What's Open? MA Museum & Venue Opening Updates
A list of museums that are opening up in Phase 3, 4 and beyond
Here is a list of Massachusetts museums that are currently open, or that will be re-opening during phased guidelines. We will monitor the field each week to let you know more information as we learn of it.
Governor's Update
- April 30: The face coverings order will be relaxed outdoors, (except for situations where it is not possible to maintain social distance and when required by business-specific guidelines).
- May 10: Large venues such as sports arenas can increase capacity to 25%, amusement parks can open at 50% capacity, road races will be allowed.
- May 29: Public gathering limits will increase, street festivals can be held at 50% capacity, bars can reopen with seated service only, restaurants may be allowed to eliminate food service requirement and increase maximum table size to 10.
- Aug. 1: Nightclubs, indoor water parks, ball pits and others will be allowed to reopen.
In the meantime, be courteous, enjoy the outdoors and stay the course!
Go Hiking | Explore Boston Murals | Visit Martin's Park
What's Open in Boston Now?
The following Boston museums and venues are open. We will continue to monitor the situation to update this list as we get more information.
Most venues require advance registration, and many have timed ticketing. So make sure you plan ahead for your next outing.
American Heritage Museum (Hudson) - OPEN Wed - Sun from 10:00am to 5:00pm
Battleship Cove (Fall River) - OPEN Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays from 9 am to 4 pm.
Boston Children's Museum (Boston) - The Museum will initially open on Saturdays and Sundays May, (starting May 1), and then with an expanded schedule of Wednesdays through Sundays beginning June 2nd.
Boston Common Carousel - Open daily 10:00am - 6:00pm
Boston Public Market OPEN Wed – Sat from 8AM – 6PM
Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum (Boston) - Open Thursday-Sunday. Tours start at 10:00am | last tour is at 4:00pm
Capron Park Zoo (Attleboro) OPEN daily 10am-4pm - last admission: 3:00 PM
Children's Museum at Holyoke - OPEN Tue - Sun w/2 hour time slots
Children's Museum in Easton (Easton) OPEN 3 days a week: Wed, Fri & Sat 10am-12pm
City Winery on the Greenway (Boston) - Opens May 1
Concord Museum (Concord) OPEN Thursday to Sunday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Danforth Art Museum (Framingham) Opening April 20 | Tues - Sun from 12:00pm - 5:00pm
deCordova Sculpture Park & Museum (Lincoln, MA) open Wed – Fri, 10AM – 4PM, last pass slot at 2PM | Sat – Sun, 10AM – 5PM, last pass slot at 3PM
Discovery Museum (Acton) - OPEN daily w/time slots 9-11am, 12-2pm, 3pm-4:30pm
Drumlin Farm (Lincoln) - OPEN Tue-Sun w/reservation; restrooms open; buildings closed.
Duck Boat Tours (Boston) - Open April 1, 2021
Ferry Service Resumes to Charlestown & Hingham - (May 22, 2021)
Ecotarium (Worcester) - Opens April 23, 2021
Fruitlands Museum (Harvard) grounds open, reservations required
Fuller Craft Museum (Brockton) - Open Tuesday - Sunday 10:00am - 5:00pm
Greenway Carousel - OPEN - Current Hours Friday, Saturday & Sunday 11am TO 6pm
Heritage Museum & Gardens (Sandwich) - Opening April 24, 10:00am - 5:00pm
Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) (Opens March 20) - Advanced timed-tickets required
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum OPEN: All tickets will be sold for a specific entry time between 11 am - 3:30 pm (10 am - 3:30 pm on Saturdays and Sundays; 11 am - 7:30 pm on First Thursdays). CLOSED on Tuesdays.
Lawn on D (Boston) - Scheduled to re-open (with swings!) on May 20
LegoLand Discovery Center (Somerville, MA) - Open with limited capacity for 90-minute PlayTimes at 10:00am, 12:30pm & 3:00pm. Tickets must be purchased in advance.
Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) OPEN Wed–Sun, 10 am–5 pm
Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (Mass MoCA, NW Mass.) - OPEN Thursdays-Mondays, 10am-5pm | reservation required. Closed Tuesdays + Wednesdays
Museum of African American History - OPEN Monday - Saturday 10:00am to 4:00pm
Museum of Science, Boston - OPEN 9:00am - 5:00pm
New England Aquarium OPEN (view info) Monday–Thursday, 10 am–5 pm |
Friday, 10 a.m.–8 pm | Saturday and Sunday, 9 am–6 pm
Old North Church (Boston) - open Saturday from 10am to 4pm | expanded schedule soon
Old Sturbridge Village (OPEN for Winter Walks & activities - Reserved, timed admission)
Paul Revere House (Boston) - Open Thursdays through Sundays, from 10:00am – 4:00pm
Peabody Essex Museum (Salem) - OPEN Thursday - Sunday 11-5pm
Salem Witch Museum (Salem, MA) Open 10:00am - 5:00pm. Advanced Tickets required.
Southwick Zoo (Mendon) - Open as a walk thru venue on April 12, 2021
Stone Zoo (Stoneham) OPEN 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. daily | reservations required
Swan Boats (Boston) - Opening May 8, 2021 at 10:00am
The Anchor, Boston (Charlestown) - Open Mon - Thu: 4:00pm-11:00pm
Fri - Sun: 11:00am-11:00pm
The Hall at Patriot Place (Foxboro) - OPEN Fri-Sun from 10:00am to 5:00pm
USS Constitution Museum (Charlestown) - Opens April 8; Thursday – Sunday | 10am – 5pm | Closed Monday-Wednesday
*Open every day the week of April 18 – 23 for Massachusetts April School Vacation Week.
Whydah Pirate Museum (Cape Cod) - OPEN Saturday & Sunday from 11am - 3pm
Zoo New England (Boston) OPEN daily w/time slots from 9am - 2:30pm
photo credit: BostonCentral
Boston Beer Gardens Open Now
Owls Nest Beer Garden - Opens May 8
Cisco Brewery Beer Garden - Open
City Winery (Greenway) - Open
Sam Adams Boston Taproom & Rooftop (Boston) - Open
Boston Beer Gardens
photo courtesy of City Winery
Opening Soon
The Coolidge Corner Theater (Brookline) - Opening May 13
D's Keys Dueling Pianos (Boston) - opening August 6
Amusement Park Opening Dates
Canobie Lake Park (Salem, NH) - Scheduled to re-open May 29 from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Codzilla High Speed Boat Ride (Boston) - TBD
Six Flags New England (Agawam, MA) - Opening May 15, 2021
Lake Compounce (Bristol, CT) - Opening May 8, 2021
Quassy Amusement Park (Middlebury, CT) - Open Weekends, Water rides opening May 29
Water Country (Portsmouth, NH) - Scheduled to re-open May 22
Story Land (Glen, NH) - Scheduled to re-open May 29 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Funtown Splashtown (Saco, ME) - Scheduled to re-open May 29
photo courtesy of Six Flags New England
Still Awaiting updates...
Harvard Museum of Natural History (Cambridge) - opens TBD
Trillium Beer Garden (Boston) - opens TBD
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Movie Theatres Open Now
AMC Boston Common and South Bay
Both the downtown and Dorchester locations of AMC’s movie theaters are open. Masks are currently required, except while eating or drinking.
Regal Fenway
Moviegoers are allowed in at maximum 50 percent capacity restrictions. Masks are required, but can be removed for snacking and drinking purposes.
Landmark Theatre in Kendall Square
The Landmark for now is the only theater open in Cambridge. It’s open at the maximum allowable capacity, and is offering a “limited concessions menu.” If you are looking for a cool alternative, they also offer theater rentals for both movies and gaming.
Simons IMAX Theatre
The giant IMAX screen at the Aquarium is open again and airing roughly 20-minute long films about nature. There are no concessions or outside food, and masks have to stay on throughout. Capacity is limited to 50 (the theater usually sits 378).
Opening Soon!
The Coolidge Corner Theatre
The Brookline landmark has announced that it plans to reopen on May 13, with showings limited to Thursday-Sunday, in just one of its theaters, at 15 percent of capacity (so, 68 people will be allowed in its 440 seats), and no concessions will be served.
The Brattle Theatre
While it’s still keeping its audience of cinephiles satiated with a virtual screening room, the plan for now is to ease out of it shutdown with a soft open sometime in June for members only. Stay tuned for more information...
Apple Cinemas Cambridge
The old-school Cambridge standby remains closed, but says on its website that it plans to reopen in May.
Closed for Now
AMC Assembly Row
The theater in Somerville is the only Massachusetts location out of 10, that remains closed, thanks to Somerville’s particularly stringent COVID rules. You can expect it to reopen whenever rules are loosened.
Somerville Theater
Also due to the city’s restrictions, the Somerville remains closed for now.
photo credit: BostonCentral
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North Suburb Venues
Peabody Essex Museum (Salem, MA) OPEN Thursday - Sunday 11-5pm
Castle Hill on the Crane Estate (Ipswich, MA) (Grounds Open & Firepits by reservation)
Hammond Castle Museum (Gloucester, MA) (temporarily closed for renovations)
LegoLand Discovery Center (Somerville, MA) - Open with limited capacity for 90-minute PlayTimes at 10:00am, 12:30pm & 3:00pm. Tickets must be purchased in advance.
Salem Witch Museum (Salem, MA) Open 10:00am - 5:00pm. Advanced Tickets required.
Stone Zoo OPEN 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. daily | reservations required
photo credit: BostonCentral
South Suburb Venues
Battleship Cove (Fall River) - OPEN Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays from 9 am to 4 pm.
Capron Park Zoo (Attleboro) OPEN daily 10am-4pm - last admission: 3:00 PM
Children's Museum in Easton (Easton) OPEN 3 days a week: Wed, Fri & Sat 10am-12pm
Coggeshall Farm Museum (Bristol, RI) - Open Weekends Only (Sat/Sun) | 10am – 4pm
Fuller Craft Museum (Brockton) - Open Tuesday - Sunday 10:00am - 5:00pm
Heritage Museum & Gardens (Sandwich) - Opening April 24, 10:00am - 5:00pm
Patriots Hall of Fame (Foxborough) OPEN Fri-Sun from 10:00am to 5:00pm
Newport Mansions (Newport, RI) The Breakers is open daily at 10 a.m., with last admission at 4 p.m. The house and grounds close at 5 p.m. The Elms is now closed for the winter season. All other mansion properties remain closed.
Plimoth Plantation (Plymouth, MA) Mayflower II and the Plimoth Grist Mill will re-open for the season on April 10, 2021.
Whydah Pirate Museum (Cape Cod) - OPEN Saturday & Sunday from 11am - 3pm
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photo credit: BostonCentral
West Suburb Venues
Concord Museum (Concord) OPEN Thursday to Sunday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Danforth Art Museum (Framingham) Opening April 20 | Tues - Sun from 12:00pm - 5:00pm
deCordova Sculpture Park & Museum (Lincoln, MA) OPEN Wed – Fri, 10AM – 4PM, last pass slot at 2PM | Sat – Sun, 10AM – 5PM, last pass slot at 3PM
Discovery Museum (Acton, MA) OPEN daily w/time slots 9-11am, 12-2pm, 3pm-4:30pm
Drumlin Farm (Lincoln) - OPEN Tue-Sun w/reservation; restrooms open; buildings closed.
Ecotarium (Worcester) - Opens April 23, 2021
Fruitlands Museum grounds open, reservations required
The Fitchburg Art Museum - Open Fridays 12 to 4pm and Sat/Sun from 11 to 5pm
Fuller Craft Museum - Open Tuesday - Sunday 10:00am - 5:00pm
Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (Mass MoCA, NW Mass.) - OPEN Thursdays-Mondays, 10am-5pm | reservation required. Closed Tuesdays + Wednesdays
Six Flags New England (Agawam, MA) - Opening May 15, 2021
Southwick's Zoo (Mendon) Re-opening April 12, 2021
Whydah Pirate Museum (Cape Cod) - OPEN Saturday & Sunday from 11am - 3pm
photo courtesy of Supercharged Entertainment
Recreation Centers
Apex Entertainment Center (Marlborough) - open M-TH (11:30am-8pm); FRI (11:30am-10pm); SAT (11am-10pm); SUN (11am-8pm). Certain activities only.
Supercharged Entertainment & Go Karting (Wrentham) - OPEN Mon-Thu 1 pm-10 pm; Fri: 1 pm-Midnight; Sat: 10 am-Midnight; Sun: 10 am-10 pm
Movies Closed for Good
Showcase Cinema de Lux
It closed in 2020 after more than 50 years of business in Revere. It does, however, plan to open a new location at the upcoming Hanover Crossing development.
ArcLight Cinemas at Hub on Causeway
The higher-end movie theater at the Hub on Causeway has closed for good, along with all of ArcLight’s movie theaters nationwide, the company announced in April. It had only been open since November, 2019. What’s in store for its 60,000 square feet of prime real estate remains to be seen.
Showplace Icon Theater in the Seaport
It also closed permanently in March, although public statements seemed to suggest it’s possible the theater might reopen at some point in the future with a new owner.
More Things to Do in Boston
For more ideas on things to do in Boston and things to do in Boston with Kids, visit our handy guide to help you navigate the best family-friendly places to visit.
There are lots of innovative events & activities that are cropping up as well that allow for family fun and social distancing. Check out our drive-ins near Boston guide, as well as our weekly events newsletter for great ideas.
You can also stay on top of what's going on in Boston on our Boston events calendar. We highlight lots of family-friendly events and activities to help you make the best of your free time.
We are incredibly lucky to have so many amazing Boston Museums. A visit to each one will bring it's own unique adventure. A Museum visit is also a terrific activity when it's a rainy day in Boston. 
Stacey Sao has been the Managing Director of the family-friendly events and
activities website, BostonCentral for over 20 years. She continues to enjoy discovering and exploring new places to visit in the Greater Boston area.
You can find all sorts of fun Boston events for the entire family by subscribing to the BostonCentral Weekly Events Newsletter.