The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is one of the most prestigious institutes of higher learning in America and is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The university consists of 1 college and 5 schools and was founded in 1861. The MIT Museum, which opened in 1971, is a branch of the university and has collections of robotics, artificial intelligence and holography (the museum’s holography collection is the biggest in the world and consists of nearly two thousand pieces). In addition to this the museum houses displays that depict maritime history and the history of MIT.
The museum was opened to educate the public on the contributions that MIT has made to the world in the fields of technology, science etc. The two longest running displays focus on the works of Arthur Ganson and Harold Edgerton (a former professor who taught electrical engineering). Arthur Ganson was a kinetic sculptor (sculptures that contain moving parts) and a number of his works can be found at the MIT Museum under the exhibit Gestural Engineering: The Sculptures of Arthur Ganson.
In addition to the permanent displays, the museum puts on temporary exhibits from time to time. One of the most popular exhibits was the Hall of Hacks, which housed a series of the best pranks pulled by students at the university. Unfortunately the exhibit closed in 2001. Some of the current exhibits include Robots and Beyond: Exploring Artificial Intelligence at MIT, Ship Models: The Evolution of Ships; and Eight Einsteins.
For tourists in Boston a side trip to the MIT Museum is a terrific way to spend the day. Boston is the capital of Massachusetts and is home to a number of famous attractions such as the Boston National Historical Park and the Museum of Fine Arts. Those looking for luxury Boston hotels can try the Langham Boston. Not only is the hotel situated close to the city’s financial nerve centre it also offers a variety of services such as meeting rooms that make it one of the best business hotels Boston. Guests will also find it easy to visit the city’s historical and cultural attractions as many of them are located in the general vicinity.
