To select a museum, click “Details/Reserve”, then select which Pass to reserve.
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 4 people at half price per person. Infants under 1 are free.
The Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday with two separate admission timeslots, 9am–12pm and 1:30–4:30pm. Online reservations are required. The museum is open select Mondays or Tuesdays through the year - including some holidays and during the summer.
Library coupons are not valid for Sunday afternoons (admission is $1 per person on Sundays from 1:30-4:30).
The Children's Piazza
83 Pine Street, Unit F, Peabody, MA 01960
978-817-2809
https://www.thechildrenspiazza.com/
[Details/Reserve]
Located in Peabody, MA, The Children's Piazza is a space is designed for young children—aged 0 to 6—to learn through unstructured play. Organized to optimize social, cognitive and motor development, areas include a large room with a climbing structure, slides, and swings; an arts and crafts room; a room with a train table; a lunch area with appropriately sized furniture; a glow-in-the-dark planet room; among others. There is a coffee shop and free Wi-Fi on the premises. Please check the website for the requirements of entry.
Pass Type: Printable/Digital Coupon Pass (link delivered by email)
Pass Benefits
This pass admits one adult and one child free of charge Monday-Friday.
Discovery Museum
177 Main Street, Acton, MA 01720
978-264-4200
http://www.discoveryacton.org/
[Details/Reserve]
Acton's Discovery Museum, located on a 4-acre campus, is aimed at providing an environment in which play becomes a conduit for learning about science, technology, and nature. The museum’s building contains a number of galleries dedicated to teaching scientific concepts in a fun, hands-on environment, as well as themed play spaces for younger visitors. Outdoors, Discovery Woods includes a nature playscape with a cargo net climb, nest swing and beaver lodges, as well as a treehouse with an observation deck and a bouncy bridge. There are opportunities to practice orienteering with provided maps and instructions on trails on the property. A museum shop is on the premises. The museum building is fully ADA compliant, with exhibits based on Universal Design principles.
Categories: Children, Family, Science
Pass Type: Circulating Pass (must be picked up and returned to the branch)
Pass Benefits
The pass allows for 1/2 price admission for up to three people. Additional people in your party pay the regular admission price.
Harvard Museum of Natural History
26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
617-495-3045
https://hmnh.harvard.edu/
[Details/Reserve]
The Harvard Museum of Natural History was established in 1998 as the public face of three separate research museums at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA: the Harvard University Herbaria, the Mineralogical & Geological Museum, and the Museum of Comparative Zoology. The museum is home to the famous “Glass Flowers” collection and a collection of “Sea Creatures in Glass,” made by the same artists (a father and son); a collection of meteorite, mineral and gemstone specimens; and various exhibits on life both big and small: from microbes to dinosaurs—and everything in between. There is a gift shop on the premises.
Categories: Children, Family, History, Science
Pass Type: Coupon Pass (must be picked up from the branch, but does not require returning)
Pass Benefits
Admits four for free to both the Harvard Museum of Natural History OR the Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology. For our pass, at least one person must be a resident of Mass.: the museum will ask for proof of residence or library/network membership.
This pass can be checked out up to 3 days prior to your trip. This single-use pass is not returned to the Library.
The House of Seven Gables
115 Derby Street, Salem, MA 01970
978-744-0991
https://www.7gables.org/
[Details/Reserve]
The House of the Seven Gables, one of the oldest surviving timber-framed mansion houses in continental North America, was the setting of Nathaniel Hawthorne's famous 1851 novel of the same name. The historic site which includes the house (a National Historic Landmark District) includes a guided tour of the Turner-Ingersoll Mansion (the House of the Seven Gables) and visits to the Nathaniel Hawthorne Birthplace, the Colonial Revival seaside gardens, and the Counting House, with a maritime discovery zone called “Kids' Cove at The Gables.” (An audio tour of the gardens, grounds, and waterfront is available through the UniGuide App.) Lectures and seasonal living history labs are scheduled throughout the year, and a changing annual exhibition examines various aspects of the institution's 350 years of history. There is a gift shop on the premises. The website has virtual field trips and interactive exhibitions that can provide helpful background information before a visit.
Categories: Children, Family, Science
Pass Type: Coupon Pass (must be picked up from the branch, but does not require returning)
Pass Benefits
This pass give patrons 50% off admission for up to four people. You must purchase tickets in advance online using the code on the Library pass. Bring the pass to the museum for proof of discount.
This pass can be picked up 7 days before your trip. This pass does not need to be returned to the Library.
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: Printable/Digital Coupon Pass (link delivered by email)
Pass Benefits
Admits 2 at $10 per person.
The ICA no longer requires timed entry for admission, however advance reservations are strongly recommended. Go to www.icaboston.org to make your reservation.
This a digital pass that does not need to be picked up at the library.
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
Admits 4 people at $5 per person, children under 18 are free.
You will need to present your digital pass (either on your phone or printed from home) at the museum.
Mass Audubon has over 55 wildlife sanctuaries and centers throughout Massachusetts where visitors can learn about and interact with nature. More than 38,000 acres of protected land deliver inspiring hilltop views to breathtaking coastal landscapes, serene woods, and working farms. Visit their website for a list of locations.
Categories: Children, Family, Nature, Recreation
Pass Type: Printable/Digital Coupon Pass (link delivered by email)
Pass Benefits
Pass is valid for up to 4 people at one time.
Visitors will be charged a discounted admission fee of $2.00 per person over age of 2.
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
Pass entitles one vehicle to free parking at over 50 day-use facilities in the state parks system.
This pass can be picked up the day before, or day of, your trip. This pass needs to be returned to the Library, there is a $10 late charge for passes not returned by 10:00 AM the day after use, $25 is charged for a lost pass.
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
Admits 2 adults at $10 per person. Children under 6 free. Children 7-17 are $10, discount does not apply.
The MFA is preferring you book online in advance of your arrival. To reserve discounted tickets online, patrons must visit mfa.org/tickets, select the date and type of ticket, and enter the promo code on the top right corner of the next page, which will activate the reduced admission rate.
There is no physical coupon to collect from the Library. You can print out the coupon - look for the "Print this pass" button in the reservation confirmation email.
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 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 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
This coupon provides a 50% discount for up to four people. Children 3 and under are free. This coupon is redeemed at the General Admission line at the Aquarium ticket booth; you cannot do advance ticket sales or reserved timed ticketing with the coupon.
Print out the coupon - look for the "Print this pass" button in the reservation confirmation email. You will not need to visit the library if you choose to print the coupon, but you will need to follow the instructions provided, there is no timed ticketing or advance purchase sales, present the coupon upon at the General Admission line.
Please note: New England Aquarium Passes are not honored/available from June 1, 2025-August 31, 2025 by decree of the institution not the library.
New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill
11 French Drive, Boylston, MA 01505-0598
508-869-6111
https://www.nebg.org/
[Details/Reserve]
Located in Boylston, MA, and open year-round, the New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill features carefully planned gardens and collections of ornamental, edible and native plants, with a number of trails that traverse the 132-acre property. In addition, there are many programs and events, including classes, lectures, art exhibits and concerts. The Garden is run by the Worcester County Horticultural Society, the third oldest active horticultural society in the United States.
Categories: Art, Crafts, Family, Nature
Pass Type: Circulating Pass (must be picked up and returned to the branch)
Pass Benefits
Pass allows half-off admission for two patrons.
North Shore Children's Museum
10 Main Street, Peabody, MA 01960
978-538-5765
https://www.nschildrensmuseum.org/
[Details/Reserve]
Located in downtown Peabody, MA, the North Shore Children's Museum offers 15 hands-on exhibits geared towards explorative and imaginative play for children ages 2 to 8. A child may become a superhero in the Comic Room, a builder in the Gross Motor Room, an artist in the Makerspace, and more. All exhibits are in ADA-accessible spaces.
Categories: Children, Family, Science
Pass Type: Printable/Digital Coupon Pass (link delivered by email)
Pass Benefits
This pass allows 50% off admission for a family of up to 5 adults/children.
Patrons may reserve library level tickets online at https://www.nschildrensmuseum.org/visit/buy-tickets/ or purchase tickets in person. (Please note that when purchasing tickets online, patrons should add Library Pass tickets to their cart, not Adult/Child tickets.) Patrons should bring their pass with them either way, and the front desk will collect it when scanning pre-purchased tickets or when they are purchased in person.
If tickets are sold out online, we hold tickets available in person in order to honor library passes. If patrons have any questions or issues when reserving tickets, they can reach out to us at nscminfo@peabody-ma.gov or 978-538-5765.
Peabody Essex Museum
161 Essex Street, Salem, MA 01970-3783
978-745-9500
http://www.pem.org/
[Details/Reserve]
The Peabody Essex Museum grew out of the collection of East India Marine Society, an organization of Salem captains whose charter called for acquisition of “natural and artificial curiosities.” Its permanent collection contains art and artifacts of Africa, Asia, India, China (with a Qing Dynasty house brought from the Huizhou region), Japan, Korea, Pacific Islands, and features objects of maritime art and history that include paintings, drawings, ship models, marine decorative arts, tools, weapons, navigational instruments, and ship and yacht plans. It also has a thriving changing exhibition schedule that sometimes includes important traveling shows.
Categories: Art, Family, History, Ocean
Pass Type: Printable/Digital Coupon Pass (link delivered by email)
Pass Benefits
Admits 2 at $12 per person. Children under 16 free. Additional charge for the Yin Yu Tan Chinese House and/or other special exhibits.
There is no physical coupon to collect from the Library. You can print out the coupon - look for the "Print this pass" button in the reservation confirmation email.
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: Printable/Digital Coupon Pass (link delivered by email)
Pass Benefits
Admits 9 free to the museum. The ship itself is owned by the Navy; tours are free. (Ship visitors ages 18+ are required to show photo ID & bags will be inspected.)
This coupon can be picked up 7 days before your visit, or you can print out the coupon - look for the "Print this pass" button in the reservation confirmation email. There is no timed ticketing or advance purchase sales, present the coupon upon entry to the Museum.
Wenham Museum
132 Main Street, Wenham, MA 01984
978-468-2377
http://www.wenhammuseum.org/
[Details/Reserve]
Wenham Museum is a history museum celebrating the treasures of childhood and New England family life across four centuries, with an emphasis on the North Shore. The museum's collections feature a world-renowned doll collection and dollhouses, costumes and textiles, model trains, antique toys, historic photographs, and the interactive Family Discovery Gallery. Admission includes a tour of the historic Claflin-Gerrish-Richards House, built at the end of the 17th century. In addition, there are rotating special programs and exhibitions. A gift shop is on the premises.
Categories: Children, Family, History
Pass Type: Printable/Digital Coupon Pass (link delivered by email)
Pass Benefits
Admits 4 at half price. Infants under 1 free.
Print out the coupon from home - look for the "Print this pass" button in the reservation confirmation email.
Zoo New England
1 Franklin Park Road, Boston, MA 02121
617-541-5466
http://www.zoonewengland.org/
[Details/Reserve]
Zoo New England operates Franklin Park Zoo, a 72-acre site nestled in Boston’s historic Franklin Park, and the Stone Zoo, located on a 26-acre site near Spot Pond reservoir in Stoneham, MA. In addition to animals, both zoos are engaged in wildlife and conservation programs, research, and education.
Pass Type: Coupon Pass (must be picked up from the branch, but does not require returning)
Pass Benefits
Admits 6 at the Franklin Park Zoo, Boston or the Stone Zoo, Stoneham, at $9 per adult, $6 per child, during regular daytime hours. Children under 2 free. Not applicable to reduced admission rates, or to ZooLights.
This pass can be checked out up to 3 days prior to your trip. This single-use pass is not returned to the Library.