The West End Museum is a non-profit organization. We are a neighborhood museum dedicated to the collection, preservation and interpretation of the history and culture of the West End of Boston.
Arts & Culture Business

West End Museum to Reopen July 29

The West End Museum is pleased to announce its doors will reopen to the public on Wednesday, July 29 after four-and-a-half months of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Museum will be open for its regular pre-pandemic hours, although at reduced capacity per city and state directives. As always, admission is free, but donations Read More…

Arts & Culture Event Notices

Lecture Series—Reflections on Boston’s West End: The Origins & Lessons of Urban Renewal

During the West End Museum’s closure due to COVID-19, no scheduled events will take place, regardless of their previous announcement. The Museum will do their best to reschedule all canceled events once they reopen. The West End Museum presents “Reflections on Boston’s West End: The Origins & Lessons of Urban Renewal,” a lecture series that Read More…

Announcements Event Notices

Reflections on Boston’s West End Lecture Series: Urban Renewal & the People of the West End Demolition

The West End Museum is hosting a lecture series titled “Reflections on Boston’s West End: The Origins & Lessons of Urban Renewal.” The first talk in the series will be “Urban Renewal & the People of the West End Demolition” on Wednesday, February 12, 2020 from 7 p.m. – 8 p.m. $20 per lesson ($10 Read More…

Announcements Event Notices

Book Talk: A History of African-American Cycling in Boston Feb. 22

The West End Museum is hosting author Lorenz Finison who will give a talk combining material from his first two books, Boston’s Cycling Craze and Boston’s 20th Century Bicycling Renaissance, on Saturday, February 22, 2020 from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. Finison will discuss African-American cycling from tricycling and high wheel racers in the 1880s Read More…

Event Notices

Author Lizabeth Cohen, “Birth of a Nation” (105th Anniversary) and the Old Howard Troupe at the West End Museum

The West End Museum is proud to host the following educational and entertaining events. Pre-registration is required for all three events at thewestendmuseum.org. Lizabeth Cohen: Saving America’s CitiesFebruary 4 @7PM; $10 / Free to Museum Members; Pre-registration required at thewestendmuseum.orgTrident Booksellers will facilitate book sales at event for author signing Prizewinning historian and author Lizabeth Read More…

Announcements Event Notices

Book Talk: Lizabeth Cohen “Saving America’s Cities” Feb. 4

The West End Museum is hosting a talk by prizewinning historian and author Lizabeth Cohen to discuss her book: Saving America’s Cities: Ed Louge and the Struggle to Renew Urban America in the Suburban Age. The talk will take place on Tuesday, February 4, 2020 from 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at the West End Read More…

Arts & Culture Event Notices

Film Nights Celebrate Scollay Square and Silent Movie Era

The West End Museum presents two film nights to complement its current exhibit, “The Old Howard Theatre.” The exhibit of photographs, artifacts, and graphic panels runs through February 15, 2020. Scollay Square: Boston’s Bygone PlaygroundJanuary 9, 2020 at 7 p.m.; $10 / Free to Museum Members; Pre-registration required by phone at 617-723-2125. Scollay Square served Read More…

Arts & Culture Event Notices

Vaudeville: Voice of the City

The West End Museum will be showing the documentary “Vaudeville: Voice of the City” on December 5 at 7 p.m. Vaudeville at the Old Howard Theatre grew out of early variety theater and minstrel shows. Tony Pastor would later coin the term and use it as a moniker for family entertainment. Much of vaudeville’s early Read More…

Event Notices

West End Museum Exhibit “The Old Howard Theatre”

The West End Museum will premiere a new exhibit, “The Old Howard Theatre” on Tuesday, September 24 in celebration of Boston’s oldest playhouse, which once stood at the heart of Scollay Square. A show reception will take place on Thursday, October 17 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Concurrent programs—a film screening, an author talk, and an evening of Read More…

Event Notices

Author Talk: Christian DiSpigna on Joseph Warren, “Revolution’s Lost Hero”

First in War & His Countrymen’s Hearts: Dr. Joseph WarrenAuthor Christian DiSpigna’s first Boston area appearance on new book about revolutionary leader killed in Battle of Bunker Hill A prominent Boston physician, Dr. Joseph Warren was a key force in America’s revolutionary movement. He is responsible for setting Paul Revere on his famous ride, served Read More…