Sometimes, you don’t have much time.
When a major art or history or science museum is nearby during a trip, but you only have an hour or so to see it, is there a way to make the visit worthwhile?
Of course, but be prepared for some trade-offs.
On a recent trip to Boston, I found that I had free time on a day of the week when the nearby MFA (Museum of Fine Arts) was open til 9:45 p.m.
Here is what I learned from rocketing through a world-class museum in one hour (plus 5 minutes at coat check….)
1) Get in free if you can, but be prepared to pay full fare without regret. Many major museums have a free day or free evening once a week, and if that coincides with your window of opportunity for a visit, great. You won’t have paid anything, so you won’t pout too much about only being there a little while. The biggest drawback will be the freebie-seeking crowds around you.
If, however, you do NOT get lucky, pay up. The regular adult entry fee for MFA Boston is US$25; pretty steep for the limited time I’d be in there, but I silenced my inner cheapskate and paid it with a smile. Yes, the ticket allows for a return visit within 10 days, but I was flying out the next day. I told myself that it was my donation to support creativity and wonder.
2) Do some research on the museum’s “Top 10″ must-see items, and plot a course through the building(s) to cover as many as possible. This is one of those times when a “Must See” lightweight listicle blog post or article comes in handy. Get Googling. The museum itself will often help you out on their website: the MFA Boston 12 Highlights Tour is included on the printed museum map you get upon entry, plus they have it as an audio tour you can rent.
I did a ruthless time triage with the 12 Highlights. For example; the MFA’s mummies and Egyptian gallery? I’ve seen a lot of that before, including in Egypt, so I skipped the Boston offerings. Ancient artifacts from the Americas and pre-Columbian items? Had the pleasure of seeing a lot of those in Mexico City, so no, thanks, time’s a-wasting!
Extraordinary American Colonial-era paintings like the one below of Paul Revere? In BOSTON, the birthplace of the Revolution? Um, yes, that’s gonna happen.
Warning – be prepared for a “must-see” item to be on loan elsewhere. A few years ago, I made a special run through the galleries at the Art Institute of Chicago just to see Edward Hopper’s “Nighthawks,” only to discover that it was on loan to….the MFA in Boston. Gaaaah!
3) Need to catch a meal during your limited time? Eat at the museum. I grabbed a quick dinner at the MFA’s New American Cafe before jumping into the collections, and it was a highlight of the visit to eat good food while gazing at the enormous Chihuly glass sculpture in the open eating area.
4) Ask the staff! This is no time to be shy. MFA staff understood that I only had an hour, and they gave me tips on getting from one place to another quickly in the enormous building.
Once staffer got me pointed in the right direction to see the Impressionists when I went off in the wrong direction (sucked in by rooms full of gorgeous Art Nouveau – it’s easy to get distracted.)
5) Take photos. Check that it’s allowed and make sure that your flash is off, but grab a few photos of your favorite items so you can relive your short visit.
One of the 12 Highlights was a famous John Singer Sargent painting (no, not Madame X – that’s at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City) but I also stumbled across some Sargents from later in his life when he did less portraiture and more murals. His mural work was a fun surprise for me, so I took a quick photo so I could learn more later.
6) Don’t take photos. Put away your phone or camera for a few minutes. Stop trying to record everything. Just be. Breathe. Soak in the artistic talent, beauty, and/or history in front of you. Get up close to Van Gogh’s thick brushstrokes. Marvel at Sargent’s command of light in his portraits. Be grateful that you can spend some time, however little, with the best that humanity has created.
What’s your experience? Ever blasted through a museum in a short time but still gotten a lot out of it? Let us know about it down in the comments.
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I’m not a huge fan of doing a major museum in such a short time frame, but sometimes you just do what you have to do. Be sure to check if the museum has a good app, especially if you can explore the app and organized your visit a bit before you hit the museum. Ohio’s Toledo Museum of Art has a nice phone app and the Cleveland Museum of Art in the same state has a fab iPad app that they later also issued as a phone app…both of which I reviewed last year at Midwest Guest 🙂 http://www.midwestguest.com/2014/02/discover-ohio-with-the-help-of-these-handy-mobile-apps-part-1.html
Thanks, Dominique, appreciate the app tip.
Sheila,
Goods tips all. I have several strategies that will work with both short and longer time visits to a big museum in this story — https://perceptivetravel.com/blog/2013/07/24/how-to-make-sense-of-a-big-museum/
Myself, I prefer paper maps and guides — or just being present with the objects/art/whatever and seeing what it will teach me that way — to apps. I know many museums are creating good ones, though.
I hear you, Kerry – I can drop a paper map, write on it and wad it up in my pocket. 🙂
That’s my kind of touring. I like to quickly see the highlights, but spending too much time in a museum isn’t my cup of tea. And I agree about not taking photos. I don’t think I’ve ever used a photo I’ve taken from inside a museum other than the Mona Lisa (to show the ridiculous crowd in front of it)
Very true, Deb – the Mona Lisa is usually a mob scene!
In Europe, we like using Rick Steves guide to see all “can’t miss” art. His book tells you exactly where to go. Saved us sooo much time. Wish he had the for US Museums.
Agree, Stacy, I’ve used Rick Steves’ art guides as well, and they really help you without feeling stuffy or overwhelming.
Well, if you have to skimp on time, I start with “will I be in this city again?” If so choose the top one or two portions of the collection for your interests and take the time to steep in those until satiated. Perhaps giving preference to the current special exhibition, the one that won’t be there on your return visit.
I was at the Boston MFA last spring – for two days. An hour would be torture.
I know it, Michael, not an ideal situation. I kept having to say to myself, “This is better than not seeing it at all….”