Are you ready to explore the quirky and unconventional side of Boston? While this historic city is renowned for its rich heritage and iconic landmarks, it also boasts a treasure trove of weird and wonderful experiences that often go unnoticed. From bizarre museums to eccentric festivals and offbeat attractions, Boston is a playground for those who seek the unexpected.
In this article, we’re delving into the world of the unusual, introducing you to 20 weird things to do in Boston. Whether you’re a curious traveler or a local looking to uncover hidden gems, these peculiar adventures will take you on a journey beyond the ordinary and into the realm of the extraordinary in Beantown.
Get ready to embrace the weirdness, the quirkiness, and the delightful eccentricities that make Boston a city like no other.
Weird Things to Do in Boston

- Mapparium: Explore the Mapparium, a three-story, stained glass globe with a walk-through bridge inside. Located at the Mary Baker Eddy Library, it offers a unique perspective of the world.
- Ether Dome: Visit the Ether Dome at Massachusetts General Hospital, where the first public surgery using anesthesia took place. The eerie operating theater remains preserved to this day.
- Skull of Phineas Gage: See the skull of Phineas Gage at the Warren Anatomical Museum. Gage survived a gruesome accident in which an iron rod pierced his brain, and his story is both bizarre and medically significant.
- Larz Anderson Auto Museum: Explore a collection of antique and unusual automobiles at the Larz Anderson Auto Museum, including vehicles with peculiar histories.
- The Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum: Reenact the Boston Tea Party and toss “tea” into Boston Harbor while learning about this iconic event in American history.
- The Ether Monument: Discover the Ether Monument in Boston’s Public Garden, a peculiar sculpture dedicated to the discovery of anesthesia.
- The Mapparium at the Mary Baker Eddy Library: Step inside the Mapparium, a globe-shaped room with stunning stained glass panels depicting the world’s countries. It offers a unique acoustic experience.
- Grave of Edgar Allan Poe: Visit the final resting place of the famous poet and author Edgar Allan Poe at the Granary Burying Ground in Boston.
- The Skinny House: Marvel at the Skinny House, one of the narrowest houses in the United States, nestled between two larger buildings in the North End.
- The Warren Anatomical Museum: Explore the Warren Anatomical Museum at Harvard Medical School, which houses an array of unusual medical specimens and artifacts.
- Gargoyle Hunt at Harvard: Embark on a gargoyle hunt at Harvard University’s campus and discover these hidden and eerie architectural features.
- The Warren Anatomical Museum at Harvard Medical School: Delve into the Warren Anatomical Museum’s fascinating collection of medical oddities and artifacts.
- Museum of Bad Art (MOBA): Visit MOBA, a museum dedicated to displaying art that’s so bad, it’s good. Enjoy a laugh at the expense of some truly unusual artworks.
- The Ether Dome at Massachusetts General Hospital: Step back in time at the Ether Dome, where the first public surgery using anesthesia was performed. The preserved operating theater is both historic and somewhat eerie.
- The Paper House: Explore the Paper House in Rockport, a structure made entirely of newspaper. Every surface, from walls to furniture, is crafted from rolled-up newspaper.
- The Skinny House in the North End: Marvel at the Skinny House, a narrow and quirky residence nestled between two larger buildings in Boston’s North End neighborhood.
- Museum of Bad Art (MOBA): Discover the Museum of Bad Art, which celebrates art that is hilariously bad. It’s a place where you can appreciate the unintentional humor in quirky artworks.
- The Paper House in Rockport: Visit the Paper House in Rockport, Massachusetts, a unique structure made entirely of newspaper. The walls, furniture, and even the piano are constructed from rolled-up newspapers.
- The Paul Revere House Ghost Tour: Take a ghost tour of the Paul Revere House in the North End, where you can hear eerie tales of supernatural occurrences.
- The Boston Molasses Flood Plaque: Learn about the bizarre Molasses Flood of 1919 at the Molasses Flood Plaque in the North End. The plaque commemorates this strange and tragic event.