BOSTON TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY: THE MUSEUMS
When your Boston travel photography is of a city this old, you’re sure to find an extremely rich cultural and historical heritage on display in many museums…and Boston has a diverse collection.
If you’re traveling to Boston as a family, then bring your children to the Boston’s Children Museum. Not only will they have the time of their lives with the many interactive exhibits and workshops, but also they will provide you with wonderful photos, as they are awed by the wonder of what they see, do and learn. Just a few steps from the Children’s Museum on Congress Street is the Boston Fire Museum—and what child, or adult, doesn’t like fire engines and all the firefighting paraphernalia? The building is another wonderful example of late 19th-century public architecture, beautifully preserved, that you’ll want among your Boston travel photography.
Discover even more exciting ideas and interactive learning opportunities at the Museum of Science. Your children’s eyes and minds will be opened to the wonders of the natural world, space science, Nano technology and much more and you’ll be busy capturing their reactions for your album of Boston travel photography.
Another architectural highlight of Boston that is both relaxing and informative is the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. The building alone offers many exquisite details and accents for your camera, as it was designed in the style of a 15th-century Venetian-style palace. You can wander the three stories of galleries to view more than 2,500 paintings, sculptures, tapestries, furniture and rare art by the giants of the art world: Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Manet and Sargent. For many, the primary attraction is the absolutely beautiful courtyard that is filled with an amazing display of flowers, shrubbery and climbing vines. Plus, the light illuminates the courtyard in many soft and subtle ways to create just the right combination of elements for portraits of your family members and friends to include in your Boston travel photography album.
During much of the 19th century, Boston was a city of prominence and prosperity for many wealthy families, whose large homes were built on Beacon Hill and in the Back Bay neighborhood. Plan to visit the Nichols House Museum and the Gibson House Museum to capture the lifestyles of the families who lived in these homes with your camera. The Nichols House is a four-story townhouse that was constructed during 1804. The family collected many pieces of unique and priceless early American furniture and art as well as many treasures from family members’ trips to Europe. The Gibson House has carefully preserved the rooms, furniture and everyday objects of the family and the lives they led during the last half of the 19th century. It is an imposing three-story brownstone and red brick townhome reflecting the Italian Renaissance style.
It’s just a short walk from the Nichols House Museum to the Museum of African American History. Your Boston travel photography won’t be complete without images of the museum’s many exhibits and collections that celebrate the contribution of African Americans to the building of a nation in New England. The architectural style of the restored African Meeting House is an outstanding example of the craftsmanship of the free black artisans living in Boston during 1806, when the House was opened. From the museum, you can also follow the Black Heritage Trail that will present additional historical and cultural subject matter for your Boston travel photography.
Boston is home to what many would consider the most famous naval ship in American history, the USS Constitution, “Old Ironsides.” The ship’s fame was established during the War of 1812, as she defended American shores from British warships. The USS Constitution is permanently moored in the Charlestown Navy Yard and includes a comprehensive museum, interactive educational exhibits and an experience any group or family will never forget…especially if you do a good job preserving all that fun in your Boston travel photography.
For a city so central to the American Revolution and the founding and expansion of the country, Boston has many more historical sites and special museums than can’t be presented in a single article. To learn more of what you can explore and photograph there, please visit cityofboston.gov/visitors/museums.asp.
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