Museums & Collections
From the rarest artifacts to modern sculptures, from native species to international icons.
Concord Museum
Lexington Road, Concord 01742
978-369-9763
The museum houses one of the oldest and most treasured collections of Americana in the country. It’s the gateway to Concord’s remarkable revolutionary and literary history, from the first shots in the battle for American independence to the legacy of Emerson and Thoreau.
Davis Museum at Wellesley College
106 Central Street, Wellesley 02481
781-283-2051
Distinguished permanent collections including paintings, sculptures, works on paper, photographs, and decorative objects, from antiquity to the contemporary moment; dynamic temporary exhibitions engage visitors in looking anew at the visual arts.
deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum
51 Sandy Pond Road Lincoln, 01773
781-259-8355
The Sculpture Park is a constantly changing landscape of more than 60 large-scale, outdoor, and modern sculpture and site-specific installations. Inside, the Museum features a robust slate of rotating exhibitions and innovative interpretive programming.
Fatima Shrine
101 Summer Street, Holliston 01746
508-429-2144
A restful haven in a rustic setting, known for the world’s largest rosary
Fruitlands Museum
102 Prospect Hill Road, Harvard 01451
978-456-3924
Once home to a utopian community planned by Louisa May Alcott’s father in the 19th century, the museum’s five buildings are located on more than 200 acres and include art exhibits and educational programs.
Gallery of African Art
62 High Street, Clinton 01510
978-368-0227
This unique collection, representative of various regions, tribes and traditions of the African continent, has been assembled by collector Gordon B. Lankton.
Garden in the Woods
180 Hemenway Road, Framingham 01701
508-877-7630
Operated by the New England Wild Flower Society, the 75 rolling
acres of trails that wind through a variety of natural woodland
floral habitats display the largest landscaped collection of
wildflowers in the Northeast.
International Museum of World War II
Natick 01760
508-651-1944
This is the most comprehensive collection of original artifacts in the world. Over 7,000 pieces, uniquely showing the human story interwoven with the military and political. Scheduled visits only, Tuesday to Saturday.
McAuliffe Center and Challenger Learning Center
Framingham State University
100 State Street, Framingham 01702
Interactive exhibits, planetarium, and Challenger Learning Center mission simulator are available for school and teambuilding groups, adult learners, teacher support, and general audiences on selected dates.
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Museum of Russian Icons
203 Union Street, Clinton 01510
978-598-5000
The Museum of Russian Icons inspires the appreciation and study of Russian culture by collecting and exhibiting one of the world’s largest collections of Russian icons — sacred paintings used for veneration in the Orthodox tradition.
Natick Historical Society Museum
58 Eliot Street, Natick 01760
508-647-4841
Here is the place to explore all things Natick. Stories of local life are what we share from our founding with the “Praying Indians” to today’s center of culture and commerce. Museum, archive, and programs.
Old Sturbridge Village
1 Old Sturbridge Village Road, Sturbridge 01566
800-733-1830
Visit Old Sturbridge Village and discover New England’s premier living history museum. Tour a working 1830s town with authentically costumed citizens. History will amaze and inspire your entire family!
Spellman Museum of Stamps & Postal History
235 Wellesley Street at Regis College, Weston 02493
781-768-8367
You don’t have to be a stamp collector to enjoy a visit to the
Spellman. Rotating exhibits of U.S. and worldwide stamps and
postal history. Family Days, group visits, gift shop, U.S. Post
Office. Thursday–Sunday 12-5pm.
The Discovery Museums
177 Main Street, Acton 01720
978-264-4200
Two great museums, accessible 550-square foot treehouse, and year-round outdoor nature playscape blend the best of science, play and environmental learning on a beautiful 4.5 acre campus.
Arts & Culture
Arts & Culture - deCordova
Arts & Culture - Re-enactors
Community Spotlight: Ashland
The Town of Ashland bustles year ‘round, but spring is an especially energetic season as the town’s cultural and business initiatives roll out. Although primarily residential, the town integrates small businesses as well as cutting-edge tech corporations into its community initiatives.
New England History
Centuries ago, Ashland was a stopping point on a major Indian trail which later became known as the Bay Path, connecting Cambridge and Connecticut. It was here that a community of Natick Indians was established as the Village of Magunkaquog in about 1659. The town is also known as the site of Henry Warren's invention of the electric clock, later manufactured here under the Telechron name. Today, the high school’s teams are the Clockers.
Corner Spot
Indicative of the energetic business community emerging in this town, the Corner Spot was developed in early 2017--through individual donations—as a place for new businesses to debut for one to six weeks. Opening in June of 2017, this innovative example of community placemaking will offer a rotation of new enterprises, as well as a restful spot for simply hanging out.
Farmers Market
One of the region’s most robust farmers’ markets offers special themes—such as Dog Day --each Saturday morning (June 10-October 7) as well as live music, non-food vendors, and family activities in the park at 125 Front Street. On special weekends throughout the rest of the year, the Farmers Market pops up indoors to offer Pre-Thanksgiving and Mid-Winter Markets.
Special community events
Long a home to annual community events and festivals, such as Ashland Day in September, the town now offers more programming 
through Arts!Ashland Alliance. Through arts and culture programming, the group also works to cultivate the economic vitality of the community. Its signature event is the Dragon Fly Festival, held mid-August. Other cultural offerings come from the Friends of the Ashland Library, which offers speakers and documentary film evenings.
Dining
Pockets of great cuisine are spread throughout this community of 18,000, including along Routes 126 and 135, as well as downtown sidestreets. The gourmet Oregon Club, a former speakeasy, is tucked among residences in east Ashland. In downtown, Stone’s Public House (circa 1832) boasts a ghostly history and modern hearty pub fare. New Mexican and Asian eateries have debuted in recent years as well.
Recreation & Sports
To commemorate the site of the original Boston Marathon Start Line, Ashland now boasts Marathon Park., which is now the site of the start line of the semi-annual Marathon Park Prep, a half-marathon favored by runners eager to experience a large portion of the Boston Marathon’s April route.
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There’s plenty of recreation for those inclined to relax. The 470-acre Ashland State Park offers swimming, picnic areas, boating, fishing, and hiking/biking trails. The Bay Circuit Trail connects Ashland to 34 other communities. The public schools’ new turf fields are the site of regional sports competitions.
