Woodworking things to see in Boston?

[William Long]

I'll be traveling to Boston in a week and was wondering if there were any recomendations for woodworking sites; stores, museums, etc.

[Keith Starosta]

The last time my wife and I visited Boston, we stayed in an apartment directly next door to the Thomas Moser studio. It's directly across the street from the Boston Commons. For a woodworker, it was very cool to see the workmanship. I'd definitely check it out...

http://www.thosmoser.com/showroom.detail.php?showroom_id=25


- Keith

[Randy Hock]

The North Bennett School is worth checking out. They have a small show room of student work (some of which is museum quality) and a limited selection of specialty hand tools (for example luthier planes) for sale. http://www.nbss.edu/
You might want to contact them to get a tour of the facilities. We just walked in on a weekend and couldn't see a lot.

Gloucester is just up the road ("site" of the perfect storm) and has the The Cape Ann Museum with some truly fine examples of early American furniture.

Randy

[Jamie Buxton]

There's been articles here on the woodworking involved in maintaining Old Ironsides. Think huge timber-framed building that floats.

[Randy Reitz]

How about Hancock Shaker Village and Plimouth Plantation?

[Kenneth Speed]

I'd make it a point to visit the new American wing of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. They have lots of great furniture from different eras and different places. A whole room dedicated to the Goddards and Townsends! Some Seymour pieces too. I don't know if is a permanent exhibit or not but they had a great show of Traditional Chinese furniture that was very interesting.

Hancock Shaker Village might be too far away for you. It's about a hundred miles west of Boston and is closer to Albany NY than Boston.

Enjoy Boston!


Ken

[Greg Caputo]

If you have a car, take a drive down the Pike to Old Sturbridge Village. Less than an hour west of Boston. Norm based several of his shows on pieces he found there. Well worth a visit both for woodworking and to learn about life in New England after the Revolutionary War into the early 1800's.

Greg

[Michael Panis]

Let's not forget the relatively new American wing at the Museum of Fine Art. There is an entire section of furniture, including a nice display showing chair designs over time.

---Mike

[Carl Beckett]

If you are interested in something hands on, there is a guy just North of Boston that has a hobby shop.

He is just a hack - but there is always some sanding to do......... ;)

[Kevin Bourque]

I forget the name of the place, but they build and restore old wood boats. Very cool to see these guys working a gigantic beam through their gigantic band saw. :)

[Dave Lewis]

Try the Peabody-Essex museum - but don't wait until Halloween like we di.

No so much woodworking, but nice selection of American paintings.

http://pem.org/

[Jim Matthews]

For anyone that has not driven in, or around Boston - don't do it on your first visit.

The T is safe, fast, and requires no parking fees.
If you want comfort - pay the premium for a cab.

I find Boston very much a walkable city, particularly after the rush hour.

http://www.mbta.com/schedules_and_maps/subway/

+1 on the North Bennett street school, call ahead to arrange a tour.
The cool stuff is in the section where students are completing their studies.

[Kenneth Speed]

"Let's not forget the relatively new American wing at the Museum of Fine Art. There is an entire section of furniture, including a nice display showing chair designs over time."


So Mike, did I use invisible ink? Laughing!

Ken

[Rick Lizek]

Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Gallery Naga, Fuller Craft Museum in near by Brockton would be my choices. Look up their websites...