In the 1800s, thanks to its access to hydropower, Waltham became the center for Boston’s industrial revolution. This charming museum, set in the Francis Cabot Lowell Mill, adjacent to the Charles River, honors the city’s place as a continued hotspot for inventors and innovators. From Cabot Lowell’s Boston Manufacturing Company’s textiles to the Metz motorcar, the museum’s artifacts are set in wondrous permanent exhibits in an original red brick mill building. Each spring, the museum plays a large part in The Watch City Steampunk Festival, which riotously celebrates the Victorian steam-driven era with museum events and a street festival.
It’s not surprising that the Boston area has so many museums: it offers so much history simply because it was among the earliest Colonial settlements. From there, due to a wealthy merchant class, it became a hotspot during the Industrial Revolution of the 1800s and, in turn, wealth created work for many craftspeople. Also, because of its learned status as the Athens of America, it also produced great thinkers and artists. So, there is much to preserve for posterity and, thankfully, wonderful niche museums present art and artifacts, mostly with a hyper-local focus. Once you’ve visited the best museums in Boston, check these places out. If viewing art is more your thing, check out the best art galleries and other places to see art in Boston.
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