To select a museum, click “Details/Reserve”, then select which Pass to reserve.
Saturday, February 1, 2025
Boston Children’s Museum
308 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210
617-426-6500
http://www.bostonchildrensmuseum.org/
[Details/Reserve]
Founded in 1913 by the Science Teachers’ Bureau, the Boston Children’s Museum is the second oldest children’s museum in the world and one of the few that maintain a collection. Designed for both children and families, the Museum exhibits focus on science, culture, environmental awareness, health & fitness, and the arts, emphasizing hands-on engagement and learning through experience, and employing play as a tool to spark the inherent creativity, curiosity, and imagination of children.
Categories: Children, Crafts, Family, Technology
Pass Type: Printable/Digital Coupon Pass (link delivered by email)
Pass Benefits
(PRINTABLE) 1 pass admits 4 people at half price admission. FOR NEEDHAM RESIDENTS ONLY.
After receiving a library discount coupon from the library, patrons must then reserve their visit online with Boston Children’s Museum. Due to safety measures walk-ins are not allowed.
Concord Museum
200 Lexington Road, Concord, MA 01742
978-369-9763
http://www.concordmuseum.org/
[Details/Reserve]
Founded in 1886, the Concord Museum is a repository of local history and a gateway to the town of Concord. It educates visitors from around the world about the history of Concord and its continuing influence on American political, literary and cultural life through permanent and changing exhibits, educational programs and publications. Its collection contains a range of unique items from the area, including a Paul Revere lantern; many objects that once belonged to Henry David Thoreau; a reproduction of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s study; and furniture, artwork, and objects from the colonial era on.
Pass Type: Circulating Pass (must be picked up and returned to the branch)
Pass Benefits
(RETURNABLE) Each pass admits 4 people at $5.00 off regular admission. Children under 6 are always free.
FOR NEEDHAM RESIDENTS ONLY.
The Danforth
14 Vernon Street, Framingham, MA 01701
508-215-5110
https://danforth.framingham.edu/
[Details/Reserve]
The Danforth is an art museum and school that opened in Framingham in 1975. After a closure of three years, the museum reopened in 2019 in a newly renovated location on Centre Common. It has six galleries, one dedicated to its collection of American art from the 1800s up to the present; a second containing the work of the African-American female sculptor Meta Vaux Warrick Fuller; and four used as spaces for changing exhibitions. The museum's permanent collection includes work by Gilbert Stuart, Charles Sprague Pearce, Eastman Johnson, Albert Bierstadt, and Thomas Hart Benton, as well as work by the Boston Expressionists and contemporary artists such as Faith Ringgold, Richard Yarde, Barbara Grad, Andrew Stevovich, and Jason Berger.
Categories: Art, Children, Family
Pass Type: Coupon Pass (must be picked up from the branch, but does not require returning)
Pass Benefits
(COUPON) This pass admits 4 guests free of charge. FOR NEEDHAM RESIDENTS ONLY.
Garden in the Woods (Native Plant Trust)
180 Hemenway Road, Framingham, MA 01701
508-877-7630
http://www.nativeplanttrust.org/
[Details/Reserve]
The Garden in the Woods (Native Plant Trust) displays rare and common native New England plants in a naturalistic setting at its location in Framingham, Massachusetts, attracting visitors from all over the world. Set on 45 acres, it includes two miles of paths that meander over glacier-sculpted ridges and through narrow valleys. A pond, a wooded bog, several springs, and a brook bring a diversity of wildlife into the garden. The garden is maintained by the Native Plant Trust, which works throughout New England to monitor and protect rare and endangered plants, collect and bank seeds for biological diversity, control invasive species, conduct research, and educate the public.
Pass Type: Circulating Pass (must be picked up and returned to the branch)
Pass Benefits
(RETURNABLE) Pass admits 1 adult. Children under 5 are free. Garden is open mid-April to mid-October. Pass is for NEEDHAM RESIDENTS ONLY.
Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston
25 Harbor Shore Drive, Boston, MA 02210
617-478-3100
https://www.icaboston.org/
[Details/Reserve]
The building that houses the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston on Fan Pier is the first in the US designed by the architectural firm of Diller Scofidio + Renfro. The museum was founded in 1936 as a sister institution to New York’s MoMA, though it had no permanent collection until starting one after moving into the new building on the waterfront in 2006. In addition to the collection, changing exhibitions, music, dance, film, talks, tours, family activities, and teen programming are offered throughout the year.
Categories: Art, Family, Music, Dance
Pass Type: Printable/Digital Coupon Pass (link delivered by email)
Pass Benefits
(PRINTABLE) Pass admits two people with a $10.00 fee per person. The ICA is always free to children 18 and under. The ICA is free to the public on Thursday nights from 5:00 - 9:00, courtesy of Target. FOR NEEDHAM RESIDENTS ONLY
How to redeem this pass:
ONLINE
• Advance tickets are recommended and can be purchased online: https://www.icaboston.org/
• Click on “Buy Tickets” and select your chosen date for ICA General Museum Admission
• Click on “Library Pass Coupon” ticket price. Anyone 18 and under receive complimentary
admission and should use the ticket price “Youth (0-12)” or “Youth (13-18)”
• Follow steps to complete order. Your ICA tickets will be emailed to you.
• When you arrive at the ICA, proceed to the visitor services desk with your tickets and your
library pass. Please show this pass to the staff member at the Visitor Services desk. If you
have questions about the online ordering system, contact visitorservices@icaboston.org.
IN PERSON
• We recommend purchasing advance tickets online, however tickets can be arranged in
person at the Visitor Services desk by showing this pass to the staff member. Hours and
days of operation can be found on the website: https://www.icaboston.org/visit
Your ticket is valid for entry any time during the date selected. Last entry to the museum
is 20 minutes prior to closing time. Tickets are final sale.
Mass Audubon has over 55 wildlife sanctuaries and centers throughout Massachusetts where visitors can learn about and interact with nature. More than 38,000 acres of protected land deliver inspiring hilltop views to breathtaking coastal landscapes, serene woods, and working farms. Visit their website for a list of locations.
Categories: Children, Family, Nature, Recreation
Pass Type: Printable/Digital Coupon Pass (link delivered by email)
Pass Benefits
(PRINTABLE) This one-day Library Partner Admission Pass admits up to 4 people to a Mass Audubon wildlife sanctuary. With this pass, admission is discounted to $2 per visitor over the age of 2. FOR NEEDHAM RESIDENTS ONLY.
Please visit https://www.massaudubon.org/get-outdoors/wildlife-sanctuaries/trails for the latest information, including safety guidelines.
Membership #49705
Expiration: 5/31/2025
Massachusetts State Parks (Department of Conservation and Recreation)
251 Causeway Street, Suite 900, Boston, MA 02114-2104
617-626-1250
http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dcr/massparks/
[Details/Reserve]
The Massachusetts State Parks have locations in all regions of the Commonwealth, from Pittsfield to Boston, and from Gloucester to Provincetown. They include beaches, wooded parks, parkways, and reservoirs, each with its own unique activities and amenities like hiking, biking, swimming and boating, camping, and more.
Categories: Children, Family, Nature, Recreation
Pass Type: Circulating Pass (must be picked up and returned to the branch)
Pass Benefits
(RETURNABLE) General admission pass to the State Parks System. ParksPass is valid for the passenger vehicle displaying this pass on rearview mirror. FOR NEEDHAM RESIDENTS ONLY
New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill
11 French Drive, Boylston, MA 01505-0598
508-869-6111
https://www.nebg.org/
[Details/Reserve]
Located in Boylston, MA, and open year-round, the New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill features carefully planned gardens and collections of ornamental, edible and native plants, with a number of trails that traverse the 132-acre property. In addition, there are many programs and events, including classes, lectures, art exhibits and concerts. The Garden is run by the Worcester County Horticultural Society, the third oldest active horticultural society in the United States.
Categories: Art, Crafts, Family, Nature
Pass Type: Circulating Pass (must be picked up and returned to the branch)
Pass Benefits
(RETURNABLE) Pass admits two guests at half-price. Children 5 and under are admitted free of charge. FOR NEEDHAM RESIDENTS ONLY. Reservations will be required for all visits through December 31, 2021. To reserve tickets, you will need to use the discount code LIBDI and then get the physical pass from the library.
Access the Ticket Reservation System at purchase.nebg.org
New England Quilt Museum
18 Shattuck St., Lowell, MA 01852
978-452-4207
http://www.nequiltmuseum.org/
[Details/Reserve]
The New England Quilt Museum, part of the Lowell National Historic Park, is fittingly located not far from the old textile manufacturing plants that made the city famous during the industrial revolution. Since its opening in 1987, it has been committed to both craft and fine arts quilts, with a permanent collection, special exhibitions, a library and resource center, classrooms, and a gift shop.
Categories: Children, Family, History
Pass Type: Circulating Pass (must be picked up and returned to the branch)
Pass Benefits
(RETURNABLE) Pass admits 2. Tuesday - Saturday, 10:00 - 4:00. Closed Sundays and Mondays. FOR NEEDHAM RESIDENTS ONLY
Peabody Essex Museum
161 Essex Street, Salem, MA 01970-3783
978-745-9500
http://www.pem.org/
[Details/Reserve]
The Peabody Essex Museum grew out of the collection of East India Marine Society, an organization of Salem captains whose charter called for acquisition of “natural and artificial curiosities.” Its permanent collection contains art and artifacts of Africa, Asia, India, China (with a Qing Dynasty house brought from the Huizhou region), Japan, Korea, Pacific Islands, and features objects of maritime art and history that include paintings, drawings, ship models, marine decorative arts, tools, weapons, navigational instruments, and ship and yacht plans. It also has a thriving changing exhibition schedule that sometimes includes important traveling shows.
Categories: Art, Family, History, Ocean
Pass Type: Printable/Digital Coupon Pass (link delivered by email)
Pass Benefits
(PRINTABLE) Each pass admits 2 visitors for $12.00 per person. The museum is open Modays 10-5, Thursdays 10-5, Friday & Saturdays 10-8, and Sundays 10-5. Children 16 and under are admitted free. Not valid for admission to Yin Yu Tang Chinese House (additional $6.00). FOR NEEDHAM RESIDENTS ONLY.
To receive library discount, patrons must first reserve their library museum pass. Then visit https://pem.org/tickets to reserve a timed entry to the museum and any events/ exhibits you wish to attend. Enter promo code LIB268183 in the upper right corner and click submit. This will bring you to the page where you select the date/time, general admission, and events/exhibits you wish to attend. Once that is completed, the next page asks Who Will Attend? Make sure to select Library Discount (do not select Adult)
For Covid-19 restrictions and protocols please visit https://www.pem.org/open/your-health-safety.
Trustees of Reservations (with deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum)
The Trustees of Reservations preserve and protect more than 100 special properties of exceptional scenic, historic, and ecological value—nearly 25,000 acres—all around Massachusetts. From Crane's Beach in Ipswich and World's End in Hingham to The Old Manse in Concord and Fruitlands Museum in Harvard, visitors to Trustees sites enjoy local history and nature in its various forms: beaches, meadows, forests, swamps and more.
In the summer of 2019, the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, the largest park of its kind in New England, became part of the Trustees. The museum, located in Lincoln, MA, encompasses nearly 30 conserved acres and presents contemporary art from New England—and beyond—with sculptures in the landscape and museum exhibitions. For a full list of locations, please visit their web site.
Categories: Art, Family, History, Nature, Recreation
Pass Type: Coupon Pass (must be picked up from the branch, but does not require returning)
Pass Benefits
(COUPON) Pass is valid for one-time use at any of the 118 Trustees properties that collect an admission fee, including the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum. Pass holder will pay an admission fee equivalent to that of a Trustees Family level membership. Two adults and children under 18 included in admission. Pass is not valid for use at Trustees parking kiosks, stores, cafes Inns, Campgrounds, at special events and programs, or in place of any permits or passes. To use GO Passes at Fruitlands, deCordova, or Castle Hill, enter the promo code "GOPASS" when securing a timed ticket. For a complete list of properties go to http://thetrustees.org/
FOR NEEDHAM RESIDENTS ONLY
USS Constitution Museum
Charlestown Navy Yard, Building 22, Charlestown, MA 02129
617-426-1812
https://ussconstitutionmuseum.org/
[Details/Reserve]
The museum, a part of the Boston National Historical Park, is located in the Charlestown Navy Yard near the ship USS Constitution (“Old Ironsides”) at the end of Boston’s Freedom Trail. The museum provides a detailed look at the history of the ship, information about the war of 1812, and the battle between the ship and HMS Java. Stories are told through interactive exhibits, unique artifacts, archival records, and artwork. The museum also includes a research library which houses a strong collection of manuscripts, books, artifacts, and microfilm of primary source material. The ship itself is maintained by the US Navy, and may be visited free of charge on certain days.
Categories: Art, Family, History, Ocean
Pass Type: Printable/Digital Coupon Pass (link delivered by email)
Pass Benefits
(PRINTABLE) Pass admits up to 9 people with free admission to the USS Constitution Museum. Museum is open daily April 1 - October 31 9:00-6:00, and November 1 - March 31 10:00-5:00.
FOR NEEDHAM RESIDENTS ONLY
Worcester Art Museum
55 Salisbury Street, Worcester, MA 01609
508-799-4406
http://www.worcesterart.org/
[Details/Reserve]
The Worcester Art Museum is recognized for its 35,000-piece collection of paintings, sculpture, decorative arts, photography, prints, drawings and new media created over the last 5 millennia. Works include those by El Greco, Monet, Rembrandt, Gauguin, van Gogh, Renoir, Cézanne, Picasso, Copley, Gilbert Stuart, Paul Revere, and Nam June Paik. Special exhibitions showcase the masterworks, seldom-seen gems, and important works on loan—including some contemporary art. Of note are the floor mosaics from the ancient city of Antioch (Syria) in the entrance, the Japanese print collection, and the “Arms and Armor” collection. There is a café, museum shop, and library on the premises.
Categories: Art, Family, History, Military
Pass Type: Circulating Pass (must be picked up and returned to the branch)
Pass Benefits
(RETURNABLE) Pass admits 2 adults at 50% off admission price. Children 17 and under are always free. FOR NEEDHAM RESIDENTS ONLY
Zoo New England
1 Franklin Park Road, Boston, MA 02121
617-541-5466
http://www.zoonewengland.org/
[Details/Reserve]
Zoo New England operates Franklin Park Zoo, a 72-acre site nestled in Boston’s historic Franklin Park, and the Stone Zoo, located on a 26-acre site near Spot Pond reservoir in Stoneham, MA. In addition to animals, both zoos are engaged in wildlife and conservation programs, research, and education.
Pass Type: Coupon Pass (must be picked up from the branch, but does not require returning)
Pass Benefits
(COUPON) Pass admits 6 people at $9.00 per adult and $6.00 per child. FOR NEEDHAM RESIDENTS ONLY.