Boston's Best Museum Gift Shops

Boston has quite a lot of museums for visitors to peruse and they certainly have entertainment and educational value. What some of them also have is shopping potential. Some of the best novelty, gift and even home decor items in town are found inside museum gift shops across the city. Whether shopping for an art, history or science buff, there is something at one of these shops. The best part is their proximity to the best museums in the city. Few shopping destinations offer more than a decent coffee shop.

Museum Of Fine Arts, Boston Shops
465 Huntington Ave.
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 267-9300
www.mfa.org

The MFA, Boston has three shops located within the museum, each offering a variety of goods. The main bookstore and shop has books related to art and products related to art found in the museum's many exhibits. Everything from jewelry to toys is available for purchase. The Huntington Shop has memorabilia, clothes and much of the same decor and accessories found at the main store. Finally, the Gund Gallery Exhibition Shop is all about Gund Gallery exhibitions.

Related: Best Boston Shops For Last Minute Gifts

Boston Tea Party Museum's American Revolution Gift Shop
306 Congress St.
Boston, MA 02210
(617) 338-1773
www.bostonteapartyship.com

Thanks to Boston's inextricable link to the American Revolution, few themes make for better gifts or keepsake items for visitors and residents. That is why the American Revolution era gift shop located in the Boston Tea Party Museum is one of the best museum shops in town. Fantastic American home decor and knick-knacks are all over the store. Visitors will also find tea-related gifts, which is a bit tongue-in-cheek, but nice, nonetheless.

Museum Of Science, Boston Gift Shop
1 Science Park
Boston, MA 02114
(617) 723-2500
www.mos.org

The Museum of Science gift shop is a fantastic place to get presents for people of all ages. Gag gifts, such as funny desk decor, to serious science books are stocked within its walls. Even jewelry is sold at the Science Museum for people who do not mind math and biology meshing with their fashion. The shop also has lots of t-shirts, sweatshirts and other apparel. Not all of it is museum-related. Visitors can score Boston-themed stuff too.

MIT Museum Store
265 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 253-5927
www.mit.edu

While also a science museum, the MIT Museum and the Museum of Science, Boston are both very different in focus and scope. The shops are similarly different. Not only will visitors find a wealth of MIT memorabilia in the MIT Museum Store, they will also find lots of math presents and barware. It is a college museum, after all. Some of the best items are desktop toys like scientist puppets and electronics toys for kids, such as the Discover Electronics Kit.

Related: Boston Area's Best Places For Handmade Gifts

Institute Of Contemporary Art, Boston Store
100 Northern Ave.
Boston, MA 02210
(617) 478-3100
www.icastore.org

Contemporary art lovers will enjoy the selection of Boston's Institute of Contemporary Art. Pieces available include artist edition clothing and decor items, art books, museum apparel and more. The items stocked at the ICA Store range from art education to jewelry designed by contemporary artists. Therefore, it is possible to find something for every kind of art-loving gift recipient.