museum of world war ii boston

A real gem .... rare artifacts from WW-II and especially europe. You don't want to miss this place. Actual Sherman Tank and lots of Nazi paraphernalia.

I can only support all the positive statements made by other reviewers. This collection is stunning - I have visited several times and have only scratched the surface of the exhibits. The waiver is a must since many of the items re touchable. The owner/curator/director knows his collection and tries to impart the devastating impact of war on the soldier and the average citizen. This is not a Hollywood experience - it is real life and will leave all visitors with a profound understanding of the breadth of the World War II experience.

While the museum presents the standard chronological progression of the rise of the Nazi party, the early war in Europe, the entry of the US, the horror of the concentration camps and the Russian and Japanese campaigns, it does so in a way that emphasizes the effect on common people, both civilian and military. War is not glorified in this museum but WW II is documented in a way that makes it feel real...very real. If you visit the museum of WW II, you will know and feel a tiny bit of what it was like to live through this war.

Excellent WW2 museum: everything is original, no copies or imitations. Most everything is also hands on, which is why you need to reserve a time slot, and sign a waiver to enter. They have things like a jump suit designed by Winston Churchill, dressed on a dummy with an accurate head of Winston. the jump suit even show the cigar burns left by him. There are several Enigma machines where you can try to type of encrypted messages. Many original letters, telegrams, and messages that make the war years come alive. Not a place for little kids, but great for anyone who wants to immerse themselves in WW2.

What a great museum. You think you are done, but go around the corner and their are more items on display. Covers World War II in depth in chronological order. Artifacts displayed everywhere. Spent 3 hours there - my husband could go back for 2 more hours to really see everything. Need to make a reservation and sign a waiver - minor inconvenience but really limits amount of people they allow in at one time which is perfect.

Other reviewers have covered much of what I'd like to say about this excellent museum. As someone who was born after WWII, most of what I knew about it before going to this museum was from books, TV and especially movies. However, a visit here brings it to vivid light in all it's heroic, tragic, and frightening reality. After wading in with several rooms showing Germany's pre-war buildup and with a London air raid siren ringing in your ears, you turn the corner into the claustrophobic space containing SS officer and concentration camp uniforms on mannequins, along with Ann Frank's diary and many original letters and materials from people who were sent to concentration camps. This section is particularly startling, scary, and upsetting but also too important not to see. My only criticism of this museum is that if you don't get the first admission time slot, you might not have enough time to see everything or as thoroughly as you might like. After we asked, we were told the museum "usually" closes between 2 and 3 pm. For the steep admission "donation" of $25 requested, I think the museum should keep hours long enough for people to get their money's worth. We got there at 10 and were pretty much shuffled out by 2:45. I could have used more time.

I surprised by boyfriend and look him here on his birthday. He is very interested in WWII and loved it. The museum is very unique because all its items are original. It is the personal collection that the owner has acquired over the years. A lot of the items are one of a kind like some of Hitler's person items or the original Pearl Harbor documents. There is a huge section on Nazi Germany and Hitler which you don't usually get in museums. The museum is very well laid out and the audio guide explains what everything is and how it was acquired. I would definitely recommend going! Make sure you eat and hydrate before hand because it takes about 3 hours to see everything. Drinks and food are not allowed in the building. You could spend even more than 3 hours if you stopped and read everything. There a required $25 donation per person and they only accept cash (exact change is preferred). In addition make sure you have the required document filled out as well as a photo ID. Without these items they will not let you in the building.

This place is a real gem. A friend of my stumbled upon it on the internet so five of us went for a visit. It's a bit odd how you have to make reservations to visit the museum and sign a waiver before entering but it really was just a minor inconvenience and well worth the experience. When you enter the museum you are given a 5-10 minute talk about the history and layout of the museum. Each person is then given a hand held device that lets you listen to short sound bites that describe what you are looking at while you work your way through the museum. The museum is divided in sections that bring you chronologically through the war from post WW-I Europe to the Japanese Surrender. Each section has actual artifacts related to the time period and focus of the section. The artifacts range from dozens of hand written letters by people like FDR, Churchill, and Patton, life size mannequins of key figures (Hitler, Patton, Churchill, etc...) in their actually clothing, spy equipment, enigma machines, posters and propaganda used by both sides, and all kinds of tools of war including an actual Sherman Tank. We spent three hours going through all the sections. We could have spent three days. If you have any interest in WWII this is a must see.

This museum is visited by appointment and a pretty stiff admission fee ($25), but worth every penny. Very comprehensive displays of amazing memorabilia, some of which can be handled. Highly recommended for any WWII history buffs and anyone interested military history period.

A friend who served our country as part of the Greatest Generation in a "B24 Liberator" invited us to tour. I was amazed at the collection, and the depth of reality shown by the things and how they were put together in the displays. Already they need more space. As a generation, these dedicated volunteers share their very personal stories in ways that makes the time come alive again. The passion for telling the story is - in itself - a treasure - helping us appreciate our history. Absolutely worth a full afternoon of family time.

This museum is a special place, as there are no signs, and no way to find out about it, unless you're researching World War II. I went here with a group from the Framingham History Center, and was floored by the quality and quantity of what is displayed. One has to make an appointment to visit and every nook and cranny is monitored by security cameras and once there, you'll understand why. They even have weapons, and a tank in the building. The documents from Nazi Germany, including Hitler's brown shirt, a bloodstained fabric from the couch Hitler committed suicide on, and the Eagle from Nuremberg, obtained from General Patton are just a small sample of what they have.

As part of a group from Framingham History Center we visited this private museum in the back of an office park in Natick. It has an amazing collection of original documents and artifacts tracing origins of WWII from the armisitice that ended WWI through the rise of the Nazis in Germany to the end of WWII and the rise of the atomic era and the Korean war. We spent 3 hours in the museum guided by a taped audio tour and could go back for at least two more because there is so much to take in. This collection rivals that of the DDay museum in New Orleans and complements coverage of the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. Hours are limited and visits need to be arranged in advance. Info. on visiting on Website www.Museum of WorldWarII.org

What a surprise, right here in metrowest Boston! The owner, Kenneth Rendell, has spent many years collecting and preserving the items in this museum, which is comparable to the top museums of the UK and Europe (that's not an exaggeration). The admission process is a little intimidating, but it is just to make sure you're serious. The format is adults individually or in groups (no one under 18 is admitted on a individual visit, but there are occasional organized school tours), with a donation of $25 and two signed legal forms per person. The Museum building is actually off of Route 9 eastbound (inbound toward Boston), behind the Sherwood Plaza and the Crowne Plaza hotel and across from the Natick Mall, in Natick. Visitors are not allowed to take pictures, but Rendell has a unique picture book available on Amazon. The Museum has a web site where you initiate a visit request, as well as associated videos on YouTube.You can get through all the rooms in under three hours. But making two visits of about two hours each is better. The German and American material is particularly overwhelming in its richness and can be taken in in two-three hours. But there's also rare Russian and Japanese material that you won't be able to absorb fully without a second visit. Rendell has also collected material from resistance movements, concentration and death camps, and the Korean war and early part of the Cold War (very James Bond-ish).

This unmarked, off the beaten path museum is well worth making the advance arrangements for your visit. If you are in the Boston area, take the time and see some of the most amazing artifacts in this collection. Letters, weapons, uniforms, and more gathered by one man, Ken Rendell. This is not for children unless you have a very mature child historian. Don't miss this if you are a history buff!

I live 3 miles from this hidden gem and didn't even realize it. I would go on at length at the INCREDIBLE objects this museum/private collection has but I feel its better not too. Just go and discover it yourself. You must email in advance for entrance and the suggested donation is $20-25...well worth it!