Patch Picks: How to Get Into a Museum for Free

Garden in the Woods

On July 15, Garden in the Woods is offering free admission as part of The Highland Street Foundation's Free Fun Fridays summer program. Enjoy this beautiful outdoors museum at no cost.

Harvard Museum of Natural History

Free to Massachusetts residents every Sunday morning (year-round) from 9 a.m. to noon and on Wednesdays from 3 to 5 p.m. (September through May).

Museum of Fine Arts Boston

Free First Friday: July 1 from 10 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. One and all can visit the MFA, including special exhibits such as Through the Looking Glass, for free.

Institute of Contemporary Art

Free for all from 5 to 9 p.m., every Thursday night. Also free for families (up to 2 adults accompanied by children 12 and under) on the last Saturday of each month.

deCordova Museum and Sculpture Park

This summer, weekdays Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. admission is free. Dates for the weekday special are July 5 to Sept. 2. Thursdays offer extended hours 5 to 8 p.m. Bikers take note that any day you bike to the museum you receive free admission.

Concord Museum

Concord Museum is putting on a Free Fun Friday on Aug. 5 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This will include regular exhibitions, the special exhibition, When Duty Whispers: Concord and the Civil  War, as well as a visit with re-enactors from the 28th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, and more. The Concord Museum is also free Summer Wednesday Evenings: July 20 and Aug. 17 from 5 to 8 p.m.

And More

• The Highland Street Foundation is sponsoring a summer of Free Fun Fridays at more than 30 museums in Massachusetts including The Discovery Museum in Acton.
• Many museums also offer discounts with a AAA member card such as the Jackson Homestead and Museum in Newton.
• Throughout the year, several museums in New England offer free admission when you present a Bank of America credit card - part of Bank of America's program, "Museums on Us."