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Fun and interactive, but not worth the $20 admission (even $10 for students feels a bit high). Some exhibits feel dated, especially the AI section, which is less impressive than what you can explore at home. Would love to see more student projects or newer innovations. Overall nice, just a bit anticlimactic. It is nice though that they have free lockers for visitors.
I enjoyed this museum. It has a similar vibe to the museum of science but unfortunately more expensive (I don't think the library offers discounts here). I enjoyed the exhibits- particulars the robotics and AI ones. Worth a visit if you're already in the area
Interesting blend of science and art. I learned a lot and enjoyed the space, but it only took about an hour to get through it all. The DNA exhibits were the most interesting to me.
Cool museum on the MIT campus that looks at several modern technology advancements. You also get a good overview of the projects that students and teachers are working on. The exhibit on merpeople was very interesting.
The MIT Museum, founded in 1971, is located at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is right by the Kendall/MIT T stop on the red line. A self guided tour usually takes about 1.5 hours. They have three floors and the 2nd floor was my favorite! It includes the exhibits for gene cultures, understanding the genome, resurrecting the sublime, sensing, pink chicken project, gene chip scanner, genes traits, genome analyzer, mermaid de-extinction project, using viruses, encoded DNA sample, gene altering, microbial manufacturing, etc
I'm not sure which I found more revolting: 1) the hubris associated with the Pink Chicken Project exhibit which proposes genetically modifying a chicken with pink bones and feathers to fully propagate to the entire species within 12-19 generations or 2) the waist-high monitor depicting a graphic video of a female artist, slathering her strap-on dildo with paint, before flipping her erect dildo toward the canvas to create her "art". Given the positioning of the video monitor, children of all ages are apparently encouraged to take in this educational experience. Photos of both displays are shown below
I went on a free day, and would only come back on another free day. It is very science-y, which makes perfect sense. This is the MIT Museum, not the Harvard Museum. I personally found the gift shop to be more entertaining than most of the exhibits. I am just not your typical Asian science genius, I suppose. I spent maybe like one hour here, and mostly walked around with "why" and "huh" in my mind. If you are a local, come on the free days (e.g. last Sunday of the month) and skip the $10 admissions!! Well, at least not my cup of tea.
My sister and I visited the MIT museum per he request. We drove all the was from Western mass to visit. My sister and I had a great time at the museum. Our favorite piece was the robotic arm which is right up front. It was $10 to enter, or $5 if you have student ID. There were 3 floors of things to see, which also included a Polaroid exhibit. I really thought the pieces by Arthur Ganson were great which included the Wishbone. There is plenty of staff on each floor to watch over the exhibits. Its definitely a safe museum. I think I spent more time in the gift shop the the whole museum as they had some great merch in there!
This is an extraordinary little museum dedicated to the notion of explaining how stuff works in the real world. Applied math and physics are on display front and center -- taking many forms -- from robotics to internet technology -- space exploration to holographic imagery. Plenty of significant history on display here -- including prototypes of NASA space suits and ground breaking robotic innovation. In some cases the innovators demonstrate through kinetic sculpture how technology can be an art form all its own -- through stunning creations and gizmos that are Rube Goldberg-like in their uselessness but that prove perfectly the rules of physics that govern us all. I always knew that MIT was a genius think tank -- but until I toured these halls I never fully appreciated how deep that genius runs. It is well worth taking some time to read the displays and view the videos -- this is an opportunity to savor innovation and creativity -- otherwise you can easily miss the point of this place. One of our highlights was participating in a "hands-on" workshop that allowed my 10 year old to build a working electrical circuit (see https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/mit-museum-cambridge?select=9XgePtoNrrsFp2-ufKod4A&userid=e05KY1rRbzt-OakI3I86RQ) that we modified on our own into a morse code terminal for the deaf -- that uses a blinking LED instead of audio. Easy and fun and educational -- it is this sort of exercise that demonstrates for children how innovation actually happens when you allow yourself to see the possibilities. Top Tip: The gift shop is way cool too. Plenty of smart amusements for that nerd in all of us.
My wife discovered this museum to my surprise and my family (HS, college boys) loved it. There's a small fee but military was free for five personnel...awesome. There is a large section of robotics on display which seemed to be the focus, although none are functioning which detracted from the wow factor. There is a section of semi-interactive functioning projects which were the highlight for my family. Projects like a walking chicken wishbone, a homemade fly, etc. Small and meaningless to some degree but pretty cool to think about someone creating. There's also a section of art which reminded me of drawings from my biology class, although much better quality of course. We found parking on the street in front of the museum without issue for a small fee. There's a small MIT store within the museum where they sell t-shirts, cups, and other gifts. I think the museum is a must see at least once.
The MIT Museum is a small museum consisting mostly of projects completed by MIT students. Admission is $10 per adult and $5 fort those under 18. Most of the exhibits are on the second floor. The visit should take about an hour or less depending on how long one interacts with the exhibits. Exhibits and included Polaroids, Holograms, Robotics, Gestural Engineering, Images of Discovery, Projects & Prototypes. Many of the exhibits are very old, especially in Robotics and Holograms. I was most impressed by the small Projects & Prototypes section. This area contained work by recent MIT graduates. Overall though, I was expecting more. I thought the science presented by MIT would grab my attention more than the many science museums I have been to with my children. To me most of it was boring. That's not to say that others might not like this museum. I just think one really has to be into tech or science to appreciate it.
6 months ago
My kids and I enjoyed the MIT museum! Lots of cool history and innovation! The museum is kept clean and staff is friendly and helpful throughout our trip. Be sure to check out the gift shop on your way out! read more
If you are a science nerd, then you will love this museum. If you're not much into museums, you're not going to like it a whole lot cuz there's a whole bunch of history and the evolution of science women in science, the space, race, advancement of photographic lenses all kinds of things that the MIT community has contributed to the advancement of our human kind. I loved it cuz I was geeking out. My husband not so much. read more
1 year ago
MIT Museum in Cambridge, MA was a vibe. No science in my DNA, yet here I am- pulled in, probably because my daughter's the actual scientist. Coming here was way more impressive than I expected. I walked in thinking I'd be here for a few minutes and go right back out- but nope. MIT grabbed my brain and shook it around. Almost every exhibit actually does something instead of just sitting there behind glass. You can roam both floors to your heart's content and nobody bothers you. We came across a demonstration on sleep patterns and my daughter and I were absolutely fascinated- both by the topic and by the young gentleman leading it. He may have been a student? In any case, the museum is clean, with every corner feeling fresh.. The areas are spotless, the floors shine like nobody's business and even the smallest details like the signs and display cases, look maintained- as they should. Hell, even the bathroom is presentable and bright white. If you're into learning, cool tech (or not) and experiments, MIT is absolutely worth it. $20 Adults, $10 Students. Oh...Discount for Teachers.....only in MA. read more
Fun and interactive, but not worth the $20 admission (even $10 for students feels a bit high). Some exhibits feel dated, especially the AI section, which is less impressive than what you can explore at home. Would love to see more student projects or newer innovations. Overall nice, just a bit anticlimactic. It is nice though that they have free lockers for visitors. read more
11 months ago
4 months ago
I enjoyed this museum. It has a similar vibe to the museum of science but unfortunately more expensive (I don't think the library offers discounts here). I enjoyed the exhibits- particulars the robotics and AI ones. Worth a visit if you're already in the area read more
6 months ago
It was an amazing experience and I enjoy it very much. They also have class in session and a gift shop. My family not traveling with me at yge time would also enjoy it. read more
2 years ago
Interesting blend of science and art. I learned a lot and enjoyed the space, but it only took about an hour to get through it all. The DNA exhibits were the most interesting to me. read more
2 years ago
Cool museum on the MIT campus that looks at several modern technology advancements. You also get a good overview of the projects that students and teachers are working on. The exhibit on merpeople was very interesting. read more
The MIT Museum, founded in 1971, is located at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is right by the Kendall/MIT T stop on the red line. A self guided tour usually takes about 1.5 hours. They have three floors and the 2nd floor was my favorite! It includes the exhibits for gene cultures, understanding the genome, resurrecting the sublime, sensing, pink chicken project, gene chip scanner, genes traits, genome analyzer, mermaid de-extinction project, using viruses, encoded DNA sample, gene altering, microbial manufacturing, etc read more
2 years ago
I didn't know what to expect, but the museum was really interesting - interactive without feeling like a kindergarten classroom - a nice mix of new/innovations and historical elements - coat racks - lockers - and a great cafe! :) I would totally go again. read more
3 years ago
I'm not sure which I found more revolting: 1) the hubris associated with the Pink Chicken Project exhibit which proposes genetically modifying a chicken with pink bones and feathers to fully propagate to the entire species within 12-19 generations or 2) the waist-high monitor depicting a graphic video of a female artist, slathering her strap-on dildo with paint, before flipping her erect dildo toward the canvas to create her "art". Given the positioning of the video monitor, children of all ages are apparently encouraged to take in this educational experience. Photos of both displays are shown below read more
I went on a free day, and would only come back on another free day. It is very science-y, which makes perfect sense. This is the MIT Museum, not the Harvard Museum. I personally found the gift shop to be more entertaining than most of the exhibits. I am just not your typical Asian science genius, I suppose. I spent maybe like one hour here, and mostly walked around with "why" and "huh" in my mind. If you are a local, come on the free days (e.g. last Sunday of the month) and skip the $10 admissions!! Well, at least not my cup of tea. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
7 years ago
My sister and I visited the MIT museum per he request. We drove all the was from Western mass to visit. My sister and I had a great time at the museum. Our favorite piece was the robotic arm which is right up front. It was $10 to enter, or $5 if you have student ID. There were 3 floors of things to see, which also included a Polaroid exhibit. I really thought the pieces by Arthur Ganson were great which included the Wishbone. There is plenty of staff on each floor to watch over the exhibits. Its definitely a safe museum. I think I spent more time in the gift shop the the whole museum as they had some great merch in there! read more
This is an extraordinary little museum dedicated to the notion of explaining how stuff works in the real world. Applied math and physics are on display front and center -- taking many forms -- from robotics to internet technology -- space exploration to holographic imagery. Plenty of significant history on display here -- including prototypes of NASA space suits and ground breaking robotic innovation. In some cases the innovators demonstrate through kinetic sculpture how technology can be an art form all its own -- through stunning creations and gizmos that are Rube Goldberg-like in their uselessness but that prove perfectly the rules of physics that govern us all. I always knew that MIT was a genius think tank -- but until I toured these halls I never fully appreciated how deep that genius runs. It is well worth taking some time to read the displays and view the videos -- this is an opportunity to savor innovation and creativity -- otherwise you can easily miss the point of this place. One of our highlights was participating in a "hands-on" workshop that allowed my 10 year old to build a working electrical circuit (see https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/mit-museum-cambridge?select=9XgePtoNrrsFp2-ufKod4A&userid=e05KY1rRbzt-OakI3I86RQ) that we modified on our own into a morse code terminal for the deaf -- that uses a blinking LED instead of audio. Easy and fun and educational -- it is this sort of exercise that demonstrates for children how innovation actually happens when you allow yourself to see the possibilities. Top Tip: The gift shop is way cool too. Plenty of smart amusements for that nerd in all of us. read more
My wife discovered this museum to my surprise and my family (HS, college boys) loved it. There's a small fee but military was free for five personnel...awesome. There is a large section of robotics on display which seemed to be the focus, although none are functioning which detracted from the wow factor. There is a section of semi-interactive functioning projects which were the highlight for my family. Projects like a walking chicken wishbone, a homemade fly, etc. Small and meaningless to some degree but pretty cool to think about someone creating. There's also a section of art which reminded me of drawings from my biology class, although much better quality of course. We found parking on the street in front of the museum without issue for a small fee. There's a small MIT store within the museum where they sell t-shirts, cups, and other gifts. I think the museum is a must see at least once. read more
The MIT Museum is a small museum consisting mostly of projects completed by MIT students. Admission is $10 per adult and $5 fort those under 18. Most of the exhibits are on the second floor. The visit should take about an hour or less depending on how long one interacts with the exhibits. Exhibits and included Polaroids, Holograms, Robotics, Gestural Engineering, Images of Discovery, Projects & Prototypes. Many of the exhibits are very old, especially in Robotics and Holograms. I was most impressed by the small Projects & Prototypes section. This area contained work by recent MIT graduates. Overall though, I was expecting more. I thought the science presented by MIT would grab my attention more than the many science museums I have been to with my children. To me most of it was boring. That's not to say that others might not like this museum. I just think one really has to be into tech or science to appreciate it. read more
4 years ago
We were looking for a rainy day science activity. The visit to the museum was better than anticipated. If truly interested in latest science initiatives at MIT; good visit. Nice details at each exhibit that explain all aspects of the issue and how science addressed it. I recommend a visit and a visit to the MIT bookstore as excellent selection of books not found elsewhere. Nice Shy bird orDig restaurants around corner for lunch before or after. Parking difficult unless park in garage... we even fed parking meter and still 30 buck ticket... relentless...appeared 5 minutes late Nice gift shop too with some interesting nerd or geek items of interest. Should offer a parking garage validation stamp for parking discounts... Or need a doctorate degree to figure MBTA connections to get there ? Or Uber as clearly Cambridge does not treat out of town autos fairly....signage outside should be improved... difficult to find entrance if there for first time. read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
Visited this interactive museum when I was in Boston. I'm a bit of a nerd when it comes to inventions, technology and especially robotics so this place was right up in my alley. It's not a big compound but it had a nice selection of cool robotic and interactive displays. The ladies at the reception area were very helpful. They even comp us admission for being a Bank of America customer. Normally is 10 bucks. The exhibitions were on the 2nd floor and divided into several rooms. First was the Robotics display, then Holography which was also next to Gestural Engineering. The Gestural exhibition was my favorite because it was interactive. I was mesmerized by the movement of components on each display. The last 2 rooms were the Images of Discovery and MIT Project and Prototypes. Guests were encouraged to play with each display so these exhibitions were more hands on. Overall, all displays were pretty awesome and educational! FYI. I forgot that Bank of America has free admission to select museums the 1st weekend of the month. Check BOA site for museum listings. read more
The MIT museum is a fun, interactive museum that in many ways, blends art and science. I and two coworkers came on a Sunday and we all got free admission! I especially liked how parts of the museum featured art or inventions by actual MIT students or alum. There was one cool piece where you're like a human etch-a-sketch where steps on the floor leads to a real-time drawing on the screen. Another thing I liked was the holograms - Bob Marley coming out of the wall and optical illusions that change Albert Einstein into Marilyn Monroe and back again. Beauty and Brains I guess! The kinetic art was also intricate examples of art and physics. Some displays were a bit abstract for me but certainly creative! I highly recommend the museum - some parts are purely technical/educational, but others are just plain fun. My only suggestion for improvement (and its because I'm biased) is for them to feature more examples of chemistry and chemical engineering! read more
This was a very fun museum. Came on a Saturday and it wasn't too crowded when we were there but when we were leaving around 2pm, it started to get more crowded. There's a bunch to learn on this 2-level building and a lot of very cool things that students developed and invented. My mind was blown how smart some of these teenagers are! I highly recommend coming here at least once to learn about the talent that MIT students have. There's interesting things for children up to adults. You can do this museum in about 1-2 hours. read more
3 years ago
I'm usually busy Sunday mornings, so I have never made it out to the MIT Museum for their free hours 10am-noon. But for "Innovation Sunday" they offered free admission all day long 10/4/09, so I went and saved myself $7.50. On the first floor I found the gift shop items more interesting than the exhibits - sorry, I'm not a sciencey person... But the 2nd floor with its exhibits on toy inventions, robotics, the little mechanical thingamajigs, and the cool holograms...that was a whole lot more interesting! read more
8 years ago
We had a great afternoon here. It doesn't take all that long (we took maybe 1.5 hours) but it was enjoyable. My partner is a scientist and I love art, and it was the perfect intersection of art & science for us. As a student, it was only $5 per ticket - totally worth it. They have a cool little gift shop, too. read more
Really cool museum with exhibits on past projects of the brilliant minds at MIT. My friend and I were lucky since it was the BofA museums first weekend so we were able to get in for free! Otherwise it's $5 for students and $10 for adults (MIT students get in for free). I really enjoyed the kinetic sculpture exhibit! They got the classic walking wishbone and self oiling machine on display as well as other cool ones. The holographic exhibit is super cool as well! Nice place to learn about science and technology for a few hours! read more
The entire first week-end of the month, the MIT museum has been free for the Bank of America customers. The hologram and the robotics/AI sections on the second floor were the highlights. Some robots were developing the sense of touch. This could have practical medical applications for operations. Others could interact with you as if they were human beings. The robots' faces could mimic human expressions: happiness, surprise, etc. Some artistic holograms were outstanding in realism. Photography was forbidden in the hologram section on the second floor. Moreover, there were a lot of interesting and interactive activities for youngsters. It has been an excellent way to spark their interest for Sciences Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Bathroom were clean. The entire museum was relatively small. Around one hour should be sufficient to visit it. read more
2 years ago
Awesome place to visit in the Cambridge neighborhood of Boston. The museum showcases past and current projects and research done or being conducted at MIT. There are displays to recognize prominent alumni and MIT's history, along with photography galleries. But my absolute favorite was the Arthur Ganson exhibit. His kinetic sculptures will intrigue anyone that passes through. It was extremely tempting to touch the displays and play with them. I think our group spent almost an hour in that exhibit alone because each piece required some time to contemplate. We also got to see the museum for free because it was Memorial Day weekend. Normally, the entrance fee is $10 I believe, but I would definitely pay that price to see this museum. Overall, it was a great way to spend a lazy afternoon on our trip to Boston. Plus, there's a Flour Bakery right across the street. read more
This place is basically the sole reason I'm glad I grew up on PBS science specials. It's essentially The Magic School Bus brought to life, in 2014. Holograms, bicycles that use kinetic energy to generate imagery, laser beams that activate sound and music, the science behind the latest developments in prosthetic limbs...the only thing this is missing is Bill Nye the Science Guy. I think deep down, we are all science nerds, thrilled by discovering how things work, the sometimes accidental inventions that sprout out of other scientific intentions, still those little 3rd graders fascinated by the baking soda-vinegar volcano experiment. This museum takes it one billion steps further and shows the works of MIT students, affiliates, and certainly justifies the prestige of MIT. Most of these works have, in some way or another, influenced travel in space, advances in biomedical engineering, and have infiltrated our past, present, and future. There's even a device that helps auto-zip your zippers. Originally invented with the idea that it would one day help the disabled/those with limited mobility dress themselves, this was nothing short of cool. Admission is only $10 ($5 for students, and I think free for MIT students/faculty), and undoubtedly will make you squeal with glee/excitement/leave you in awe at some point. I did have a fleeting thought when a 5 year old girl was playing with a machine, "Oh come on, you're HOGGING IT. Is it my turn yet?". I suddenly became a 6 year old brat in my head. I just got too excited by the science playground I suddenly found myself in. I don't remember the last time I enjoyed a museum so much and wished there was even more to see, and I was a solid B- science student growing up, if that says anything... Now all I have to do is request that Bill Nye greet me with a random scientific factoid as I enter and surprise me with some crazy last bit of knowledge as I exit. Mind. Blown. #justsayin..:) read more
Oh geeze. If there ever were a place to spend too much time the MIT Museum would be it. Go ahead, educate yourself on the history of slide rules (Did you know that with the proper device, you can calculate the effect of a nuclear bomb? Hey that's kind of useful...), the workings of holograms (this involves mirrors and lenses and an object or something), and science meets art in the form of a a chair hoping over a cat and the complex (no really...) motions of an unending chain. Sure it's small, but this doesn't mean you won't spend hours ogling at the whipped cream spelling rotating hologram woman - it was the first!...and the wishbone that pulls a machine (or is it pushed by it?) down a mini rail track. If you're looking for fun, come here. If you're looking to entertain your inner child come here. If you're looking to kill an hour, and only an hour, be prepared to over spend your time budget...you won't be disappointed. Oh shit...check out the synthesizer that makes noises you'll never hear again. It's pretty awesome. read more
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314 Main St
Building E-28
Gambrill Center
Cambridge, MA 02142
Kendall Square, Kendall Square/MIT
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