of it from excavations the museum itself carried out.
- Asian art: one of the most important Japanese art collections outside Japan, plus Chinese, Indian and Korean art, and a quiet Japanese garden.
- Contemporary art: in a separate wing, with changing exhibitions.
Planning your visit
Pick two or three areas that interest you most, use the museum's floor plan, and take breaks in the courtyard café. A first visit of three hours covers the Americas wing and the Impressionists comfortably. Art lovers can spend a full day. Special exhibitions often need a timed ticket and can sell out at weekends.
Free and discounted visits
The museum has offered free or reduced admission at certain times and for certain groups, such as young people under a set age and local students. Policies change, so check the museum's website before you go.
Getting there
The Green Line E branch stops right outside the museum. From Back Bay it is a twenty-minute walk along Huntington Avenue, called the Avenue of the Arts for the institutions along it, including Symphony Hall. The museum has a paid parking garage.
Pairing it
The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is a five-minute walk away across the Fens, and very different: one woman's personal collection, arranged in a Venetian-style palace. Seeing both in one day is possible but tiring; many visitors do the MFA in the morning and the Gardner in the afternoon. On game days, Fenway Park is close by.
Eating
The museum has several cafés and a restaurant. Nearby streets around Northeastern University and the Fenway neighborhood have casual places to eat.
Accessibility
The museum is wheelchair accessible, with elevators to every floor, wheelchairs available to borrow, and seating throughout the galleries.
Frequently asked questions
How long should I spend at the MFA?
At least three hours for a first visit. You will not see everything in a day.
What are the must-see works?
The Copley portraits, Revere's silver, the Sargent murals, the Monets and the Egyptian galleries.
Is it good for children?
Yes, especially the Egyptian mummies and the armor. Look for family guides and activity sheets at the information desk.