Museum of Science: Then and Now

Permanent Exhibit

Chronicling how the Museum of Science has evolved over the last 180 years to meet the changing needs of society, this exhibit tells our story through artifacts and interactive displays — from the "Chamber of Curiosities" to visions of the future.

Journey back to 1830, when a like-minded group of doctors and lawyers met in Boston to establish the Boston Society of Natural History, which quickly amassed a collection of specimens — both strange and everyday — from across New England and around the globe.

See how the Museum changed at the beginning of World War II, when its new director, Bradford Washburn, expanded the Museum's mission to include all of the sciences. View early examples of technology in the form of navigational instruments and instant photography, as well as examples of some of the Museum's first interactive exhibits.

Finally, learn about proposed new exhibits on computer animation and human life that will help visitors explore the intersection of the natural and human-made worlds. More than a history lesson, this exhibit tells a story that mirrors the accelerating pace of discovery in all the sciences.