Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA)

An architectural wonder encasing provocative art

Word to the wise: The museum offers free admission for all on Thursday evenings from 5pm to 9pm.
The ICA's rotating exhibits may leave rabid modern art lovers a bit underwhelmed - the collection is on the smaller side - but visitors will undoubtedly marvel at the structure of the museum itself. A boxy configuration of glass and steel looms at the harbor front, with a cantilever jutting out to the water's edge. It’s striking from the outside, but even more so from within. A floor-to-ceiling glass wall spans the width of the extension, inviting visitors seemingly to hover above the Boston Harbor as they gaze toward the city skyline across the way.

The modest permanent collection is balanced with rotating exhibits featuring the likes of Tara Donovan, Damien Ortega, and Shepard Fairy.
Extend your visit with a stroll along the boardwalk - the wooden boards are incorporated into the ICA's structure as well. If museum cafe fare doesn't appeal to you, the Barking Crab, a popular seafood restaurant, is nearby.