Sea Monsters: Wonders of Nature and Imagination

Embark on a daring voyage into the depths of human imagination at the Harvard Museum of Natural History’s new exhibition, Sea Monsters: Wonders of Nature and Imagination. Featuring ancient mariners' maps, literature, works of art, and natural history specimens, this exhibit explores the allure of serpents, krakens, and other monsters of the deep. Peer into the minds of scholars from centuries past, and study sea creatures whose real lives are often more astonishing than the fantastical beings we might have imagined. Dive into the ocean of human consciousness, where dreams and fears entwine with reality, offering profound insights into our world and ourselves. Join us in unraveling the mysteries of the deep sea and the human psyche, where sea monsters—both real and imagined—beckon us to explore the unknown.

Harvard Museum of Natural History

Measuring Difference

Today, measurement is everywhere. We understand everything around us in inches, degrees, gallons, decibels, and more. But measurements are human inventions. It is through measures that we learn to see difference, to compare the world. In the Americas, colonial powers introduced new measurements to describe and exploit the “New World.” Existing ways of understanding and explaining the world and our relationship to others were displaced, cementing European measures as norms and tools of authority. Using examples from across the Americas, this exhibit illustrates what—and who—was measured, and how. See museum website for gallery closures.

Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments

I ♥ Science

Shake off the winter blues and let your inner scientist loose. This popular annual event offers the opportunity to interact with professional scientists and amateur collectors while trying your hand at simple science explorations. Meet Harvard scientists who study extinct animals, zombie flies, and black holes! Learn from the Boston Mineral Club and MassWildlife. Bring your rock, mineral, or fossil samples to discuss with local collectors. Create colorful shadows while exploring light. Design a button portraying your favorite part of the natural world. This event has something for everyone and is appropriate for children and adults of all ages. Regular museum admission rates apply. Free event parking at the 52 Oxford Street Garage. Presented by the Harvard Museum of Natural History and the Harvard Museums of Science &amp; Culture.

ArtsThursdays: Cozy Winter Glow

Join us for a free, fun night at the Harvard Museums of Science &amp; Culture!  Come with a date, come with friends, or make new friends while strolling through the galleries. <ul><li>Explore all 22 galleries of the Harvard Museum of Natural History and Peabody Museum.</li><li>Create a paper lantern inspired by the Lunar New Year with Cambridge-based artist<a href="https://www.instagram.com/hehe.li/"> Zhonghe (Elena) Li</a>. Suggested ages 10 and up.</li><li>Enjoy hot chocolate and other beverages available for purchase. Valid government ID required to consume alcoholic beverages.</li><li>Enter a free raffle to win museum gifts and membership.</li></ul>Free and open to the public. Let us know you are coming! RSVPs are encouraged, but walk-in visitors are always welcome. Free event parking at the <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/52+Oxford+St,+Cambridge,+MA+02138/@42.3801643,-71.1153065,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x89e37740b4804b09:0x1ca7c4a4324b1694!8m2!3d42.3801643!4d-71.1153065!16s%2Fg%2F11c2133ff1">52 Oxford Street Garage</a>. <a href="https://www.harvard.edu/artsthursdays/">ArtsThursdays</a> is a university-wide initiative supported by Harvard University Committee on the Arts.

Science Spotlight: Sweaty Shrubs

Meet up-and-coming scientists and learn about questions at the forefront of research today in this series of short talks. Speaker: Melissa Mai, Graduate Student, the Holbrook Lab How do plants deal with too much salt? From the world's driest desert and tropical coastlines to your own neighborhood, plants get exposed to more salt than they’d like. Some plants have developed unique adaptations to handle extra salt, including a shrub that sweats! Join Harvard scientist Melissa Mai as she explains how multiple branches of science come together to help unearth this shrub’s secrets. 20-minute talk followed by 10-minute Q&amp;A session. Recommended for ages 10 and up. Regular museum admission rates apply. Presented by the Harvard Museum of Natural History and Harvard Museums of Science &amp; Culture.

Harvard Museum of Natural History, Classroom B (Third Floor)

Marvelous Holograms: Teen Saturdays Workshop

Use a Merge Cube to bring artifacts to life as 3D holograms. Integrating the magic of augmented and virtual reality, teens will hold, manipulate, and magnify objects typically viewed in a no-touch environment, providing a fresh way to see museum exhibits. “Handle” an intricately decorated Maya chocolate plate or a delicate Egyptian figurine. Examine ancient artifacts and specimens in the palm of your hand. Through hands-on activities, teens will make their own 3D objects. Teen Saturdays Workshops are designed to build community and improve the museum experience for multicultural and Spanish-speaking teens. Workshops are presented bilingually in Spanish and English. Snacks provided! $10 fee includes free admission to all HMSC museums following the workshop. Teens in high school ages 14–18 receive a membership worth $100 after attending three or more 2024 fall semester Teen Saturday Workshops. Or, receive a free admission pass (worth $15) for a return visit if you attend one of the four sessions. September 14: Inside Egyptian Tombs October 5: Creative 3D Design November 9: Animating Ancient Assyria December 7: Marvelous Holograms Bring a smartphone. A limited number of tablets will be available for loan. Make a note on your registration form if you want to borrow one. <a href="https://reservations.hmsc.harvard.edu/Info.aspx?EventID=9">Advance registration required by Friday, December 6</a> Presented by the Peabody Museum of Archaeology &amp; Ethnology, the Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East, and the Harvard Museums of Science &amp; Culture.

Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology

Family Activities at the Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East

Join Harvard Museums of Science &amp; Culture volunteers for a live story reading and hands-on, family-friendly activities at the Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East. Recommended for ages 5–12. Admission to the museum is free. Sponsored by the Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East and the Harvard Museums of Science &amp; Culture.

Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East

Spanish Story Time

Drop in on Spanish Story Time to hear a book read in both English and Spanish by bilingual museum educator Javier Marin. This event is designed for families with children ages 3–8 who are Spanish speakers or learning the language. After the story, families are encouraged to join a Spanish-first exploration of museum specimens and natural history in a museum classroom. This is a safe space to practice Spanish conversation and build a community. Whether you’re fluent or just beginning to learn, everyone is welcome! Regular museum admission rates apply. Sponsored by the Harvard Museum of Natural History and the Harvard Museums of Science &amp; Culture.

Harvard Museum of Natural History, Romer Hall

ArtsThursdays: Celebrating Native American Craft Brewers

Enter at Harvard Museum of Natural History, 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge&nbsp; Join us for a free, fun night at the Harvard Museums of Science &amp; Culture. Come with a date, come with friends, or make new friends while strolling through the galleries. <ul><li>Explore the art of craft beer making from 6:00 to 7:00 pm with the founders of <a href="https://www.bowandarrowbrewing.com/">Bow &amp; Arrow Brewing Co</a>., based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the executive director of the <a href="https://www.beerculturecenter.org/beerculturecenter">Beer Culture Center</a>, a Chicago nonprofit dedicated to sharing global stories of beer (details below).</li><li>Participate in beer-themed activities.</li><li>Purchase local beers curated for the event at the cash bar (valid government ID required to consume alcoholic beverages).</li><li>Enter a free raffle to win museum gifts and membership.</li></ul>Free and open to the public. Let us know you are coming! RSVPs are encouraged, but walk-in visitors are always welcome. Free event parking at the <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/52+Oxford+St,+Cambridge,+MA+02138/@42.3801643,-71.1153065,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x89e37740b4804b09:0x1ca7c4a4324b1694!8m2!3d42.3801643!4d-71.1153065!16s%2Fg%2F11c2133ff1">52 Oxford Street Garage</a>. <a href="https://www.harvard.edu/artsthursdays/">ArtsThursdays</a> is a university-wide initiative supported by Harvard University Committee on the Arts. Conversation, 6:00–7:00 pm, Geological Lecture Hall, 24 Oxford Street, Cambridge Shyla Sheppard, Founder, President &amp; CEO, Bow &amp; Arrow Brewing Co. Missy Begay, Co-Founder &amp; Creative Director, Bow &amp; Arrow Brewing Co. Liz Garibay, Executive Director, Beer Culture Center

Harvard Museum of Natural History,

Science Spotlights: Finding New Species

Meet up-and-coming scientists and learn about questions at the forefront of research today in this series of short talks. Thalles Lavinscky Pereira, Biodiversity Fellow, Farrell Lab Scientists estimate that there are over 7.5 million species of plants and animals that have yet to be discovered and described. But in a world in which extinction may outpace discovery, how can citizen scientists get involved? Join Thalles Lavinscky Pereira as he shares how residents in Alaska helped him discover and describe a new species of snake worm gnat and learn how you, too, can participate in the scientific process. 20-minute talk followed by 10-minute Q&amp;A session. Recommended for ages 10 and up. Regular museum admission rates apply. Presented by the Harvard Museum of Natural History and Harvard Museums of Science &amp; Culture.

Animating Ancient Assyria: Teen Saturdays Workshop

Take a time machine to an ancient Assyrian royal palace! In this workshop, teens will be introduced to augmented reality using Snapchat features to overlay digital content on exhibits. Explore art from 640 BCE that depicts royal victories, lion hunts, epic battles, and ancient rituals. Watch stone monuments spring to life with color and movement. Through activities, teens will decide what other exhibits should get the Snapchat lens treatment. <a href="https://reservations.hmsc.harvard.edu/Info.aspx?EventID=9">Advance registration required</a> by Friday, November 8 <a href="https://hmsc.harvard.edu/hear/">Teen Saturdays Workshops</a> are designed to build community and improve the museum experience for multicultural and Spanish-speaking teens. Workshops are presented bilingually in Spanish and English. Snacks provided! $10 fee includes free admission to all HMSC museums following the workshop.&nbsp; Teens in high school ages 14–18 receive a membership worth $100 after attending three or more 2024 fall semester Teen Saturday Workshops. Or, receive a free admission pass (worth $15) for a return visit if you attend one of the four sessions.&nbsp; <ul><li>September 14: <a href="https://hmsc.harvard.edu/calendar_event/inside-egyptian-tombs-teen-saturdays-workshop/">Inside Egyptian Tombs</a></li><li>October 5: <a href="https://hmsc.harvard.edu/calendar_event/creative-3d-design-teen-saturdays-workshop/">Creative 3D Design</a></li><li>November 9: <a href="https://hmsc.harvard.edu/calendar_event/animating-ancient-assyria-teen-saturdays-workshop/">Animating Ancient Assyria</a></li><li>December 7: <a href="https://hmsc.harvard.edu/calendar_event/marvelous-holograms-teen-saturdays-workshop/">Marvelous Holograms</a></li></ul>Bring a smartphone. A limited number of tablets will be available for loan. Make a note on your registration form if you want to borrow one. Presented by the Peabody Museum of Archaeology &amp; Ethnology, the Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East, and the Harvard Museums of Science &amp; Culture.

Reactions in Action! Crystal Chemistry

Have you ever wondered how crystals form or why they often have such vibrant colors? Maybe you visited the museum’s mineral gallery and want to learn more about what makes a crystal a crystal. If this sounds like you, join us for a half-hour of exciting chemistry demos performed by Harvard chemists! Soon, you’ll appreciate everything that makes crystals special, from the ones you can see and touch to the tiniest structures invisible to the naked eye! Speakers: Graduate Students and Postdocs from Harvard’s Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology (CCB Outreach) Vidhya Dev Miranda Walter Daniel Laorenza Matthew Drummer Lucy Yang Ethan Yang Feng Regular museum admission rates apply. Recommended for ages 10 and up.

Day of the Dead Celebration

Learn more about this joyful holiday, a national symbol of Mexico. <ul><li>enjoy craft activities</li><li>personalize a sugar skull (extra fee)</li><li>watch a concert of mariachi music with folk dancing at 1:30</li><li>savor traditional pan de muerto (extra fee)</li><li>write a message to departed loved ones for the museum altar</li><li>purchase alebrijes, Oaxacan wood carvings</li><li>hot chocolate and beverages available for purchase</li></ul>See website for full details and schedule. Regular museum admission rates apply. Activities are free except where noted. Free event parking at the <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/52+Oxford+St,+Cambridge,+MA+02138/@42.3801643,-71.1153065,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x89e37740b4804b09:0x1ca7c4a4324b1694!8m2!3d42.3801643!4d-71.1153065!16s%2Fg%2F11c2133ff1">52 Oxford Street Garage</a>, a 7-minute walk to the museum.  Photo EJSP Visual|Julieta Sarmiento

Gods, Warriors, and Stars: A Close Relationship in Chichén Itzá

María Teresa Uriarte Castañeda, Researcher, Instituto de Investigaciones Estéticas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) Chichén Itzá—a World Heritage Site—is the most important archaeological record of the fusion between Maya and the so-called Toltec civilizations in the Yucatan Peninsula. The site’s monuments, dating to the 10th–15th centuries, showcase both Maya and foreign architectural elements, and have been the subject of multiple investigations and interpretations. In this lecture, María Teresa Uriarte Castañeda will discuss the columns and bas-relief sculptures from the Temple of Warriors, depicting deities, warriors, feathered serpents and other serpents, interacting with celestial bodies, such as the Sun, the Moon, and Venus. Uriarte’s analysis will highlight how this iconography reflects the political, social, and religious unrest of the Late Classic period in Mesoamerica (600–900 AD), and the new worldviews that developed during this period. <a href="https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=9CL6b2hFBUGtQy461HJpVwaEfAvKIKRHjDqup5ZqIVNUOTBOT09CU1RIVzBZQ1NGVEVFQUxMWE01Sy4u">Register for In–Person</a> <a href="https://harvard.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uB6goRo-TrmW2ZxL1bBb8w#/registration">Register for Online</a> Free admission. Free event parking at the 52 Oxford Street Garage. Presented by the Peabody Museum of Archaeology &amp; Ethnology and the Harvard Museums of Science &amp; Culture in collaboration with the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies and the Moses Mesoamerican Archive, Harvard University.

Geological Lecture Hall

Science Spotlights: Micro Machines and Cell Division

Meet up-and-coming scientists and learn about questions at the forefront of research today in this series of short talks. Maya Waarts-Graduate Student (Molecular and Cellular Biology), The Needleman Lab Every day, there are about 2 trillion cell divisions in your body, facilitated by a tiny but mighty molecular machine: the mitotic spindle. Join Harvard scientist Maya Waarts as she walks through what we know about the spindle and how exactly we know it. Is it soft? Is it squishy? Learn about all the science experiments that help answer this question! 20-minute talk followed by 10-minute Q&amp;A session. Recommended for ages 10 and up. Regular museum admission rates apply. Presented by the Harvard Museum of Natural History and Harvard Museums of Science &amp; Culture

S22: conversations

Wondering what to do in Boston? Places to eat? Free activities? Good for a group? Date night spot? Girls night out? The best things to do? Ask Joyraft!

Best places to go in Boston? Things to do? Places to eat?

Questions & answers about things to do in Boston

Recs 💬

Community recs 💬

S4: top picks

The most fun, cool and unique things to do in Boston. Can’t miss events, shows and experiences. Concerts, restaurants, bars, free things in Boston and beyond.

The most fun and cool events happening around Boston

Hot and new things to do in Boston

Hot & new

Hot & new 🔥

S11: happening this weekend

What to do in Boston this weekend? From festivals, concerts, performances, free events, screenings and more, Joyraft has the best things to do in Boston.

25+ things to do in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville this weekend

Things to do in Boston this weekend

This wknd

This weekend for you

S21: roundups

Our top picks: outdoor dining, free events, spring festivals, best bars, upcoming concerts, museum parties - the latest in and around Boston.  Slug: joyraft-top-picks-best-things-to-do-boston-ma

Top picks of the best things to do in and around Boston

Joyraft picks: Boston’s best things to do

Roundups ⭐️

Curated by Joyraft ⭐️

S28: calendar experiences

This week in Boston

This week in Boston 📆

This week 📆

S20: c+d experiences

Discover new, unique events and experiences happening in and around Boston. Perfect for date night, good for a group or with a friend. Be the first to know.

The newest events happening in and around Boston

The newest events on Joyraft

Just added

Just added to Joyraft

S16: editor picks

The most unique and can’t miss things coming up in Boston / Cambridge / Somerville and beyond. Festivals, food, drinks, fairs, concerts, art and free activities.

Unique and Can’t Miss Things to Do in Boston

Can’t-miss things to do in Boston 🚨

Can't-miss things to do 🚨

S2 (A): top experiences

The most popular things to do on Joyraft. Concerts, restaurants, bars, events, parties, openings, kid friendly, date ideas, free things in Boston and beyond.

Top 20 things to do in Boston

Top 20: Joyraft’s most popular

Top 20

Top 20 on Joyraft

S3 (A): trending experiences

Discover can’t miss events and things to do in Boston. The most fun, unique and cool events coming to the Boston area this spring and summer.

The hottest events happening in Boston

Trending events on Joyraft

Trending 📈

S17: interest based

Your guide to everything free in and around Boston. From events, to fairs, to festivals, to outdoors. Joyraft has all the free events happening near you.

100+ free things to do in Boston and beyond

Free things to do in Boston

Free things to do

S19: interest based

Discover kid-friendly fun in Boston, Massachusetts, and surrounding areas! Enjoy hands-on exhibits at the Boston Children’s Museum, explore the New England Aquarium, and visit the Franklin Park Zoo. Find parks, playgrounds, and seasonal events perfect for families across Massachusetts.

Top 20 kid-friendly things to do in Boston, MA

Kid-friendly things to do in Boston

Kid-friendly events

S18: interest based

Where to eat and drink in Boston? Joyraft has Boston’s newest bars, restaurants and specials. Drinks and pre fixe dinner menus. Cambridge & Somerville too.