Entry No. 41 — the Boston file — filed under: cabinet of curiosities

Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments (Putnam Gallery)

Twenty thousand objects deep — one of the three largest university collections of its kind on earth — the free Putnam Gallery mixes Galileo's own geometric compass with 19th-century electrotherapy machines, orreries, and early X-ray apparatus, a genuine cabinet of scientific curiosities assembled since 1948.

The move: Wander the free Sunday-through-Friday gallery together picking out the strangest instrument on display, then cross the street to argue about whether it's a torture device or a teaching tool.

• 📍 Harvard Yard, Cambridge
• 💸 $$
• ⚡ Up for anything
• 🌗 Indoors

Where: Harvard Science Center, 1 Oxford St, Cambridge, MA 02138

Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Further reading: Wikipedia · hmsc.harvard.edu

last checked: 2026-07-20