Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library

The Scottish Rite Masonic Museum used to be called the Museum of our National Heritage, and that former name reflects its purpose better than the new one. The museum specializes in small, well-​curated exhibits of Americana – toys, the changing world of women in America, clocks, model railroads, lecture series on the use of maps and mapping in history and historiography, and, of course, Masonic memorabilia. I brought a class of high school girls here for the exhibit on women’s work, and it was perfect: just enough information, very well told, to give a terrific lesson to the girls. All exhibits are free, there’s plenty of parking, and the modern museum is on a single floor and highly accessible. It’s a small jewel in the otherwise overwhelming world of Boston museums.

This was an okay experience. The exhibits were very nice, and quite compelling, however it is difficult to enjoy yourself when you are being followed around like you are going to break the glass and steal something. I went in with my seven y/​o daughter to learn about the Revolutionary War. She was very well behaved. I don’t understand. Great for a date night but not for the family.

Came for the Muppets (sadly, only two more days left of this wonderful little exhibit), stayed for the totally bizarro and wonderful gallery of modern day oil paintings about Masonic symbolism and tenets hidden in the architecture of Washington D.C.
Seriously, this needs to be seen to believe. The paintings are singularly arresting, and so defy all known conventions of art as to constitute a new movement. They either belong in the Smithsonian, or two towns over in the MOBA, at the Somerville Theater. Sadly, there were signs everywhere around the gallery forbidding photography, and not wanting to tempt my fate with the Masons, I complied.
While not though not really a destination for those of non-​Masonic affiliation, definitely stop by if you find yourself tooling by in the car on a lazy afternoon. Can’t beat the price either…

It’s free. How nice! But that’s not what drew me here… the honor of that belonged to the «Jim Henson’s Fantastic World» exhibit, hosted by the National Heritage Museum from April 3, 2010 through June 27, 2010.
I stopped by the National Heritage Museum on a hot and humid afternoon and drove around their not that large a parking lot for a bit before I finally found myself a spot. As I walked up to the museum, I passed by a sign that alerted me that photos were not allowed. Bummer! Once inside, the air conditioning pleasantly cooled me off.
The Henson exhibit was quite popular as evidenced by the crowd of all ages wandering the halls. Colorful muppets were exhibited in glass cases in the center of the rooms while photos and pictures and several video monitors lined the walls. In the final room (assuming you went clockwise through the halls), there’s even a short corner table with some books to flip through. And for the kiddies, I spotted a little «find this» type sheet with magnets to mark the items as they were found — I even saw an adult carrying one of these around.
I also had the opportunity to check out the museum’s auditorium, which was more wide than deep, but no seat was too far from the stage.
Bathrooms are conveniently located by the entrance just off from the main hall.
A great little free museum… I’ll have to head over sometime to check out the other exhibits.

Free.
So my super artsy friend told me about the Jim Henson exhibit, and since it was supposed to be a rainy day, man and I decided to check it out.
Parking, admission — Free. We made a donation.
The Henson exhibit was great. Get out there before it leaves! As someone who grew up with muppets, it was so much fun to see where it started. I also am a big fan of Sir Linit and would love for him to come and skate around on my clothes (he has irons for feet).
I am obsessed with the National Parks (though I think I’ve only been to Acadia), and the photographs were breathtaking. My list of places to go just grew by about 57.
Finished the day with a nice late lunch in the center, and it was a perfect afternoon.
Oh, and I also still don’t get the freemason thing (and don’t care.)

This place was a lot better than I thought. It is located on the Battle trail of Lexington and as small as it is, it is packed with all sorts of changing exhibits. We went to see the Jim Henson exhibit which I am quite sure was the draw of all the crowds that showed up here. It was amazing and a real treat. The rest of the rooms contain artifacts and paraphernalia from the Revolutionary War and also there was a changing exhibit dedicated to National Parks. What was interesting was the fact that this place was also home to the Free Masons National Headquarters. There were other buildings on this campus which appeared to be dedicated to that topic and secret societies in America etc. Although I was impressed by the exhibits and the history, I am not sure this place is good for kids since quite frankly there just wasn’t a lot there.

The National Heritage Museum is charming hidden gem. The Jim Henson exhibit, which is running through June 27, 2010 is wonderful and was the main reason for my visit. For younger visitors, there is a scavenger hunt-​type game to keep them entertained and engaged in the Henson exhibit.
I also enjoyed wandering through «Treasured Lands: The Fifty-​Eight U.S. National Parks in Focus» exhibit of Quang-​Tuan Luong’s photography.
Many folks were picnicking on the grounds. There is a small café, but it was closed during our visit. Lexington Center, which is filled with restaurants, is a quick five minute drive from the museum.

The exhibit on Jim Henson in the National Heritage Museum is absolutely something that should not be missed by anyone that was ever a child… and I think most of us were at some point.
Kermit and Cookie Monster are there of course but I learned so many interesting things about a very talented man that went beyond his well known works. I didn’t know that he got his start doing local commercials in DC. His commercials are some of the funniest I have seen in quite some time. (See «The Lay Choy Dragon» or «Sir Linit» or any of the Bread commercials) This exhibit focuses on showcasing his creative process and how some of his most beloved characters really came to be.
Aside from the Jim Henson Exhibit (which is only temporary so act fast!) The National Heritage Museum has some other nice exhibits as well. The George McFadden Enchanted Clocks was very neat as were some of the Free Masonry artifacts and artwork.
Somehow I missed the fabulous National Parks photography, ah well– an excuse to go back!
The Museum is free but accepts donations. It is only a few miles from Main Street Lexington so it would be a great place to go before some weekend shopping and lunch.

How can you beat free? You just can’t. Oh yes, you can, free parking as well. Just outside of the Arlington on Mass Ave? How can it get ANY better?
Overall, I was surprised by my visit this weekend to the National Heritage Museum, but I still have absolutely no clue as to what a Freemason is and why I am supposed to care so much.
The highlights:
Beautiful photographs of the insides and outsides of old timey movie theatres.
Amazingly beautiful photographs of every National park. Absolutely stunning.
A tiny display on the history of boardgames and antique clocks
An exhibit on the battle of Lexington and Concord.
I cannot wait until the Jim Henson exhibit opens up next month. It’s going to be phenominal. And while I am there I might try to figure out what a Freemason is… again.

It’s a Masonic Building as is discovered once you drive close to its huge entrance complete with Mason symbols everywhere before you walk in.
The museum is free but they will gladly take donations. The exhibits all focus around Masons during the nation’s founding and I have to admit were very well put together. The building itself is beautiful!
The staff was friendly and the library looked very stocked with all the history (that they will disclose).
They will soon be exhibiting a piece on the symbols of D. C and the Masons which I will be back for.
All in all very interesting but NOT an accurate depiction of America’s Heritage. Very slanted but it’s obvious why.
Still a great place to go on a rainy day and its FREE! Bonus!

Don’t overlook this wonderful place if you are visiting Lexington or live nearby.
The standing exhibition on the history of Masonry is worth the trip alone (unfortunately, details of the secret handshake are not revealed), but the ever-​changing special exhibitions are frequently outstanding. (For example, a few years back the museum presented several hundred objects from Kenneth Rendell’s famous collection of artifacts from Frontier America.)
The museum also hosts lectures, concerts, and summer sings – consistently excellent in my experience.

This museum is founded by Free Masons with free daily admissions. Within the building is also a library/​archive of them. There’s an exhibit that exhibits the history of MA Freemasons. As we all know, George Washington is part of the fraternity. There’s a statue and a portrait of him on site.
There are other exhibits as well such as decorative arts and the American Revolution. You have to enjoy US history in order to enjoy this museum.
This is my first stop of my Revolution theme day which worked out pretty well. I don’t remember a whole lot about US history since it’s been many moons that I’ve cracked open a history book. With a quick walk thru of the exhibit, it helped me on my journey thru Lexington and Concord.

This is really the National Headquarters of the Masons. Just so you know. Although, once you go, there won’t be any doubts about that.
It’s an interesting place. Good exhibits, I guess. It is pretty propaganda laden, and if secret societies creep you out, then you may want to skip this museum.
Secret Societies creep me out.

I visited the Museum of Our National Heritage on one of the worst allergy days of my adult life. I walked in one bright May afternoon a couple of Springs ago, carrying a ripped and crumpled Kleenex, sopping wet from the pollen-​induced tears streaming down my cheeks from my red-​rimmed eyes. The kindly nonagenarian at the desk asked if I was OK and wanted to know if there was someone she should call. «I’m OK,» I sniffled, «It’s just ragweed.» She nodded sympathetically.
Admission was free, although I think I left a five dollar donation. The building emitted a sort of 1970s «modern» vibe, which gave me a comfy Bicentennial feeling – highly appropriate for a national heritage museum, I thought. The bathrooms were spotless and I gladly replaced my disintegrating Kleenex with several feet of Scott toilet paper.
The museum is run by the Masons and this was my first experience with anything Masonic. I was greatly impressed: Everyone was very friendly – almost spookily so – but unlike the members of a certain other organization, no one asked if I wanted to take a «free personality test» and we were free to leave at any point. (I checked.) We noted many Republican-​looking senior citizens in blue blazers and modest dresses streaming in for a big-​band concert. They kind of reminded me of the audience at a Lawrence Welk concert. (I know this only because my grandparents watched his TV show every Saturday night.)
The exhibitions were great: We saw news photographs from WWII and a photo series of Delta blues musicians; intricate clocks designed – I think – by a guy who used to build the Christmas displays in Filene’s windows; all sort of Massachusetts-​made items from colonial times to the present; hands on exhibits for kids and grown-​ups who behave like kids (I appropriated a tricorn hat, which I was loath to return) and, of course, lots of educational displays about the Masons.
The bookstore was, for a small museum, one of the best I’d seen. I am always in the market for heavily discounted exhibition catalogues and I was not disappointed. For about eight bucks, I picked up a catalogue of early American tavern and inn signs, which engendered much happy bedtime reading.
Best of all, the air conditioning cleared up my allergy, but only for the duration of my visit. Once outside, my fresh-​faced mien quickly disappeared and I snotted and dribbled all the way back to Boston. But at least I grabbed extra toilet paper on my way out. Classy, eh?

This is a small museum tucked away on RT. 2A in Lexington not far from the Village Green where all those events took place long ago. They are associated with the Masons and it is evident in the ruler and level symbols scattered around the building.
The good things about the museum are:
~ it is free, completely and totally.
~ the air conditioning was just what we needed on a hot day like today
~ it wasn’t crowded
~ they had some beautfiul quilts in one of their exhibits
~ it is well signed and marked
There aren’t really any bad things other than it being a little outdated in some ways. There is a large exhibit (I’m assuming permanent) about the history of the Masons and one on the American Revolution. They also had some really cool clocks on display. Not a bad place to visit if you want to just slow down for a while and avoid the crowds.