To select a museum, click “Details/Reserve”, then select which Pass to reserve.
Boston Children’s Museum
308 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210
617-426-6500 http://www.bostonchildrensmuseum.org/
[Details/Reserve]
Founded in 1913 by the Science Teachers’ Bureau, the Boston Children’s Museum is the second oldest children’s museum in the world and one of the few that maintain a collection. Designed for both children and families, the Museum exhibits focus on science, culture, environmental awareness, health & fitness, and the arts, emphasizing hands-on engagement and learning through experience, and employing play as a tool to spark the inherent creativity, curiosity, and imagination of children.
Categories: Children, Crafts, Family, Technology
Pass Benefits
PLEASE NOTE: This is an electronic pass that you will receive in your email. You may then use the code on the pass to purchase advance tickets online.
Admits up to 4 (adults or children) at half price per person.
Discovery Museum
177 Main Street, Acton, MA 01720
978-264-4200 http://www.discoveryacton.org/
[Details/Reserve]
Acton's Discovery Museum, located on a 4-acre campus, is aimed at providing an environment in which play becomes a conduit for learning about science, technology, and nature. The museum’s building contains a number of galleries dedicated to teaching scientific concepts in a fun, hands-on environment, as well as themed play spaces for younger visitors. Outdoors, Discovery Woods includes a nature playscape with a cargo net climb, nest swing and beaver lodges, as well as a treehouse with an observation deck and a bouncy bridge. There are opportunities to practice orienteering with provided maps and instructions on trails on the property. A museum shop is on the premises. The museum building is fully ADA compliant, with exhibits based on Universal Design principles.
Categories: Children, Family, Science
Pass Benefits
This is an electronic pass that you will receive in your email. You may then use the code on the pass to purchase advance tickets online at https://www.discoveryacton.org/.
The library’s pass admits 3 people to both the Discovery Museum and Discovery Woods at half price per person (Regular admission prices: Adults, $17; Seniors, $16 Children, $17, Children under 1, free; teachers, free.)
EcoTarium
222 Harrington Way, Worcester, MA 01604
508-929-2700 http://www.ecotarium.org/
[Details/Reserve]
The EcoTarium is a unique indoor-outdoor museum in Worcester, MA. Set in an urban oasis, the museum offers a chance to walk through the treetops, take a multimedia journey through the galaxy at a digital planetarium, meet wildlife, stroll nature trails, and get hands-on with family-friendly exhibits.
Categories: Children, Family, Nature, Science
Pass Benefits
PLEASE NOTE: This is a coupon pass that must be picked up at the library. You may then bring it to the Ecotarium to purchase discounted tickets.
50% off discount admission for up to 2 adults and 2 children in one vehicle. Children under 2 are free.
Garden in the Woods (Native Plant Trust)
180 Hemenway Road, Framingham, MA 01701
508-877-7630 http://www.nativeplanttrust.org/
[Details/Reserve]
The Garden in the Woods (Native Plant Trust) displays rare and common native New England plants in a naturalistic setting at its location in Framingham, Massachusetts, attracting visitors from all over the world. Set on 45 acres, it includes two miles of paths that meander over glacier-sculpted ridges and through narrow valleys. A pond, a wooded bog, several springs, and a brook bring a diversity of wildlife into the garden. The garden is maintained by the Native Plant Trust, which works throughout New England to monitor and protect rare and endangered plants, collect and bank seeds for biological diversity, control invasive species, conduct research, and educate the public.
Pass Benefits
The library’s pass admits 2 adults at 50% admission, and children ages 5-17 at $1 each. (Regular admission prices: Adults, $16; Seniors 65+, $12; Youths aged 5-17, $6; Children under 5, free; Active military personnel and military spouses with valid military ID,free. Veterans receive 50 percent discount with proof of service. )
LOAN INSTRUCTIONS: This pass may be picked up at least one day before the date of use and must be returned to the library before library opens on its next scheduled day.
Harvard Museums of Science and Culture
11 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138
617-496-1638 https://hmsc.harvard.edu/
[Details/Reserve]
The Harvard Museums of Science & Culture is a partnership of museums on the Harvard University Cambridge campus dedicated to the natural world, science, and human cultures. They include the Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments, the Harvard Museum of Natural History (comprised of the Harvard University Herbaria, Mineralogical and Geological Museum, and Museum of Comparative Zoology), the Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East, and the Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology, all located between Oxford St./Divinity Ave area. Of particular note are the famous glass flowers, models commissioned by Harvard in 1886 to aid in the teaching of botany (and made in Germany over the course of more than eight decades), on display in the Harvard Museum of Natural History.
Categories: Children, Family, History, Nature, Science
Pass Benefits
Passes offer admission for up to four visitors at 50% off the regular admission price to visit the Harvard Museum of Natural History and the Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology, as well as other two free museums; the Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East and the Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments.
Please be prepared to show the physical library pass and proof of Massachusetts residency. Only one member of the party must be a MA resident.
Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston
25 Harbor Shore Drive, Boston, MA 02210
617-478-3100 https://www.icaboston.org/
[Details/Reserve]
The building that houses the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston on Fan Pier is the first in the US designed by the architectural firm of Diller Scofidio + Renfro. The museum was founded in 1936 as a sister institution to New York’s MoMA, though it had no permanent collection until starting one after moving into the new building on the waterfront in 2006. In addition to the collection, changing exhibitions, music, dance, film, talks, tours, family activities, and teen programming are offered throughout the year.
Categories: Art, Family, Music, Dance
Pass Benefits
PLEASE NOTE: Through December 31, this is a coupon pass that must be picked up at the library. You may then purchase discounted tickets at the ICA or through the ICA website using the Library Pass Coupon option, and must also present the library pass to validate the discount.
Beginning January 2, PLEASE NOTE: This is an electronic pass that you will receive in your email. You may then use the code on the pass to purchase advance tickets online, or to purchase tickets in person.
The library’s pass admits 2 people at $10.00 each. (Regular admission prices: General Admission, $20; Seniors: $17; Students: $15; Youth 17 and under, free.)
Current pricing and visitor information: https://www.icaboston.org/visit
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
25 Evans Way, Boston, MA 02115
617-566-1401 http://www.gardnermuseum.org/home/
[Details/Reserve]
The Gardner Museum houses the collection of Isabella Stewart Gardner, a local patron of the arts who died in 1924, in a building she commissioned to look like a 15th century Venetian palazzo. The center of the original building showcases courtyard plantings that reflect the seasons as they evolve throughout the year. In addition to her collection, which remains displayed exactly she arranged it per her will, there are changing exhibitions, concerts, lectures, family events, and an artist-in-residence program. In 2012, the museum opened an addition designed by Renzo Piano that houses a space for their concert series.
Categories: Art, Family, Music
Pass Benefits
PLEASE NOTE: This is an electronic pass that you will receive in your email. You may then use the code on the pass to purchase advance tickets online.
The library’s pass allows general admission for 4 people at $5.00 each. (Regular admission prices: Adult $20, Senior $18, Student $13, Children under 18 free.)
Mass Audubon has over 55 wildlife sanctuaries and centers throughout Massachusetts where visitors can learn about and interact with nature. More than 38,000 acres of protected land deliver inspiring hilltop views to breathtaking coastal landscapes, serene woods, and working farms. Visit their website for a list of locations.
Categories: Children, Family, Nature, Recreation
Pass Benefits
PLEASE NOTE: This is an electronic pass that you will receive in your email. You may either print it or present it on your phone at the Sanctuary of your choice.
This one-day Library Partner Admission Pass admits 1 vehicle OR up to 4 people to a Mass Audubon wildlife sanctuary. With the pass, admission is discounted to $2 per visitor over the age of 2.
Because day open, hours open and holiday day closings may vary among sanctuaries, please check the Mass Audubon website (https://www.massaudubon.org) to confirm.
Massachusetts State Parks (Department of Conservation and Recreation)
251 Causeway Street, Suite 900, Boston, MA 02114-2104
617-626-1250 http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dcr/massparks/
[Details/Reserve]
The Massachusetts State Parks have locations in all regions of the Commonwealth, from Pittsfield to Boston, and from Gloucester to Provincetown. They include beaches, wooded parks, parkways, and reservoirs, each with its own unique activities and amenities like hiking, biking, swimming and boating, camping, and more.
Categories: Children, Family, Nature, Recreation
Pass Benefits
Each pass permits unlimited day-use parking access to state park facilities within the DCR that charge a parking fee.
Prior to your visit, ensure you check their website to see what the current safety protocols entail, including possible timed ticketing, holiday closures, mask requirements, vaccination requirements, and other details you will want to know before reserving your pass.
This pass may be picked up at least one day before the date of use and must be returned to the library before library opens on its next scheduled day.
Museum of Fine Arts
465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
617-267-9300 http://www.mfa.org/
[Details/Reserve]
The Boston Museum of Fine Arts, in existence since July 4, 1876, is one of the most comprehensive art museums in the world, with a collection of almost 500,000 works of art, ranging from ancient Egyptian artifacts to contemporary painting, sculpture and video. In addition, there are always special exhibitions on view, opportunities to take advantage of educational programs—some right in the galleries—and a contemplative Japanese garden.
Categories: Art, Family, History
Pass Benefits
PLEASE NOTE: This is an electronic pass that you will receive in your email. You may then use the code on the pass to purchase advance tickets online or same-day tickets at the museum.
Children 6 and under are free. Each pass allows 2 adults for $10 each (special exhibition + general admission) and up to 4 children 7 – 17 $10 each (special exhibition + general admission). There is no discount for children 7-17 for general admission, as it is already $10.
The Museum of Science in Boston is located on a piece of land that extends the width of the Charles River, connecting Boston and Cambridge. Dedicated to promoting and educating visitors about science and technology, the museum includes a planetarium, the world’s largest open-air Van de Graaff generator, an IMAX theatre, a butterfly garden, and permanent and changing exhibits on birds, insects and animals; space; dinosaurs; engineering; nanotechnology; math; biology; and more.
Categories: Children, Family, History, Nature, Science, Technology, Sky
Pass Benefits
PLEASE NOTE: This is an electronic pass that you will receive in your email. You may then use the code on the pass to purchase advance tickets online.
• This pass will admit up to 4 people at a 50% discount on tickets to the Museum’s Exhibit Halls. Children under 3 are not included in the count of 4 and are always admitted for free.
• Your Library pass can only be used on the date printed on the pass.
• Please bring your library pass confirmation (printed or displayed on a phone) when you visit.
• When you arrive at the Museum, stop at the Box Office to exchange your library pass and purchase your Exhibit Halls tickets at the discounted rate. If you have any questions or would like to reserve your Exhibit Halls passes in advance to avoid waiting in line the day of your visit, please call 617-723-2500 (9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. daily).
If you are unable to show your Library confirmation on a phone, you may print out a copy using the link in the confirmation email or request a paper copy from the library.
New England Aquarium
1 Central Wharf, Boston, MA 02110
617-973-5200 http://www.neaq.org/
[Details/Reserve]
The New England Aquarium is home to thousands of aquatic animals, from the giant Pacific octopus to Northern fur seals to little blue penguins. They offer a wide range of exhibits, including a shark and ray touch tank and the Giant Ocean Tank, a four-story coral reef featuring hundreds of Caribbean animals. In addition, they have an IMAX theatre and run whale watch boat excursions in partnership with Boston Harbor Cruises from April through November.
Categories: Children, Family, Nature, Science, Ocean
Pass Benefits
PLEASE NOTE: This is an electronic pass that you will receive in your email. You may then present the code (digital or printed) to purchase same-day tickets at the Aquarium.
The library’s pass provides general admission for up to 4 people at half price. (Regular admission prices: Adults, $34; Children aged 3-11, $25; Seniors 60+, $32; Children under 3, free.)
New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill
11 French Drive, Boylston, MA 01505-0598
508-869-6111 https://www.nebg.org/
[Details/Reserve]
Located in Boylston, MA, and open year-round, the New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill features carefully planned gardens and collections of ornamental, edible and native plants, with a number of trails that traverse the 132-acre property. In addition, there are many programs and events, including classes, lectures, art exhibits and concerts. The Garden is run by the Worcester County Horticultural Society, the third oldest active horticultural society in the United States.
Categories: Art, Crafts, Family, Nature
Pass Benefits
PLEASE NOTE: This is a returnable pass that must be picked up at and returned to the library. You will receive a code on the reservation confirmation screen, and in your confirmation email that you will need if you prefer to purchase timed tickets online. (Timed tickets are now optional.) In either case you will need to show the physical pass at the Garden.
The pass admits 2 people at half price. (Regular admission prices: Adults, $19; Seniors 65+, $16; Youth aged 6–18, $9; Children 5 and under, free;
Peabody Essex Museum
161 Essex Street, Salem, MA 01970-3783
978-745-9500 http://www.pem.org/
[Details/Reserve]
The Peabody Essex Museum grew out of the collection of East India Marine Society, an organization of Salem captains whose charter called for acquisition of “natural and artificial curiosities.” Its permanent collection contains art and artifacts of Africa, Asia, India, China (with a Qing Dynasty house brought from the Huizhou region), Japan, Korea, Pacific Islands, and features objects of maritime art and history that include paintings, drawings, ship models, marine decorative arts, tools, weapons, navigational instruments, and ship and yacht plans. It also has a thriving changing exhibition schedule that sometimes includes important traveling shows.
Categories: Art, Family, History, Ocean
Pass Benefits
PLEASE NOTE: This is an electronic pass that you will receive in your email. You may then use the code on the pass to purchase advance tickets online.
Each pass admits 2 people at $12 each Thursday through Monday (closed on Tuesday and Wednesday.) Children under 16 admitted FREE.
Trustees of Reservations (with deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum)
The Trustees of Reservations preserve and protect more than 100 special properties of exceptional scenic, historic, and ecological value—nearly 25,000 acres—all around Massachusetts. From Crane's Beach in Ipswich and World's End in Hingham to The Old Manse in Concord and Fruitlands Museum in Harvard, visitors to Trustees sites enjoy local history and nature in its various forms: beaches, meadows, forests, swamps and more.
In the summer of 2019, the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, the largest park of its kind in New England, became part of the Trustees. The museum, located in Lincoln, MA, encompasses nearly 30 conserved acres and presents contemporary art from New England—and beyond—with sculptures in the landscape and museum exhibitions. For a full list of locations, please visit their web site.
Categories: Art, Family, History, Nature, Recreation
Pass Benefits
PLEASE NOTE: This is a coupon pass that must be picked up at the library. Patrons must first reserve a coupon from the library, then reserve timed tickets ONLY for museums and parks that require a timed entry by using the promo code on the back of the library coupon. This code will also be available on the reservation confirmation screen, and in your confirmation email. You will need to show the physical pass at the property of your choice.
Each pass admits two adults and children under 18 at the Family Membership admission price at the properties that change admission. This varies from property to property; please check The Trustees' website before booking a pass.
USS Constitution Museum
Charlestown Navy Yard, Building 22, Charlestown, MA 02129
617-426-1812 https://ussconstitutionmuseum.org/
[Details/Reserve]
The museum, a part of the Boston National Historical Park, is located in the Charlestown Navy Yard near the ship USS Constitution (“Old Ironsides”) at the end of Boston’s Freedom Trail. The museum provides a detailed look at the history of the ship, information about the war of 1812, and the battle between the ship and HMS Java. Stories are told through interactive exhibits, unique artifacts, archival records, and artwork. The museum also includes a research library which houses a strong collection of manuscripts, books, artifacts, and microfilm of primary source material. The ship itself is maintained by the US Navy, and may be visited free of charge on certain days.
Categories: Art, Family, History, Ocean
Pass Benefits
One pass allows free admission for up to nine people per day.
Zoo New England
1 Franklin Park Road, Boston, MA 02121
617-541-5466 http://www.zoonewengland.org/
[Details/Reserve]
Zoo New England operates Franklin Park Zoo, a 72-acre site nestled in Boston’s historic Franklin Park, and the Stone Zoo, located on a 26-acre site near Spot Pond reservoir in Stoneham, MA. In addition to animals, both zoos are engaged in wildlife and conservation programs, research, and education.
Pass Benefits
You may purchase up to six tickets at $9.00 adult tickets, and $6.00 child tickets.