Museums and galleries are a living historical display. Visiting a Central Massachusetts museum and/or gallery is an inexpensive way to experience our past, and view the culture of local and world renowned artists. Museums and galleries are scattered throughout the Central Mass region, which translates into a short drive no matter your locale. Take the opportunity to probe our history by visiting a museum – the following three can easily be done in a half day and are all only a short distance from Boston. They are marketed collectively as 3 Museums
The Museum of Russian Icons in Clinton was founded as a nonprofit educational institution by successful industrialist, Gordon B. Lankton. The ever-expanding collection includes more than 400 Russian icons, the largest collection of its kind in North America, and one of the largest private collections outside Russia. The collection spans six centuries, and includes significant historical icons dating from the earliest periods of icon painting (or writing, as it’s known) to the present. Exhibitions, special events and classes are available.
Located on 132 bucolic acres in Boylston and less than an hour from Boston, Tower Hill Botanic Garden is a world-class botanic garden. Visitors are awestruck by spectacular panoramic views of Mt. Wachusett, which provides an atmospheric backdrop for more than eight innovative display gardens. Tower Hill offers both stunning beauty and a rich educational opportunity. It is the headquarters of the Worcester County Horticultural Society, a pioneering institution founded in 1842 to advance the science and encourage and improve the practice of horticulture. Now open is Tower Hill’s new Limonaia, a greenhouse lined with fragrant lemon trees and other flowering and foliage plants, part of a recently completed $8 million expansion project that also includes an outdoor winter garden. The resounding success of Tower Hill’s Orangerie brought on expansion plans for this new feature.
At the Fruitlands Museum, you will discover the unique heritage of America at three renowned galleries of Native American, Shaker, and American art. Visit the original site of the Transcendentalist utopian experiment led by Bronson Alcott – father of famous writer Louisa May Alcott. Stroll nature trails and enjoy Fruitlands Museum’s spectacular views of the central Massachusetts landscape. Browse the Museum Store, have a delicious lunch at Alcott’s Restaurant & Tea Room, and participate in a diverse schedule of special events, outdoor concerts, and lectures.