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Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Top choice in Cambridge


The Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers a different perspective on academia. MIT has a proud history of pushing the boundaries, from its innovative architecture and oddball art to its cutting-edge technology and playful pranks. Campus tours depart from the MIT Information Center.

Of all the eye-catching buildings on the MIT campus, none has received more attention than the Ray & Maria Stata Center, an avant-garde edifice that was designed by architectural legend Frank Gehry. Other worthwhile stops on campus include the MIT Museum and the List Visual Arts Center. You can also pick up or download a map of MIT’s fantastic collection of public art.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Cambridge attractions

1. Ray & Maria Stata Center

0.28 MILES

The Stata Center for Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) was designed by the renowned architect, Frank Gehry. Like something out…

2. MIT Museum

0.3 MILES

Only the mischief-makers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) would come up with the kind of quirky stuff that's on display here. An exhibit on…

3. List Visual Arts Center

0.3 MILES

The stated goal of the List Center is to explore the boundaries of artistic inquiry – to use art to ask questions, not only about aesthetics, but also…

4. Citgo Sign

0.7 MILES

London has Big Ben, Paris has the Eiffel Tower and Boston has the Citgo sign. It’s an unlikely landmark in this high-minded city, but Bostonians love the…

5. Charles River Esplanade

0.83 MILES

The southern bank of the Charles River Basin is an enticing urban escape, with grassy knolls and cooling waterways, all designed by Frederick Law Olmsted…

6. Fenway Park

0.91 MILES

Home of the Boston Red Sox since 1912, Fenway Park is the oldest operating baseball park in the country. As such, the park has many quirks that make for a…

7. Mugar Memorial Library

0.94 MILES

The special collections of BU’s Mugar Memorial Library are housed in the Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center, an outstanding 20th-century archive that…

8. Back Bay Fens

0.96 MILES

The Back Bay Fens, or the Fenway, follows the Muddy River, an aptly named creek that is choked with tall reeds. The Fens features well-cared-for community…