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During your Boston vacation, don't miss these great establishments and attractions:
The Institute of Contemporary Art
Across from the Hynes Convention Center, the ICA mounts rotating exhibits of 20th- and 21st-century art, including painting, sculpture, photography, and video and performance art. Its shows are among the most imaginative around, focusing on everything from baseball to Mexico. The institute also offers films, lectures, musical performances, poetry readings, and educational programs for children and adults. The 1886 building, originally a police station, is a showpiece in its own right.The ICA's profile is on the rise. It's in the process of building a new museum at Fan Pier, on the South Boston waterfront near the federal courthouse. A $37 million project designed by the pioneering New York firm Diller + Scofidio, the new building is scheduled to open in 2006. Check this space for details and updates in future editions.
Commonwealth Museum/Massachusetts Archives
The nearby Kennedy Library explores the history of one of Boston's most famous families; here, you might find your own clan's history. The Commonwealth Museum has videos, slide shows, and interactive exhibits on the state's people, places, and politics. Topics covered recently in the regularly changing exhibits include the archaeology of the Big Dig, the Civil War, and state history. In the same building, the state archives contain passenger lists for ships that arrived in Boston from 1848 to 1891; state census schedules that date to 1790; and documents, maps, and military and court records starting with the Massachusetts Bay Company (1628-29). Knowledgeable staff members are on hand to answer researchers' questions in person, by mail, or by phone. This is a worthwhile detour on the way to or from the Kennedy Library.
Nichols House Museum
A stroll around Beacon Hill can leave visitors wishing to know what the stately homes look like inside. This is one of the only places to satisfy your curiosity. This 1804 home is decorated with beautiful antique furnishings collected by several generations of the Nichols family. Its most prominent occupant, Rose Standish Nichols, was a suffragist and a pioneering landscape designer. Her legacy includes not just family heirlooms but objects she brought back from her many travels. Open days may vary, so call ahead.
The Eliot Hotel
In fashionable Back Bay, steps away from the boutiques and restaurants of Newbury Street near Copley Square shopping and within easy reach of Boston's prestigious cultural centers and Universities, The Eliot Hotel's guests bask in the luxury and service experienced in the finest European boutique hotels. The exquisite pleasure of dining in award winning Clio Restaurant and the sleek Uni Sashimi Bar completes guest's enjoyment of this graceful property overlooking tree-lined Commonwealth ...
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