- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
MIT Museum
Rating Details »
Neighborhood: Kendall Square/MIT
265 Massachusetts Ave
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 253-4444
265 Massachusetts Ave
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 253-4444
- Hours:
Mon-Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
34 reviews for MIT Museum
The MIT Museum is dork-tabulous!
Free on Sundays before noon, inexpensive all other hours, and two floors of scientific fun, this is a fantastic place to spend a few hours on a rainy day (actually, any day).
The first floor houses rotating exhibits. When I visited there some things from MIT's Media Lab on social networking that were sort of interesting but started to make me worry about the cost of admission. It wasn't THAT interesting. Then, I started wondering further to find exhibits on ocean exploration. Very cool! The ocean is deep and stuff can actually survive going that deep into the ocean. There is also stuff on Grumman, which my family is very connected to, so I liked that.
The second floor is the money floor though. Robots galore! Holograms (these are amazing...we're not talking wimpy stickers or anything)! Interactive sculptures. MIT History (which is fun to check out even if you are not affiliated). Seeing how much MIT, its staff and students have contributed is absolutely fascinating and there is a lot to take away from this completely non-boring museum.
Come, explore, play a little! Dork or not, you'll love it!
(For anyone who plans events, you CAN host meetings and events here in rooms on the second floor.)
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Funny (2)
- Cool (2)
I'm usually busy Sunday mornings, so I have never made it out to the MIT Museum for their free hours 10am-noon. But for "Innovation Sunday" they offered free admission all day long 10/4/09, so I went and saved myself $7.50.
On the first floor I found the gift shop items more interesting than the exhibits - sorry, I'm not a sciencey person...
But the 2nd floor with its exhibits on toy inventions, robotics, the little mechanical thingamajigs, and the cool holograms...that was a whole lot more interesting!
I expected a lot more from MIT. It takes about 1 1/2 - 2 hours to get though the whole museum. Not a whole lot of stuff. But the stuff is pretty good.
The lovemaking gondola is nice. The Kisnet is so cute, check out his eyelashes, I wonder if they used mascara on his pretty robotic face. The holograms are quite nice. Very cool. The sculptures are interesting, especially the lonely man and the oil machine.
Overall, very enjoyable but I wanted MORE!
The bathrooms are spotless and the staff is very nice and extremely friendly.
Students, don't forget your ID, then its only $3, otherwise its $7.50.
Way more than just a history of the school, the MIT Museum hosts several interesting and, yes, nerdy (think a self-sustaining WoW gaming hut) exhibits. My favorite: a Google-like interface that maps your Internet presence. It's cheap, especially if you're a student, and right around the corner from the Miracle of Science; why not make an afternoon of it?
Nice exhibits..interesting works. A lot of it was very fascinating, and I admit to not being a big museum person.
I'm not too much into science and technology but was very entertained by the exhibits. I especially like the moving Holograms and the Gestural Engineering section. I was hoping that MIT would infuse me with some extra smartness by just being in its presence, but alas no. It takes less than an hour to peruse the museum. Definitely a must see while in Boston/Cambridge.
We geeked out and bought too much in the gift shop!
This was a lot of fun and very thought-provoking: really interesting background info., informative short films and displays and a great variety of display types. There were some interactive displays in the lobby too. My 13-year-old son and I especially enjoyed the robotics and holography exhibits. It makes you want to build robots!
A couple of exhibits were out of order: one of the chat programs and the remote-control submersible exhibit.
There is a table for writing your own ideas. There was no sanitary napkin disposal receptacle in the women's bathroom stall (?!) so I submitted an idea for recycling them in a wall unit that uses power from the flush of the toilet to help decompose the items. lol.
Fun outing. Totally worth it.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Cool (1)
This review is overdue. I went here for a Yelp event and I was very impressed with the place. The displays have lots of Useful, Fun and Cool information and there are plenty of interactive exhibits.
The galleries upstairs are particularly cool, with an area dedicated to holograms but my favorite was the area with kinetic art. A variety of unique and interesting moving sculptures.
I haven't been back with my family yet but I know the kids will love it. The overall feeling here is that the curators want to engage the visitors. It 's always a good thing when learning is fun!
People thought this was:
- Useful (3)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (2)
It's small, but totally worth the money for the entrance fee. When I was a small child, I would have abhorred and protested my parents attempts to take me to a math and science oriented museum. (Actually, this would be from about age 10 to age 15 due a B grade in 4th grade science). But then I let my inner geek shine and I visited the MIT museum at age 17 with my father at the beginning of a Boston trip.
The installation art is insanely cool, as is their almost Furby-esque robot. It highlights all of MIT's achievements quite well without being overly pretentious. The layout is fluid and spacious and even a non-science person such as myself had a wonderful time.
Don't go out of your way to make a trip, but if you're in the area for a college tour or something, make a stop in at the MIT museum. Not a disappointment.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Funny (2)
- Cool (2)
I loved it! $7.50 and open everyday? If you have an hour or so to kill in Central, I would check it out.
It's not huge, so it is not a commitment. You go in, and can wander the downstairs displays on cars and cancer and fish. All good The money room is upstairs though.
CRAZY robots everywhere! Creepy but fascinating, Anal beads and depressed artichoke leaves, and baby heads and maggot rice. I know it sounds bad, but it is oh so awesome.
Next door are the holograms. I was the perfect height at 5'3", but taller people may have to bend down to get the full effect. This would be a great room for the kiddies.
I want to bring the boy for lunch in Central and a walk through the museum. Another Cambridge hidden gem.
People thought this was:
- Useful (6)
- Funny (5)
- Cool (5)
What an exciting place! The museum itself is interesting, with an interesting variety of MIT history and information on past and current scientific research/discovery at MIT. Find out what advances students/faculty have made and are making. I must admit that a few exhibits were over my head, but that's okay. Geniuses needed thought-provoking exhibits, too, and some things you just can't dumb down for the lay person.
Both visits have been in conjunction with an exciting event. The first was a yelp event, which added yelpers, refreshments, and music to the mix. The most recent was an event that displayed some fascinating projects in the world of science. We saw installations that straddled the worlds of art and science. Beautiful creations that played with light and sound, and passionate people. We learned about http://thoughtandmemor..., a group that offers reviews (not unlike yelp) that allows you to learn about and rate the social and eco-responsibility of businesses. Plus, for the regular cost of admission, there were free sandwiches and drinks! All that information and entertainment, plus free veggie burgers and beer? Thanks, MIT Museum!
Kudos to MIT for offering a dynamic museum that consistently offers new and exciting events/exhibits.
People thought this was:
- Useful (3)
- Cool (3)
I avoid math and math-based sciences like the plague! But, even still, I loved the MIT Science Museum. The holograms were neat, and I stayed in there for an hour, tripping out. I also loved the history of science section, because it played up to my love of obscure historical facts. This museum had something for everyone: history, medicine, electronics, technology, and more!
I know where to bring my science geek friends when they come!
People thought this was:
- Useful (4)
- Funny (3)
- Cool (3)
Holograms of women winking at you and spraying whipped cream on the walls, while turning into a tiger's head.
AND ROBOTS!
What more could you ask for really?
People thought this was:
- Useful (3)
- Funny (5)
- Cool (4)
3.5 - granted I had a HARD time paying attention here last night - but I did appreciate what I saw. A few points about the MIT Museum:
First - I heard a rumor that there was tetris - I never found it and I'm major league bummed about that. Granted it's a good thing b/c I would have played all night and not spoken to a single yelper at the event.
Second - the staff were great. We were all a lot to put up with and they were super friendly, patient, and seemed to be having a good time themselves. High five.
Third - tshirts with jokes about binary code that I really wish I didn't get. Alas, I got concrete proof last night that I have been working in the tech industry for far too long - I'll take it as a sign that I should maybe look into switching careers.
And finally: robots, robots, worms, robots, holograms, crazy car, robots, robots, holograms, robots, hot hot bathroom, no making out, robots, Guster? WTF?, and robots.
Fin.
People thought this was:
- Useful (3)
- Funny (5)
- Cool (4)
I was impressed! I'm not a science/math person, but my visiting brother is, so off we went. We went on a Sunday - there is free admission on Sundays if you arrive before noon, but there is also a great student discount otherwise. It's totally worth the few dollars you spend to get in. You can see everything pretty in-depth in two hours and can see enough in one hour, so it's a great stop for a day spent in Cambridge.
The robotics exhibit, kinetic art and holograms were my highlights for the day. Staff was friendly and exhibits, though technical, were easily understood by someone rather untechnically-minded. There's also an exhibit on MIT's history, which I found to be interesting. Check it out if you're in the area - or have a science-minded friend visiting!
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Cool (1)
OK, this review could be a little bit... well... I was pretty toasted...So, if something seems way off... I could just be remembering things wrong or not remembering things.
The downstairs part is OK. There are these pictures that look like famous people, and then, when you start to sway a bit and your vision gets all blurry they all turn into Einstein.
The upstairs has the "robots." It's larger than I expected. People made these robots that can hop and walk and things. I don't know why, but I suppose it's in the pursuit of science.
The best part of the upstairs is the place with the stuff you can play with. This is the best part of the whole museum! There is a machine that lubricates itself and a violin that rubs a feather on itself. There's a hologram (? maybe?) that winks at you and blows you a kiss and another lady that spells "whipped cream" with whipped cream. There are a few creepy ones that I don't remember well. I just know I went "EW!" and ran away.
There is a room with a nucleus table and 2 ribosome tables. They entice you to look behind this little black cloth and that is where you will find DNA or Elmer's glue labeled DNA, but I trust the MIT Museum folks enough to label things honestly. I also hear that in this room lap dances happen... but I could be wrong, like I said, I was drunk.
People thought this was:
- Useful (3)
- Funny (4)
- Cool (3)
My first time at the MIT Museum was at the Yelp Modulations party.
I want to go back and bring my geeked-out friends along. The downstairs is interesting, but the real goodies are available on the second floor. The first floor highlight, pour moi, was checking out the strange toys and inventions ("Claude Shannon's Ingenious Machines") which were alternately delightfully creepy and sweetly precious.
Upstairs, as many have mentioned, were buttloads of robots. Reading the placards next to many of their cases, I was amazed at how many were developed by MIT students at such a young age. It's amazing to think that your senior thesis project might go on to become a viable piece of medical technology that actually helps people, but I digress....
The holograms on display are awesome. My favorite were the "moving" holograms, in which a lady will blow you a kiss and one which shows a red line train eternally pulling into the Charles MGH T-stop sometime in the early 80's. It's pretty freaky to look at representations of people, like artist Keith Haring, and know that they are now dead, yet have them look so real and so touchable in front of you.
The absolute best part of the museum was the gallery with Arthur Gascon's "Gestural Engineering" : utilitarian, machine-based artwork. I loved the 11 flying pieces of paper that flapped their wings like birds and the violin whose strings were gently stroked by a feather. It was gorgeous, and better than anything I've seen recently at the ICA.
Finally the "Mind and Hand: The Making of MIT Scientists and Engineers" exhibit, featuring academic paraphernalia such as textbooks, school supplies, uniforms and ephemera like dance cards, laundry receipts, and movie tickets dating from 1860 to the present was very touching. It made me wonder about the fates of these students and wonder what they did with all their wonderful potential.
People thought this was:
- Useful (4)
- Cool (3)
As you would imagine...geeks love this place...so..yeah i love this place.
If you're into new developing technology..or you want to dig down to your techie roots...this is a great exhibit. Look for special events hosted here...many of them include food and drinks too! There's nothing better than geeky museum events with cool music and drinks!
People thought this was:
- Useful (4)
- Cool (4)
MIT Museum Review
.
geeky
good place for robots
holograms
all kinds of weird contraptions
an interesting history of nerdy student pranks called hacks
early computers
amazing freeze photographs of exploding apples
black oil covered kinetic sculptures
a little small
great if you love 3.1415926535
People thought this was:
- Useful (10)
- Funny (13)
- Cool (9)
Well, it's not a museum for everyone, but if you're geeky like me, and find engineering, AI, or MIT hacks interesting, or if you're the type who likes seeing the internal workings of things, this place is well worth the visit (especially since it's so cheap & convenient).
Kismet, the MIT robot is on display, along with several other impressive feats of engineering and artificial intelligence that make MIT what it is. There's also art exhibits with a technological aspect, either in the creation of the art (holographs) or with the technology serving as the art itself. The mechanism for the famous "MIT wins Harvard-Yale game" is also present.
People thought this was:
- Useful (7)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (7)
What did I think of the exhibits at the MIT Museum?
I don't get it.....
The place made my brain hurt.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Funny (3)
- Cool (2)
Interested in robots, moving mechanical sculptures, high speed photography, holography, old computers, or just technology in general? you should go to the MIT Museum. My favorite thing are the kinetic sculptures of Arthur Ganson. These moving sculptures have both an aesthetic elegance and an inspiring whimsical nature.
The MIT museum is located between MIT and Central Square on Massachusetts Avenue. The price is right: $5 for adults, $2 for kids over 5, free for kids under five and MIT students. Free for all on the third Sunday of each month.
http://web.mit.edu/mus...
People thought this was:
- Useful (4)
I visited this museum with four friends over the weekend, and we really enjoyed it. In addition to the fantastic holography and Arthur Ganson sculptures already reviewed, there are exhibits on the history of AI and robotics, and the history of MIT. Take the time to watch the video exhibits scattered throughout, especially in the MIT history room. One was an incredibly cheesy promotional film from the 50's about women at MIT ("Like all women, they gather to gossip about clothes, men, and each other..." over a shot of some hornrim-bespectacled ladies knitting in a lounge), another described some of the more famous MIT hacks, and so on. They also have some cool physics-modeling computer programs that you can play with, which entertained us for perhaps too long, and some interactive AI that doesn't work very well.
All in all, a fun place to spend a few hours! I didn't think there was a discount for non-MIT students, but we got in for $2 apiece instead of $5, so the price really can't be beat.
People thought this was:
- Useful (3)
- Cool (2)
Was here for the Yelp party and enjoying the Bushmills Whiskey. Must come back on a Sunday between 10am and Noon to really see the exhibits and to get in for free to really see the museum!
Too bad the admission for us unworthy adults is $7.50 otherwise, but if your a student it's $3.
I was visiting the Plasma & Fusion center at MIT and we stopped by this museum on the rainy walk back to the T stop.
I went with two other friends and we easily spent two hours in there; it was so fun. Unassuming appearance from the outside, but walk through those doors, go up a flight of stairs, and you reach some seriously cool exhibits. The best exhibit BY FAR was the holography. Nearly peed myself looking at the several different images.
I usually am not a big fan of museums at all, but this one is definitely a fun way to spend some time. And you can't beat the price; about $5 for admission.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Cool (1)
The museum is alright, not too exciting. But for $2 (student discount), I'm not complaining much, though I rarely need to pay to get into a museum.
Weird displays of what the student life is like there, such mismatched unorganized items scattered around on display boards. I mean, do you really need to put up a Crayola marker to exemplify that MIT students also do artistic activities?
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Funny (1)
You know, first I'd like to say how very cool it is that MIT has a museum. I wish my alma mater had a cool museum, and a reason for it *whine whine*. Hehe seriously though, it's pretty fantastic to think of it. It's not huge, but it's oh-so-interesting, and is a museum that is somewhat different from the others - it just feels so interactive! Not that I don't love a regular museum - I love art, but here (and with many a science museum) I just love how you can feel so... involved.
Whether it's a car, hologram, computer thing, worms, historical explanation, ROBOT or whatever, it's all pretty fascinating. It's not a huge place, so is ideal for wandering around and being excited by all the cool things without getting too bored or tired. I guess you could say perfect size for comfortable visual and mental consumption, hehe. Ticket prices are very reasonable, and the staff are cool. I feel like you could take several completely different people here and they would all be interested, tech geek or not. And as for the official mission statement... well, it certainly does that: it captures and reflects the wonderful accomplishments of MIT, and the worldwide impact of all these amazing gadgets and gizmos. Cos, you know those are real things.
_______________
, , | Come visit me at |
____ | the MIT musem! |
(_oo_) | ______________
| (O) | | /
__||__ \) |/
[]/______\[] /
/ \_____/ \/
(\ |___|
|_____|
_| |_
People thought this was:
- Useful (13)
- Funny (17)
- Cool (24)
Science! It's everywhere! Technology, it surrounds me! GAH!! I know nothing about technology or science or any of that. I also did not know that the MIT Museum existed. I figured that out when we had our huge Yelp event there. Now, the place seemed much more exciting at that time because there were about 300 people there, a DJ, alcohol, and general madness. That will make science seem exciting to anyone. I don't know as though I would have enjoyed this museum as much if I came at a non-party time. I do have to say that the staff here is beyond gracious. For even letting us have a party in their museum. THANK YOU!
Now, on to the actual museum part. It is small, but filled with stuff. There are stations where you can look at fish up close and personal with a microscope type thing. Upstairs is where the best parts are. The holograms are downright cool and creepy. There is one of a woman blowing you a kiss, one of this creepy looking guy in birth control glasses staring at you (I was informed that this was some artist. Can't remember his name). The creepiest holograms were one of this elderly man whose neck jiggled. Like his gullet was wobbly. The second scary one was of a leopard that turned into a cat lady.
The robots they had there were cool and did some random things. They had a self lubricating robot that would pour oil on itself (I think it was supposed to be as kinky as it sounds). Others would turn their gears to make various things happen. Ah. I am so unscientific I can't even describe them! GAH! Okay, just be assured that they did some neat things. I couldn't figure out what purpose most of them had, but they were cool.
I'd say if you were of the nerdy or curious persuasion, this could be an enjoyable stop for you. It is a cute, quaint, and interesting little museum.
People thought this was:
- Useful (3)
- Funny (2)
- Cool (4)
The museum was renovated and now it's ever better!
Loved Arthur Ganson's work and spent most of my time there in that room alone. The Edgerton exhibit was humbling- the work he did just makes you feel that you aren't contributing enough to any field. sigh. This museum has free hours on Sunday but double check before you go. Our only sadness is that we didn't get to see what I call the "pranks exhibit" because we delayed coming here for years and now is partially on display in the lobby of another MIT building nearby.
People thought this was:
- Useful (3)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (2)
Gives me the creeps (and I was an electrical engineer). The holography is very cool though.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Funny (2)
- Cool (2)
What a great unique museum.!! Science geek or not you must visit...!
You'd never expect that a fantastic, fun museum is in this fairly run down building. There are holograms (where in one you can look through a holographic microscope and see a petri dish), moving mechanical sculptures (where one looks like an artichoke leaf pulling a cart, another machine perpetually oils itself), interactive exhibits, and other exhibits great for kids and educational too. Lots of fun for adults too.
People thought this was:
- Useful (3)
I guess I am a big old geek, and I certainly love the Arthur Ganson kinetic sculptures a whole hell of a lot. There are holograms, fish, robots, all sorts of neat things...I found it to be a pretty quick museum to get through overall, though I've been there a a handful of times now. The staff is super friendly and sweet. Once I went there about an hour before closing time, so they gave me a free voucher so i could get in the next day as well. Considering how low their admission is, that seemed ridiculously sweet.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Cool (2)
