Several Special Things Currently on Display in New England Museums

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, October 25, 2026

Several New England museums are showcasing diverse exhibitions featuring historic models, artworks, and mechanical instruments, such as a massive mahogany ocean liner model at the Peabody Essex Museum and an 18th-century mechanical orrery at Harvard. These displays not only preserve significant cultural and technological artifacts but also provide visitors with unique insights into the region's rich artistic and scientific heritage.

Several notable exhibitions across New England museums currently offer visitors a diverse array of historic and artistic treasures, ranging from maritime craftsmanship to early American automobiles and intricate mechanical models.

The Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts, houses an impressive model of the ocean liner Queen Elizabeth, constructed between 1947 and 1948. Made from a single six-ton piece of mahogany, this 22-foot-long ship model weighs approximately 2,700 pounds. It features finely detailed craftsmanship, including 900 handmade fittings and 1,700 portholes, all on a quarter-inch-to-one-foot scale, underscoring both its historical significance and artistic value.

At the MIT Museum in Cambridge, visitors can view “Bounce Juggler (W.C. Fields),” an early 1980s kinetic sculpture by Claude Shannon, a pioneering figure in information theory. The piece references Fields’ early career as a juggler, depicting a mechanical figure that juggles three metal balls bouncing off a drum, a nod to the comedian’s unique style. Shannon’s legacy at the intersection of technology and playfulness is reflected in this unusual work.

The Museum of Printing in Haverhill, Massachusetts, presents a comprehensive typewriter display featuring 42 machines. This collection reflects the evolution of analog technology from the late 19th century through the height of typewriter use before the personal computer era rendered them largely obsolete. Brands such as Olympia, Remington, Underwood, and IBM Selectric are represented, illustrating the typewriter’s role in communication history and its recent resurgence as a retro object of interest.

In Vermont, the Bennington Museum showcases a 1925 Martin-Wasp automobile, one of only 17 luxury touring cars produced by the Bennington-based Martin-Wasp Corporation between 1919 and 1925. Only three survive today. The car on display features a striking aluminum hood contrasted with a dark-green body and red upholstery. Valued at $10,000 during its era (equivalent to over $200,000 today), the vehicle was notable enough to have been the first purchase of Hollywood actor Douglas Fairbanks Sr.

The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston exhibits a 12th-century fresco, “Christ in Majesty with Symbols of the Four Evangelists,” originating from the Church of Santa Maria de Mur in Catalonia. The fresco combines a dominant depiction of Christ with iconography of the apostles and evangelists, alongside scenes such as the nativity and Adoration of the Magi. Its striking contrast between the serene upper sections and a deteriorated lower portion offers a visual dialogue between the ideal and earthly realms.

At the Addison Gallery of American Art in Andover, Massachusetts, Marsden Hartley’s 1942 painting “Summer, Sea, Window, Red Curtain” is on display. The work balances elements of figuration and abstraction, emphasizing rich color use and a tactile quality achieved through its Masonite medium. The painting explores themes of perception and simplicity, inviting viewers to interpret layered scenes within a domestic setting.

The Yale University Art Gallery in New Haven presents a collection of six intimate works by Édouard Vuillard. These small-scale paintings focus on domestic interiors and everyday moments, characterized by subtle emotional restraint, soft lighting, and intricate patterns that create a calm, contemplative atmosphere without overwhelming the viewer.

Finally, Harvard University’s Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments in Cambridge features the Pope Orrery, a detailed mechanical model of the solar system crafted between 1776 and 1787 by Boston clockmaker Joseph Pope. Approximately five and a half feet in each dimension, the orrery displays planets, moons, and rings, along with brass statuettes of figures such as Isaac Newton and Benjamin Franklin. Funded in part through a state lottery, the orrery remains a testament to the intricate fusion of science and artistry in the 18th century.

These exhibitions collectively highlight the wide-ranging cultural, scientific, and artistic heritage preserved in New England’s museums, offering enriching experiences that span centuries and disciplines.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.