History of the MFA

The Museum of Fine Arts, though now nestled between the winding road of Fenway and the Back Bay Fens, did not start its life there. First opened on the centennial of America’s independence, the MFA was originally located in Copley Square, just a few miles away. In 1909, the Copley Square MFA closed and relocated to its present location on Huntington Avenue, in the building designed by Guy Lowell. Lowell, a native Bostonian, is best known for designing the museum, but also did a great deal of work in landscaping and more residential architecture. That being said, it is not evident from the exterior architecture that he had any house-like image in mind, but there is no doubt that the interactions between the museum exterior and the plants outside are harmonious—respecting the original integrity of Lowell’s style. 

So many famous artists, architects, and individuals have left their signature on the museum, further intensifying the cultural significance of this institution. More than that, the museum has played a dutiful and patriotic role for its surrounding Boston community, both in its daily offerings as an educational attraction but also as a provider of support throughout its history. For instance, after the tragedy of the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013, the MFA’s Twitter invited:

“The MFA will be free today. We hope the Museum will be a place of respite for our community” (Holmes).

 Looking to modern construction additions, the MFA is presently boasting its newest wing, which now houses the “Art of the Americas” gallery as well as the Ruth and Carl J. Shapiro Family Courtyard. This new addition is a physical manifestation and reiteration of the museum’s reputation as a contributor to Boston as a palimpsest—a point where the diverse layers of the city’s past and present come together. Arguably, because of its consistent function but variable physical history, the MFA is a prime symbol of Boston as a palimpsest. The renovations opened up a whole new dimension of community inclusion:

"the project will enrich the ways visitors encounter the MFA’s great works of art and increase space for its encyclopedic collections, special exhibitions, and educational programs” (The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston).

The idea of the new MFA is to open its doors to all members of the Boston (and global) community to not only celebrate its past, but global history in general, through the medium of present day cultural history-in-the-making.