The Commonwealth Museum sits on the Columbia Point peninsula in Dorchester, sharing a building with the Massachusetts Archives next to the University of Massachusetts Boston campus and the JFK Presidential Library. Operated by the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, it tells the story of Massachusetts from the colonial era to the present using documents, artifacts and interactive exhibits drawn from the state’s vast archival collections.
Among its highlights are some of the nation’s most significant founding documents, including the 1780 Massachusetts Constitution, the oldest functioning written constitution in the world. The museum’s location on Columbia Point places it within a cluster of civic and cultural institutions, making it easy to combine with a visit to the JFK Library or the Kennedy Institute. Admission is free, and exhibits emphasize how Massachusetts history shaped broader American democracy. Check the official site for current hours and any special exhibitions before visiting.
Good to know
- Admission is free; operated by the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth
- Shares a building with the Massachusetts Archives on the UMass Boston campus
- Displays historic state documents, including the 1780 Massachusetts Constitution
- Easily paired with the neighboring JFK Library and EMK Institute on Columbia Point
Getting there
- Address: 220 Morrissey Blvd, Boston, MA 02125
- Neighborhood: Dorchester (Columbia Point)
- Nearest T: JFK/UMass (MBTA Red Line), then the free UMass Boston shuttle (Bus #1) to the Archives stop