The Institute of Contemporary Art is Boston’s leading museum dedicated to the art of our time, dramatically perched on the edge of Boston Harbor in the Seaport District. Its striking, cantilevered glass-and-steel building, designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro and opened in 2006, projects out over the waterfront and frames sweeping harbor views from its galleries and a signature glass-walled “Mediatheque.” The architecture alone has made it a landmark of the city’s revitalized waterfront.
Inside, the ICA presents rotating exhibitions of contemporary painting, sculpture, photography, video and performance, drawing from a permanent collection that has grown substantially in recent decades. The museum also runs a robust schedule of talks, performances and programs, and operates a separate seasonal Watershed space across the harbor in East Boston. With its harborside setting, the ICA pairs naturally with a stroll along the Seaport’s Harborwalk, and its waterfront terrace is a fine spot to take in the view.
Good to know
- Generally ticketed, but the ICA offers free admission on Thursday evenings (advance tickets typically required) and free entry for visitors 18 and under.
- The contemporary building and harbor-facing galleries are an attraction in themselves; don’t miss the cantilevered Mediatheque.
- Set on the Seaport Harborwalk, easy to combine with a waterfront walk; the seasonal Watershed space sits across the harbor in East Boston.
- Check the official ICA site for current hours, free-night reservation rules and special exhibition pricing.
Getting there
- Address: 25 Harbor Shore Drive, Boston, MA 02210
- Neighborhood: Seaport District (South Boston Waterfront)
- Nearest T: Courthouse or World Trade Center (Silver Line SL1/SL2/SL3); transfer from South Station on the Red Line