Boston Museum of History

Currently under development in downtown Boston, the Boston Museum will be a 100,000-square-foot attraction focused on the culture and history of the city. Construction on the structure is scheduled to begin in 2011. The museum is set to open in 2013.

Origins

Planning for the Boston Museum began in 1998 when the Bostonian Society, Boston History Collaborative and the Freedom Trail Foundation formed the Boston History Foundation and Museum Inc. with a goal of creating a museum focused on Boston's 400 years of history and culture. They were inspired in part by the words of Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick: "Massachusetts invented America."

Features

When it is completed, the Boston Museum will feature a marketplace, where visitors can experience regional cuisine, local crafts and themed galleries exploring Boston's history from colonial times to the present. Current plans include galleries on sports, scientific and technological innovations, politics, culture and geography.

Significance

The leaders of the Boston Museum hope that the museum's construction will improve the community through economic development, education and civic dialog. They want to increase tourism and inspire a better understanding and appreciation of Boston's history.

References

• The Boston Museum: History and Timeline
• The Boston Museum: The Vision
• The Boston Museum: Visitor Experience
• The Boston Museum: Benefits for Boston and Beyond