MIT Museum

MIT Museum Open daily 10am-5pm
314 Main Street, Cambridge MA.

It may be a polar vortex outside, but its nice and warm inside our galleries!  Come keep warm with us, we're open 10am -...
01/22/2025

It may be a polar vortex outside, but its nice and warm inside our galleries!

Come keep warm with us, we're open 10am - 5pm every day this week.

Images from our permanent collection:

Image 1&2: Cambridge Campus, Great Court or Killian Court, winter view with snow and students

Image 3: Cambridge Campus, general scenes, sidewalk, winter view with snow

Behind every awe-inspiring building lies a story that begins with a single line on paper. Architectural drawings are whe...
01/16/2025

Behind every awe-inspiring building lies a story that begins with a single line on paper. Architectural drawings are where imagination meets precision -- a blend of creativity, mathematics, and technical skill. From the rough conceptual sketches to meticulously detailed blueprints, each stroke plays a vital role in shaping the world around us.

Seen here are drawings by Imre and Anthony Halasz for the MIT Rotch Library Expansion. There are just a few of the architectural drawings we have in our collection.

Images: MIT Rotch Library Expansion conceptual and schematic sketches, Imre & Anthony Halasz, Inc., 1984

Visit our collection portal to view more architectural drawings in our collection. https://mitmuseum.mit.edu/collections/collection/architecture

New kinds of museums are emerging around the world. How can they maximize their impact? From evolving cultural trends an...
01/15/2025

New kinds of museums are emerging around the world. How can they maximize their impact?

From evolving cultural trends and groundbreaking technologies to the impact of a global pandemic and the urgency of the climate crisis, museums are at a crossroads of transformation.

Join renowned museum strategist András Szántó, PhD, in conversation with Michael John Gorman, the Mark R. Epstein (Class of 1963) Director of the MIT Museum, as they explores how cultural institutions are reimagining their role in the 21st century. Drawing from his acclaimed books, "The Future of the Museum: 28 Dialogues," and "Imagining the Future of Museum: 21 Dialogues with Architects," Szántó will share insights on exhibitions, programming, audience engagement, and innovative design shaping the future of museums.

February 6
2-2:45pm
Free with museum admission
https://mitmuseum.mit.edu/programs/whats-next-for-museum

Image credit: Roth

What is ship modeling if not making -- making for education, design, a hobby, etc. In our Hart Nautical Collection we ha...
01/14/2025

What is ship modeling if not making -- making for education, design, a hobby, etc.

In our Hart Nautical Collection we have:

- 265 rigged models
- 332 half-hull models
- 14 models for testing/teaching
- 996 miniature cast lead collectors' models

Take a look at some of our favorites!


Image 1: Charles W. Morgan Whale Ship Model, 1950
Image 2: Selandia, 1960
Image 3: Lexington, 1950-1960
Image 4: Turtle Ship Model, 1956

The art of making: a closer look at the brilliance of M.C. Escher. This black-and-white photograph features "Swans" (195...
01/09/2025

The art of making: a closer look at the brilliance of M.C. Escher.

This black-and-white photograph features "Swans" (1956), a stunning wood engraving by the legendary Dutch artist. Escher's meticulous craftsmanship brings to life the concept of "glide reflection," showcasing the mathematical beauty of regular plane division.

"Swans" is one of 10 original prints gifted to MIT by alumnus Dr. Charles E. Reed in 1974, a generous contribution that continues to inspire the intersection of art and science.

A true celebrate of the intricate process of making, where creativity meets precision.

Image from our permanent collection.

Expand your professional network at Speed Networking Night hosted in collaboration with MIT Open Space!In this 45-minute...
01/08/2025

Expand your professional network at Speed Networking Night hosted in collaboration with MIT Open Space!

In this 45-minute session you'll connect with professionals from diverse industries, exchange ideas, and forge new connections. Whether you prefer sharing a LinkedIn QR code or swapping business cards, this informal and engaging event is designed for participants of all ages, backgrounds, and industries.

January 22
12:15pm - 1pm
MIT Welcome Center
292 Main St.

Register today at mitopenspace.edu/calendar

Is your new year's resolution to start a new hobby? Looking to get crafty and stay cozy in these cold winter months? We'...
01/06/2025

Is your new year's resolution to start a new hobby? Looking to get crafty and stay cozy in these cold winter months? We've got your covered.

Next up in our Making Studio Workshop Series is Jewelry Crafting! Create your own custom jewelry over the course of 3 sessions.

You will learn:
- How to design digital models on the computer
- How to bring your designs to life using our 3D printers
- Handcrafting techniques

By the end of this series you will have a collection of custom-made jewelry and new skills in digital design and fabrication.

Please note this is an 18+ workshop. Participants must be available for all 3 sessions. Basic computer proficiency is recommended, but no prior experience with the software is needed.

Workshop Dates:
January 27, 2025
February 3, 2025
February 10, 2025

Sign up today!

Explore centuries-old artistic traditions through new fabrication technology in this 3-part workshop series.

Happy New Year from your friends at the MIT Museum!Here's to continued exploration and discovery in 2025 -- we can't wai...
12/31/2024

Happy New Year from your friends at the MIT Museum!

Here's to continued exploration and discovery in 2025 -- we can't wait to share what we have in store.

Image credit: The Planet After Geoengineering, Chapter II: Arctic Albedo, Drawing 18, Design Earth: Rania Ghosn and El Hadi Jazairy, From Cosmograph: Speculative Fictions for the New Space Age, an exhibition organized by the MIT Center for Art, Science and Technology and the MIT Museum, on view now through Spring 2025.

Just like at MIT, the MIT Museum is all about the mind and hand connection. In other words, making. We offer a host of d...
12/28/2024

Just like at MIT, the MIT Museum is all about the mind and hand connection. In other words, making.

We offer a host of drop-in activities and workshops that allow visitors of all ages to make their own creations to take home. Join us in our Maker Hub and Learning Labs, where you can make anything from woodblock prints to automatas and collages. We're sure to have something to inspire everyone.
https://mitmuseum.mit.edu/on-now/drop-in-activities/maker-hub

On January 10, 1957, Harold Edgerton captured one of the most iconic images in photography—a milk drop coronet. Using a ...
12/27/2024

On January 10, 1957, Harold Edgerton captured one of the most iconic images in photography—a milk drop coronet. Using a beam of light and a photocell to trigger an electronic flash, Edgerton froze the precise moment a drop of milk hit a thin film, creating the striking shape. His innovations in flash technology made such detailed, color images possible.

Though the original negative was lost, this image lives on as a testament to Edgerton's groundbreaking work in high-speed photography.

You can see this image for yourself in our Moving Objects exhibition, on view now through April 2025.

Get crafty with us at the first After Dark of 2025: DIY. We'll be bringing together tinkerers, creators, and innovators ...
12/26/2024

Get crafty with us at the first After Dark of 2025: DIY.

We'll be bringing together tinkerers, creators, and innovators to explore the art of making. Join us to design your own sew-able electronics, building with mechanical metamaterials, and make collaborative modular origami sculptures.

We will also be showcasing the work of ingenious local makers, including DIY pinball machines, a Fab-in-a-Box digital fabrication kit, and so much more.

Craft beers from Arlington Brewing Company and handmade lasagna from Mostly Pasta will be available for purchase.

Tickets on sale now -> https://tickets.mitmuseum.org/events/0193b208-021c-05b0-2642-ddb594addb45

Enjoy a lively evening of entertainment, science, and tinkering for the 21+ crowd! Monthly.

Happy Holidays and Winter Break, everyone! The MIT Museum will have special holiday hours on the following days: Decembe...
12/24/2024

Happy Holidays and Winter Break, everyone! The MIT Museum will have special holiday hours on the following days:

December 24: Closed
December 25: Closed
December 31: Closing early, at 3pm
January 1: Closed

We can't wait to welcome you in during breaks from work and school, and are so excited for everything that is to come in 2025.

"These machines are daydreams condensed into physical form, computer programs manifesting in three-dimensional space." -...
12/21/2024

"These machines are daydreams condensed into physical form, computer programs manifesting in three-dimensional space." - Arthur Ganson.

Arthur Ganson's medium is a feeling or idea inspired by the world he perceives around him -- from the delicate fluttering of paper to the sheer scale of the universe.

Photo: Machine with 21 Scraps of Paper

You can view a select group of Arthur Ganson's work from our Museum Collections on our third floor mezzanine.
https://mitmuseum.mit.edu/exhibitions/ganson

After five years of meticulous planning and hard work, the MIT Museum Collection Team has completed the monumental task ...
12/20/2024

After five years of meticulous planning and hard work, the MIT Museum Collection Team has completed the monumental task of relocating over 1.5 million objects to a new off-site collections facility!

Collections are the heart of every museum, connecting us to the past, present, and future. To celebrate this milestone, our latest exhibition showcases some of the most memorable and noteworthy items from our vast collection.

Come explore the treasures that make the MIT Museum so special!
https://mitmuseum.mit.edu/exhibitions/moving-objects

Blend together physical and digital making as you create your own custom stamps in our December Vacation Week Family Wor...
12/19/2024

Blend together physical and digital making as you create your own custom stamps in our December Vacation Week Family Workshop: Intro to Making.

Under the guidance of museum educators, you'll learn how to use makerspace tools like our 3D Printers and laser cutter to fabricate your own unique creations.

This workshop is designed for families and friends working in small groups. Children must be age 14 and above and must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the workshop.

December 26
10:45am - 12pm
https://mitmuseum.mit.edu/programs/december-vacation-week-2024

After Dark: Made in the '90s may be over, but we're still throwing it back to an iconic piece of 1990s  Institute of Tec...
12/18/2024

After Dark: Made in the '90s may be over, but we're still throwing it back to an iconic piece of 1990s Institute of Technology (MIT) history.

Meet the "nerd kit" -- a briefcase packed with everything students in intro-level Electrical Engineering & Computer Science courses (like 6.111: Introductory Digital Systems Laboratory) needed to bring their ideas to life.

Inside?
- 5 breadboards with wires and integrated circuits
- A power cord and extra circuit components
- Tools for hands-on prototyping

These kits were the foundation for student projects throughout the semester. While most were cleared and reused, this particular kit tells its own story. Created by James L. Waldrop for 6.111 during IAP 1998, it includes:

- A project labeled "Stepper Demo"
- A detailed project report, diagrams, and email correspondence with Professor Donald E. Troxel
- Case label: C129

A true time capsule of creativity and innovation.

Help us test a new Maker Hub activity: Fiber Art! In this making activity you will explore the connection between data a...
12/14/2024

Help us test a new Maker Hub activity: Fiber Art!

In this making activity you will explore the connection between data and art with a collaborative textile project and learn to tuft, weave, and knit as you craft your own fiber masterpieces.

Looking for more crafting opportunities? Join us in January for After Dark: DIY where we'll be exploring the art of making.

The Fiber Art activity will run in our Maker Hub from December 16-20. Check out our Week-at-a-Glance calendar for upcoming Drop-in activities!
https://hubs.la/Q02_k1P60

Address

314 Main Street, Gambrill Center
Cambridge, MA
02139

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+1 617-253-5927

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