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    USS Salem

    4.0 (16 reviews)
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    Exterior
    Michael V.

    Visited yesterday for the first time and certainly an experience everyone should have. Great access to the whole boat and one of the best museums I've ever been to. One you could go back to numerous times. Head over and you won't regret it!

    Georgie M.

    USS Salem is a great trip down Memory Lane, but like so many old gray ladies, she needs a rich friend. I love walking the decks and visiting old naval vessels. The newly mothball ones are clean, up to date and well maintained. The USS Wisconsin (BB-64) in Norfolk comes to mind. Almost all of her insides are sealed with humidifiers and employ electric fans for circulation. Sadly, our older naval ships aren't doing as well. The USS Salem is a heavy cruiser in need of some TLC. There are many places were the teak(?) wood has rotten away and the steel plates are starting to rust.. See photos. "The US built the last heavy cruisers, which were finished shortly after the war. The Baltimore class consisted of seventeen ships, including three of the slightly different Oregon City class. The Des Moines class (including the USS Salem) were the last heavy cruisers built: though based on the Baltimores, they were considerably heavier and longer due to their new rapid-firing 203 mm (8-inch) guns" "Heavy cruisers fell out of use after the Second World War... Some existing US heavy cruisers lasted well through the 1970s, with the last all-gun ship USS Newport News decommissioning in 1975." "The last heavy cruiser in existence is the USS Salem, now a carefully preserved museum ship in Quincy, Massachusetts." For further information on heavy cruisers: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavy_cruiser For further information on the USS Salem: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Salem_(CA-139) Don't forget stop at the first Dunkin Donuts on your way north on 3A. Enjoy!

    Bow 3' AA guns
    Giorgio L.

    I found quite an education about what it was like to serve on one of these ships while on board the USS Salem. It is very intact with many fittings still in place and perhaps one of the most preserved examples of this period of ships. It is also one of our favorite haunts. There is much to see on the ship both in quantity and diversity, but significant climbing up and down ladders will be necessary which renders the ship inaccessible to the handicapped. This is not a barrier for small children however; we go all the time and my very small wee ones who aren't even school aged have a blast running around the ship and protest mightily every time we have to go home for lunch and a nap. Families with slightly older children can opt to overnight on the vessel such as with the cub scouts. I have been enough times to this ship that I have caught a few of the sessions of the kids literally dragging stretchers of someone "wounded" through the decks, learning CPR, shooting a "potato cannon" and running around having a blast. Boy I wish I was 7 again and doing one of these cub scout overnights on board! Well.... my wife would tell you my eyes light up just as much as my children's when we bring up the USS Salem. What distinguishes the USS Salem ship museumis how intact, and downright accessible the entire ship and its hardware is. Many museum ships have been cannibalized for parts and therefore so many things are missing; not the Salem. Areas open to the general public are filled with models, photographs, uniforms and a vast collection of period equipment that includes a large share of original furniture. Very interesting is that there are many small pieces still authentic to the ship that are still present to highlight the daily life of the sailors down to soap boxes. Volunteers have told me (and I have seen) magazines, soap boxes, old tobacco products and other items of the period that were left behind by the crew. Legend has it one of the admiral's tax returns is still on board! While you can't normally access some compartments such as the engineering, power, damage control and armament/magazine spaces, there is a new program at the museum for the more interested on the subject matter. As a grognard Historic Naval Ship enthusiast, I am happy to report that unlike many other museum ships, on the USS Salem it is possible to get those hatches opened and the lights flipped on to many parts of the ship. In fact, many of these spaces are accessible by stair and not ladder, enhancing their safety and accessibility. This new hard hat tour charges an extra fee that buys you one of many specialized, highly knowledgeable guides to take you to see goodies like the steering gear, the turrets all the way down to the magazines and much more. Another interesting feature where the hard hat tour has taken me is the ship's hangar and elevator. When completing one of my tours a volunteer had just finished restoring the elevator and took us for a ride, lifting us up like a period seaplane or helicopter! Also very interesting are the pieces of evidence that the Salem was used as a secret antisubarine vessel testbed (yes it was!) and the nuclear 8 inch shell magazines. Just ask about "Z-1 shop". There is also significant research material on board for the more interested naval buff. Ship plans, manuals, technical documents and many formerly classified Navy booklets are available in the archive. While the general public is not usually invited to peruse these collections, showing interest, enthusiasm and in my case a nominal donation to the museum has opened up a very nice new set of "toys" for me. The museum experience is enhanced by a dedicated, friendly crew of volunteers that work hard to keep her in tiptop shape. Asking questions gets me greeted with enthusiastic, educational commentary. What makes her volunteer crew so intimately familiar with the ship's workings because a good portion of them served on the USS Salem itself or her sister ship the USS Newport News CA-148. Paying attention to the right circles such as the Newport News association or the Navy Cruiser Sailors Association has found me discovering and attending the meetings of these wonderful groups further enriching my experience. In summary, I have been smitten by this museum. I am impressed by how intact the ship itself is, offering much authenticity, and above all sporting a volunteer crowd that is attentive and knowledgeable. The ship's archive and the hard hat tours have been a big draw for me. It's a wonderful place for children and my whole family loves it, I look forward to going a lot!

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    Review Highlights - USS Salem

    I found quite an education about what it was like to serve on one of these ships while on board the USS Salem.

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    South Shore Natural Science Center - Love this tree exhibit... look

    South Shore Natural Science Center

    5.0(5 reviews)
    8.6 mi

    Four stars if you're under the age of seven and have a serious turtle fascination. Hissing…read morecockroaches aside, all of the living exhibits are those shelled wonders and rabbit race underdogs. Still, the environments created around said turtles are whimsical, educational and awe-inspiring for the little 'uns. An extra star for free admission to YMCA members, and for the enjoyable outdoor space, which includes a chicken hutch, active gardens, stone circles for pagan worship (I kid, or do I?) and about a billion chipmunks. Seriously, it's like Alvin attained Beiber status and all the teen chips are swarming for an autograph. Excellent programming and festivals throughout the year - even a Corn Fest! - and, as mentioned, completely free for YMCA members. Solid way to knock out an hour or two if your spawn is being a terror. Or obsesses over turtles. Or both.

    A weekend go to in our household - is it raining? Great, come here in look at turtles! Hatchlings…read morein the fall, a mix of box turtles, snapping turtles and other shelled friends throughout the year. Is it sunny? Even better, come here and walk through their trails. They have a cute story book trail for little ones and other ways to enjoy some easy jaunts through the woods. Free admission to YMCA members, we also love their annual events like Corn Fest every summer.

    Photos
    South Shore Natural Science Center - Great space!

    Great space!

    South Shore Natural Science Center - Music area. Very cool

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    Museum of Bad Art - "Blue Eyed Fox" ( I think)

    Museum of Bad Art

    4.2(59 reviews)
    7.2 miDorchester

    This is a cute concept, and since this is the reason I dropped by, I'll review this highlight…read moreinstead of the Dorchester Brewery. It is more like a collection of art around the brewery, but the signs are funny and it's interesting to note paintings that were donated vs. found in a thrift store vs. found in the garbage. It ranges from funny proportions to some truly bizarre. It's a great activity to giggle at with friends or make up fun commentary on a date. It's a fun little concept, free, and open late, so it's a funs stop in. The brewery features a full bar, arcade and board games and BBQ food as well. The owner even showed us an old cigarette dispensing machine now filled with chocolate packs. There's a lot going on and it is apparent a lot of thought and creativity went into the space. It's certainly not like a traditional "museum" but sometimes you need to see some bad art to really appreciate some good art elsewhere. You'll end up laughing at something.

    Okay, so museum may not be the exact right word. This is kind of like a gallery in a brewery. I had…read moreseen an ad for this place on Instagram, and filed it away in my brain. I pulled it out of the file and went to see bad art. We walked in and the guy at the bar was very nice and pointed out the "route" of the paintings. The art was so fun--some worse than others. I really did understand what some of what the artists were thinking, and in other cases I just laughed and scratched my head It's small and we weren't there more than 20 minutes, but it was fun. Btw--it's free!!!

    Photos
    Museum of Bad Art - "George and Jackie" Yes, this is a painting of George Washington and Jackie Kennedy lol

    "George and Jackie" Yes, this is a painting of George Washington and Jackie Kennedy lol

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    Museum of Bad Art - "Hot, Hot, Hot (Victoria's Real Secret)"

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    Museum of Fine Arts - Miniature display, AKA: doll house for eccentric rich women "too old" for dolls --  aka: 19th century version of me minus "rich" -- haha!

    Museum of Fine Arts

    4.4(1k reviews)
    9.2 mi

    A museum filled with an endless amount of national and international treasures, each with its own…read morestory. Let me just start by saying this museum is HUGE so expect to spend the entire day here to see every single exhibit and piece available. The jewels has to be my favorite part of the museum, alongside the beautiful sculptures from Greek history. Tour guides, multiple shops, restaurants and very friendly customer service to give you recommendations on where to begin once entering the great hall! If you're in Boston, you MUST give this place a visit and you'll leave perplexed with the level of importance many pieces carry! I see something new everytime I come in here! The gift that truly keeps on giving.

    Great collection. They have a few Van Gogh landscapes (including a rendition of the wheat field)…read moreand their Monet collection is medium-sized and varied. John Singer Sargent's work can be found all around Boston, and the MFA holds the largest collection of John Singer Sargent in the world. Considering that he painted the ceiling murals that you see when you walk in, I think that's very fitting. I was able to catch the Winslow Homer exhibition-- walked in and bought my general admission ticket to the museum. The Homer exhibition was at no additional cost, but did require an additional timed ticket. They had spots open for the next slot, so all four of my friends and I were able to go see it together. One of us accidentally forgot to get the additional ticket at the general admission desk, but an employee in front of the exhibit was nice enough to do the computer work to issue us a ticket there. $30 for general adult admission is a higher price compared to similar art museums around the world, and it would have been nice if there were more ways to get a discount (such as expanding the list of universities they offer student admission for or being part of more city tourism passes). I spent an efficient four hours in there and saw almost every corner of the museum. The price tag means I'll skip it next time I'm nearby, but I still think it's a must visit for first timers.

    Photos
    Museum of Fine Arts - 2 Rembrandts are better than one!

    2 Rembrandts are better than one!

    Museum of Fine Arts - June 2024

    June 2024

    Museum of Fine Arts - Gardens exhibit

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    Gardens exhibit

    Forbes House Museum

    Forbes House Museum

    3.5(2 reviews)
    5.0 mi

    (if you think this review is too long, just scroll to the bottom for my more "humorous"…read moreobservations) If you're driving on Adams Street towards Lower Mills or the other way towards East Milton Square, you might overlook this spot. If you're into historical sites and museums, this might be worth a look. Otherwise, you might just want to go to one of the many higher-profile museums in the area, like the Adams Historical Site the town next door. You have to reserve a spot in one of the scheduled tours to enter the museum. I went for a 1 pm tour and the next one was at 3. Trust me, the tour is really 2 hours long. The positive of this museum is that while the house is not that large in terms of square feet, you do get your bang for your buck. The tour guide was generally polite and rather informative. However, she always seemed to ask historical questions every time we entered a room and wanted us to answer - really got irritating as the tour went along. If I wanted to answer historical questions, I would've gone to a bar for stump trivia. Lastly, if you're not into this stuff, you will be bored out of your mind and will resort to utilizing the futuristic item called a smartphone. The Forbes family was involved in various historical events/periods and some of those rooms each had a theme from a time period. The family was involved in the China trade, so there's a decent collection of old Chinese furniture in the parlor. It doesn't compare to the Peabody Essex Museum, granted, but it's something. There is a room for the Forbes involvement in the Civil War and Abolition. Another room described the Forbes charitable endeavors during the Great Famine in Ireland during the mid-1800's. So you'll get some learnin' from various periods. Compared to other historical spots around the area, this one doesn't seem to be maintained well and needs better restoration. There was significant water damage in a few rooms and exhibit pieces (like beds, plates, etc.) seemed to be arranged worse than a 5-year old. The house needs a paint job in the worst way. Also compared to other historical sites, this one was rather dirty. There is a "gift shop", and by "gift shop", I mean a small glass case in the foyer containing books for sale. p.s. - you'll likely have older folks in your tour group that think "oriental" is still an acceptable way to describe Asians. p.p.s. - there's a nice Chinese junk model. It's in a glass case, and not in some sort luggage storage box or something. So you can't say there's junk in the trunk. *rim shot* :-P

    Most people would drive by this historic home without paying much attention but the small staff is…read morevery friendly and often you can get a private or near-private tour of this gorgeous 1830's greek revival home which is filled with varying antiques but what is of particular interest is the vast array of objects collected by the Captain during the China trade years of the 1800's. Also, one of the previous owners was an avid collector of Abraham Lincoln memorabilia. The museum is set up more like a home and objects are easy to see and some can even be handled (kitchen area). The architecture inside and out is beautiful and the grounds keep with the feel of the home. The tour can be done on your own or guided. Great place to relax and take your time admiring the collection.

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    Forbes House Museum
    Forbes House Museum - Milton 5th Grade visiting the Forbes House Museum

    Milton 5th Grade visiting the Forbes House Museum

    Forbes House Museum - Captain Robert Forbes

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    Captain Robert Forbes

    USS Salem - museums - Updated May 2026

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