Cris from Boston

About me I was born in the Philippines, raised in Canada, but sharpened by a couple of decades of living in Boston. My tenure in this city kind of caught me by surprise, and I was tempted with moving elsewhere (Melbourne and I had a pretty serious thing going on for a bit), but I do admit to loving this place. My wife and I own a 100 year-old condo in Jamaica Plain, but prior to...

Oct 9, 2025

The Harvard Art Museums Boston

A collection of surprises

""The Harvard Art Museums" in Boston is one of the newest museums in the city boasting a collection of European and Asian art. I like that it's not too big!"

One of the best museums in the city is actually a reboot. In 2008, Harvard set about building and expanding the old home for the Fogg Art Museum, and in 2014, the new Harvard Art Museums building was opened, boasting the European art collections of the Fogg, the Germanic works of the Busch-Reisinger and the Asian holdings of the Sackler museums all combined in one place. The works that you'll find here are mostly gifts provided to the university by Harvard's various generations of successful alumni.

With all that said, given that the museum's holdings have been largely built by donation rather than active acquisition, its catalog is still very impressive. They have the largest collection of Chinese jade outside of China, their European and North American art features a respectable number of works from famous masters, and their collection of photographs from the pioneering fine art photographer, Alfred Stieglitz, is stunningly comprehensive. This all exists in a building that's about a quarter the size of the MFA and quite manageable for a leisurely hour in the square or a whole afternoon if you want to get lost in it.

Also as a bonus for actual locals - Cambridge residents get in for free whenever they'd like, and Massachusetts residents can go in for free on Saturday mornings before noon.

Art & culture

This week 25% off

with the code fall25

*on our yearly membership

About this spot

32 Quincy Street

Admission:

US$

Website

6174959400

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