To select a museum, click “Details/Reserve”, then select which Pass to reserve.
Battleship Cove
5 Water Street, Fall River, MA 02721
508-678-1100
https://www.battleshipcove.org/
[Details/Reserve]
Battleship Cove is a war memorial and historic military museum located in Fall River, Massachusetts. It is home to five National Historic Landmark ships, and other craft, including the USS Massachusetts, USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., USS Lionfish, Hiddensee, and two PT boats. Their collection of aircraft includes two Bell helicopters that saw combat in the Vietnam War—the Bell UH-1 “Huey” Iroquois and the Bell AH-1 Cobra—as well as two of the first drone unmanned aerial vehicles used by the military. In addition to exhibits focused on military history, the Maritime Museum presents the history of the RMS Titanic and the famous Fall River Line.
Categories: Children, Family, History, Military, Technology
Pass Type: Circulating Pass (must be picked up and returned to the branch)
Pass Benefits
Pass admits 2 adults and 3 children at $3 each.
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 Type: Printable/Digital Coupon Pass (link delivered by email)
Pass Benefits
Admits up to 4 (adults or children) at half price admission.
Buttonwood Park Zoo
425 Hawthorn Street, New Bedford, MA 02740
508-991-6178
https://www.bpzoo.org/
[Details/Reserve]
The Buttonwood Park Zoo, established in 1894, is the 12th oldest zoo in the United States. Located on seven acres in New Bedford, MA, the zoo features over 240 species, most notably Asian elephants, red pandas, bison, cougars, black bears, eagles, seals, otters, South American primates and numerous waterfowl species. The Zoo is fully accessible to the disabled, and a limited number of wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-serve basis at the front entrance. There is a gift store and a café on the premises.
Categories: Children, Family, Zoo
Pass Type: Circulating Pass (must be picked up and returned to the branch)
Pass Benefits
This pass admits 4 people for FREE. Pass is not available on Mondays, Saturdays, major holidays or school vacation weeks.
Cape Cod Museum of Art
60 Hope Lane, Dennis, MA 02638
508-385-4477
https://www.ccmoa.org/
[Details/Reserve]
The Cape Cod Museum of Art, located in Dennis, MA, was founded by artists in 1981. Seven galleries at the museum display changing exhibitions as well as pieces from the permanent collection, which includes work by Hans Hoffman, Alexander Calder, Red Grooms, and Edwin Dickinson. A sculpture garden surrounds the building. There is a museum shop, a library, a film screening room, and spaces for classes and workshops on the premises.
Pass Type: Circulating Pass (must be picked up and returned to the branch)
Pass Benefits
This pass admits two people to the galleries for free. The passes are not valid admission to special events or programs with a separate admission.
Children's Museum of Greater Fall River
441 North Main Street, Fall River, MA 02720
508-672-0033
https://www.cmgfr.org/
[Details/Reserve]
This two-floor museum is home to 14 exhibit rooms which provide children of the age of one to ten with the opportunity to play and learn about math, science, technology, humanities, and the arts through hands-on experiences. There is also an outside playground with a chime wall, rainmaker wheels, bongo drums, musical flower stands, and a xylophone. In addition, the Old Colony & Fall River Railroad Museum is located within the building. The first floor is completely accessible by using the main entrance ramp, the same level where an ADA accessible bathroom is located. There is a designated area for stroller parking, which is located on the first floor.
Categories: Children, Family, Music, Science
Pass Type: Circulating Pass (must be picked up and returned to the branch)
Pass Benefits
This pass admits up to four people at half price admission.
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 Type: Coupon Pass (must be picked up from the branch, but does not require returning)
Pass Benefits
Each pass allows up to two people to purchase a discounted ticket at the price of $10 each. The ICA is free to children 17 and under.
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 Type: Printable/Digital Coupon Pass (link delivered by email)
Pass Benefits
Each pass admits 4 people per pass at the discounted rate $5 per person. General Admission for children 17 and under is always free, but does require an admission ticket.
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 Type: Circulating Pass (must be picked up and returned to the branch)
Pass Benefits
This pass allows 1 vehicle to park for free within more than 50 Massachusetts State Parks. Not valid for camping.
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 Type: Printable/Digital Coupon Pass (link delivered by email)
Pass Benefits
Each pass allows admission for 2 Adults at $10 each (general admission and special exhibition) and up to 4 Children, ages 7-17 at $10 each (special exhibition only). There is no discount for Children 7-17 for general admission which is currently $10. Children 6 and under are admitted free.
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 Type: Printable/Digital Coupon Pass (link delivered by email)
Pass Benefits
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 if you 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 Bedford Art Museum
608 Pleasant Street, New Bedford, MA 02740
508-961-3072
https://newbedfordart.org/
[Details/Reserve]
The New Bedford Art Museum is located in the city's Seaport Cultural District in a former bank building. Changing exhibitions which draw on local and international sources are presented in the museum's four galleries, including works from the collection of the New Bedford Free Public Library.
Categories: Architecture, Art, Family, History
Pass Type: Coupon Pass (must be picked up from the branch, but does not require returning)
Pass Benefits
Pass admits two adults and 3 children for free.
Children under 12 free when accompanied by an adult.
New Bedford Whaling Museum
18 Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford, MA 02740
508-997-0046
https://www.whalingmuseum.org/
[Details/Reserve]
Opened in 1907, the New Bedford Whaling Museum is focused on the history and culture of the whaling industry as practiced internationally and in the “Old Dartmouth” region of Massachusetts. Over the years, the museum has grown as it absorbed other institutions with similar mandates. The collections boast over 750,000 items which fall into a broad range of categories—fine and decorative art, folk art, photography, domestic artifacts, artifacts that represent the history of technology and industry, books, manuscripts, maps and charts, ethnographic materials, clothing and textiles, and extensive personal, business, and financial records. Highlights include half-scale models of the whaling ship Lagoda and an Azorean whaleboat; five skeletons of various types of whales, including that of a pregnant mother; and art by major American artists such as Albert Bierstadt and Albert Pinkham Ryder. The museum's holdings also include the world's largest collections of scrimshaw and whaling ship logbooks. The Whaling Museum entrance and galleries are accessible to people using wheelchairs and walking aids. Wheelchair accessible restrooms are located on the first floor.
Categories: Art, Children, Family, History, Nature, Ocean
Pass Type: Circulating Pass (must be picked up and returned to the branch)
Pass Benefits
This pass admits 4 people for half price admission. Children under 3 are free.
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 Type: Printable/Digital Coupon Pass (link delivered by email)
Pass Benefits
Pass admits four people at half price admission per person. Children under 3 years of age are free.
Newport Art Museum
76 Bellevue Avenue, Newport, RI 02840
401-848-8200
https://www.newportartmuseum.org/
[Details/Reserve]
Located on 3 acres along Bellevue Avenue, the Museum's galleries are housed in two historically significant buildings—the John N.A. Griswold House (1864) and the Cushing Memorial Gallery (1920). The galleries feature notable special exhibitions and selections from its growing permanent collection, showcasing over 600 contemporary regional, national and international artists annually. Its collection—focused on American art and contemporary art—includes works of art from the 18th century to the present, consisting of approximately 2,900 works of art in a range of media, such as works on paper, paintings, sculptures, decorative arts, installation works, textiles, and new media. The buildings are accessible to visitors using wheelchairs, walking aids, children's strollers or service animals.
Categories: Art, Family, Religion
Pass Type: Circulating Pass (must be picked up and returned to the branch)
Pass Benefits
Pass admits 2 adults for free. Youth ages 17 and under are free.
Old Colony History Museum
66 Church Green, Taunton, MA 02780
508-822-1622
https://www.oldcolonyhistorymuseum.org/
[Details/Reserve]
Located in the former Bristol Academy school building in Taunton, Massachusetts, the Old Colony History Museum is home to an extensive collection of more than 13,000 unique regional objects and a research library specializing in local history and genealogy, the latter with a focus on Southeastern Massachusetts prior to 1850. The permanent exhibits fall into the following themes: portraits, settlement, immigration, industry, transportation, fashion, military, and society. There is also a space on the first floor dedicated to temporary exhibitions.
Categories: Family, Governance, History
Pass Type: Circulating Pass (must be picked up and returned to the branch)
Pass Benefits
Pass admits an entire family (of up to 10 people) for free.
Plimoth Patuxet Museums
137 Warren Avenue, Plymouth, MA 02360
508-746-1622
http://www.plimoth.org/
[Details/Reserve]
Plimoth Patuxet Museums offers a living history that tells the story of the English colonists who became known as “Pilgrims” and the Native Americans with whom they interacted. A big draw is the re-creation of the original settlement, populated with interpreters in period dress with whom one may interact that are based on actual historical figures. Native People from various nations in historically accurate dress provide information about the Wampanoag—the first tribe the Pilgrims encountered—at a home site based on how the group would have lived in the 17th century. In addition to the two settlements, the museum includes a visitor center, the Craft Center, barns that contain rare and heritage animal breeds, and a grist mill that manufactures cornmeal. Plymouth Patuxet Museums is also responsible for the replica of the Mayflower, the ship that brought the Pilgrims to the New World.
Categories: Children, Crafts, Family, History
Pass Type: Coupon Pass (must be picked up from the branch, but does not require returning)
Pass Benefits
Pass admits up to six individuals at the reduced rate of $18 per adult; $12 per child ages 5-17.
Providence Children’s Museum
100 South Street, Providence, RI 02903
401-273-5437
http://www.childrenmuseum.org/
[Details/Reserve]
Dedicated to children aged 1 to 11, the Providence Children’s Museum is an environment that celebrates learning through active play and hands-on exploration. Exhibits focus on a range of topics, including water (in its many forms); native plants; puzzles; marionettes; and “underland,” among others. In addition to activities, which change depending on the day, the museum has a climbing maze and an interactive, Rhode Island-themed adventure that mixes time travel and immigration.
Categories: Art, Children, Family, Nature, Science
Pass Type: Circulating Pass (must be picked up and returned to the branch)
Pass Benefits
Pass admits 4 people at half price admission.
RISD Museum
20 North Main Street, Providence, RI 02903
401-454-6500
https://www.risdmuseum.org/
[Details/Reserve]
Established in 1877, the Rhode Island School of Design Museum presents works of art that represent a range of diverse cultures, from ancient times to the present. Its collection currently contains more than 100,000 works of art and design, including paintings, sculpture, photographs, decorative arts, costume and textiles, and furniture from all over the world, many of them by important artists and artisans. Typically, only about 2,000 objects are on display at one time. It exists both as a museum open to exploration by the public and as a teaching institution for students at the school. There is a café on the premises. Both entrances and all galleries are wheelchair accessible—a limited quantity of wheelchairs are available for visitor use. Service dogs are welcome in the Museum.
Categories: Art, Crafts, Family
Pass Type: Coupon Pass (must be picked up from the branch, but does not require returning)
Pass Benefits
Pass admits two people for free. Youth 18 and under are free. Admission is free for all on Sundays from 10am - 5pm and Thursday evenings from 5 - 8pm.
Robbins Museum of Archaeology
17 Jackson Street, Middleboro, MA 02346
508-947-9005
https://www.massarchaeology.org/
[Details/Reserve]
Located in Middleboro, MA, the Robbins Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology was founded in 1988. Its collections and archival holdings focus on the First Peoples of New England and include extensive materials related to historic and contemporary Native American tribal descendants. Visitors may see unique stone tools, ceramic vessels, and other artifacts dating back 12,000 years; the Doyle Native American Ethnographic Collection of 20th century dolls and figurines; and a special “Walk Through Time” exhibit that takes one from the time of last glaciers to the modern era.
Categories: Children, Family, History
Pass Type: Circulating Pass (must be picked up and returned to the branch)
Pass Benefits
Pass provides free admission for up to six people.
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 Type: Circulating Pass (must be picked up and returned to the branch)
Pass Benefits
Pass allows free admission for up to nine people per day.