The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum stands at 25 Evans Way in Boston, Massachusetts, in a building modeled on a Venetian palace. Visitors often come for the architecture first, and the sense of stepping into another era is part of the experience. The museum is also known as the Gardner Museum.
What you will see
The collection is eclectic, bringing together European, Asian, and American art within one house. Rather than being arranged by a single period or region, the rooms are composed in a personal way, so each space feels like a considered whole. Moving from room to room is a varied, unhurried way to look at art from different parts of the world.
The courtyard
The central courtyard garden is the feature many visitors remember most. Its plants and open sky give the building a calm, light-filled heart, and it is a good place to pause between galleries.
The 1990 art heist
The museum is also famous for the art heist of 1990, which remains unsolved. Visitors who know this story often find that it adds a sense of mystery to walking through the rooms, though the museum's own displays and the collection itself are what make the visit.
Planning your visit
- The museum is in Boston, so it is easy to combine with other sights in the city.
- To check details before you go, you can call +1-617-566-1401.
- Allow time for the courtyard, which suits a slower pace.