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Each US state has a list of must-see museums and attractions. Even without a guide, you can still find information online beforehand. Generally, there's an entrance fee to museums in the US, but some are free. Or, some museums charge an entrance fee but offer free entry on certain days of the week or month.
A statue in front of the Boston Museum of Art.
The most worthwhile museum to see in Massachusetts (northeast America) isMuseum of Fine ArtsThe Museum of Art (often abbreviated as MFA) in Boston is one of the largest and oldest museums in the United States.
Opened on July 4, 1876, with approximately 5,600 works of art, the MFA now houses around 450,000 works of art, including many famous paintings, sculptures, and reliefs from various art movements in Europe, Asia, Africa, and America—a full day's visit wouldn't be enough to see everything.
Admission costs $20 per person, but there are free days. Each year, the museum welcomes one million visitors, including many students from universities in the state and from around the world who come to study.
Boston also has the USS Constitution Museum, which displays America's first warship (nicknamed "Old Ironsides") and its glorious achievements in fighting for America's independence from British colonial rule.
Despite being built in 1797, the warship is preserved almost intact in the harbor. What's unique is that at the USS Constitution Museum, visitors can not only see a model of the ship dissected from the inside out, but also witness the lives and images of the sailors on board at that time. Children can choose from ship-related games or view historical information on a computer. Admission to the USS Constitution Museum is free; just remember to bring your passport if you want to go on board for a tour.
The USS Constitution, a warship, is on display at the museum.
Two other unique attractions in Massachusetts are the Witch Dungeon Museum in Salem and the Hammond Castle Museum in Gloucester. Admission to the Witch Dungeon Museum is $7 and to the Hammond Castle Museum is $10, but they are definitely worth the money.
And if you ever have the chance to visit Washington DC, you absolutely must stop by the museum.Space and the UniverseThe National Air and Space Museum houses the world's largest collection of aircraft and spacecraft, with approximately 60,000 artifacts, one-third of which relate to milestones in the history of aircraft and spacecraft.
Opened in 1976, this museum has welcomed 311 million visitors, making it one of the most visited museums. Besides providing visitors with knowledge about aviation and space history, the museum attracts many teenagers with its fun and educational activities, such as figuring out how much you would weigh on the moon and Mars.
Your first impression will be one of awe at the scale of the exhibits in American museums, their ability to preserve ancient artifacts hundreds of years old in pristine condition, and the wealth of information you can gather at each place, as they all provide brochures, maps, and even the website addresses of individual museums.
The cleanliness and amenities in each space (seating for visitors, coat rooms, restrooms, cafes or food courts) are also an attractive feature of museums in the United States.
Witch Dungeon Museum in Salem
The antique objects have been preserved and restored to almost their original state.
The ancient charm of Hammond Castle
A corner of the world's largest space and aerospace museum.
A "paradise" of souvenirs.
It must be said that the souvenir shops at any American museum are worth buying something as a gift, even if the prices aren't cheap, simply because of their unique designs and the distinctive characteristics of each museum.
Besides decorative items and exhibits, museums also offer a wide variety of everyday goods. The most beautiful souvenirs can be found at the Museum of Fine Arts, with statues, paintings, glasses, vases, scarves, baskets, bags, hats, shirts, and jewelry... all featuring images of the artworks displayed in the museum.
The largest is the souvenir shop at the National Air and Space Museum, with a wide variety of toy airplanes and crew helmets, uniforms, and other items for children.
The most mysterious and fantastical souvenirs are found at the medieval Hammond Castle and the Witch Museum in Salem… where you can buy a bar of soap made from herbs, a pitch-black candle, or a fiery dragon medallion…
The museum is also a haven for unique souvenirs.
