Intimate museum in an historic palace
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Why locals love it
Isabella Stewart Gardner, matron of the city during the Victorian era, set-out in her later life to leave a legacy in the form of an art museum. She acquired art from her many travels to Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The museum feels like her private mansion. They boast nights with live music in the courtyard and a new modern wing.
View Gallery
View Gallery
Why you should visit it
Entering the ISGM is like stepping into another time. The three-story palace is built around a courtyard filled with flowers, statues, and heaps of light. You're part of the most sophisticated upper-echelon of society for the duration of your visit, with furniture, books, and art left intimately as if patrons still lived there.
Special tip
On the third floor, look for the empty frame, which used to contain a Rembrandt that has not surfaced since it's robbery in the 90's...
Mon-Su: 11:00-17:00
Th: 11:00-21:00