Worcester Art Museum: An Impressive Massachusetts Gem
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Worcester Art Museum, the second largest art museum in New England, is a gorgeous 4 floor facility which displays over 35,000 impressive works of art. It opened in 1898, making it one of the older art institutions in the state. The extensive and diverse collection includes mosaics, European and American paintings, Roman & Greek art, an interesting Egyptian and Asian collection, modern art, and much more!
The museum is a quick drive from Boston (approx an hour), so the perfect daytrip destination. Mike and I decided to take a quick daytrip here from the Providence area. We love checking out different art museums across the country, no matter where we are living or traveling.
I was truly impressed by the collection here despite it receiving so little press compared to the big city museums. If you are an art lover, you have to check it out. I was especially wowed by the stained glass art.
The Renaissance Court
My first impression was that the architecture inside the building itself is very impressive. The Renaissance Court is stunning; take a look at those beautiful arches! It also houses the largest floor mosaic in the US. This alone is a reason to visit this beautiful museum.
This mosaic is named the Hunt mosaic. According to the museum, it dates back to the 6th century. It was excavated from a luxury villa in Daphne, a suburb of ancient Antioch (which today is Turkey). It’s pretty massive at 20×30 feet and weighing over 25,000 pounds! Here is a closer look, but of course I recommend visiting in person to truly take it in.
The contemporary collection
This was my favorite collection to browse through in this museum. Everything is so colorful and eccentric, really eye catching to say the least. Take a look at a few of my favorite pieces! A lot of this artwork is quite weird, but I guess that is part of its’ appeal!
The historical collection
Ornates: Ancient Statues from South Italy exhibit features 2 statues which date back to the 3rd Century BCE. According to the museum, less than 100 of these unique statues exist.
A stone slab (from a tomb) which dates back to the 2nd century A.D.
I absolutely loved the stained glass collection. This is one of my favorite parts of the museum. Truly an impressive collection unlike anything I’ve seen elsewhere. Take a few looks below.
The Chapter House is an amazing piece of Medieval architecture with beautiful Gothic stone arches. It was used as a meeting place by the Monks in the 12th century. According to the museum, each stone was moved separately and the house rebuilt completely inside the museum in 1933.
This museum houses a surprisingly large collection of impressive art for a city of its’ size. Not only is the artwork beautiful, but also the museum building itself. I was definitely impressed and would 100% return again to explore more.
Tip: Take advantage of free admission days (check the website for this year’s dates). This is a huge discount, so definitely take advantage of this deal if you are on a budget! With the money saved, you can visit a nice restaurant in town.
Dining in Worcester
In addition, you will find many great restaurants outside of the museum in Worcester for dining before or after your visit. I recommend Nu Cafe, just a short drive away. This is a cozy little local cafe which serves great coffee and sandwiches. The space is huge with plenty of nooks to enjoy a cup of local coffee, ready, study, or simply enjoy a great lunch. We originally stopped here a cup of coffee and pastry in the morning before strolling the museum and ended up coming back for lunch too because we loved the cozy vibe.
Update: Mike and I have explored so many great places in our 2+ years living in this region. This museum definitely makes my list of top places to explore. You can check out my New England tourist attractions guide for details on other wonderful attractions to add to your must-see list.
Additional Details
- Art Museum Address: 55 Salisbury Street Worcester, MA 01609
- Museum Gallery & Gift Shop Hours: 10am-4pm (closed Monday and Tuesday)
- Museum Cafe Hours: Wednesday-Saturday: 11:30am-2:00pm
- Admission Prices: $22 per adults, $17 for seniors & college students, Kids 17 and under are free.
Pricing & hours current as of 2026 and subject to change.
