The Mapparium
The Mapparium
4.5
Speciality MuseumsPoints of Interest & Landmarks
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
"How Do You See the World" is a montage of photos—a global portrait of faces from the pages of The Christian Science Monitor. It welcomes you to a new experience at the Christian Science Plaza. offering stories and experiences that explore progress and possibilities throughout the world as you consider your own place in it. Three different exhibits connect you to positive change flowing out of the inspired actions of everyday people in countries and cultures globally, including Boston’s iconic Mapparium™ experience. The three-story Mapparium globe shows the world at one moment in time—1935. A short narration lets you consider the world before World War II from an entirely different perspective—from the inside of the world looking out.
Duration: < 1 hour
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Top ways to experience nearby attractions

The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Symphony
How to get there
  • Symphony • 4 min walk
  • Hynes Convention Center • 5 min walk
Reach out directly
See what travellers are saying
  • ZL4
    161 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great time
    This was a great visit. The staff was so friendly and helpful and there was a lot of history. There are other items of interest than the map but all of them were great. The mapparium itself was a lot of knowledge and fun. There are countries not on it yet and you can whisper at one end and hear at the other. We spent about two hours but we read EVERYTHING. Go! It’s unique and has beautiful bathrooms also!
    Visited July 2022
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 25 March 2023
  • Brian S
    Carmel, Indiana73 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Quick visit but glad we stopped in.
    We enjoyed visiting with our college age children. My one son loves maps so we thought this would be worth checking out. It’s beautiful and unique. It only takes 20 minutes and it’s reasonably priced. While visiting we were with guests ranging in all ages! Everyone seemed to find it interesting. The Christian Science Monitor was reviewed and offered a peaceful way of viewing the world we live in. There was a wall set up outside the exit for personal words of hope, gratitude, joy, etc.
    Visited July 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 23 July 2023
  • Vacati0nier
    Billerica, Massachusetts235 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Surprisingly unexpected and interesting place
    We found this place by accident (though were around multiple times) when our friends visited us from abroad. Very nice and informative, worth a visit. The Mapparium Globe is unexpected and colorful, the sound inside of it is amazing, narrative is very informative. The free exhibitions are also interesting, they also have free church tours on Saturday and Sundays. Will probably go there again at some occasion.
    Visited August 2023
    Written 14 August 2023
  • JennieCV
    44 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fascinating - do the church tour if you can.
    Amazing glass worldview. The building it is in is stunning and worth a visit in its own right. Also lucky to catch a tour of the church. Wow. Excellent guides/ experts and fascinating to learn about about Christian Science whatever your own faith.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 22 September 2023
  • ian1811
    Scotland, United Kingdom585 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Go and see.
    The mapparium room s stunning. Seeing the stained glass panels of the globe set in a freezeframe of the 1930's Unfortunately you're not allowed to take photos :-( The rest of the building has some outstanding features well worth seeing as well. Can be worth buying tickets in advance, as we got caught behind a prebooked group and had to wait an hour. Gave us time to look around though.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 20 December 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles934 reviews
Excellent
541
Very good
254
Average
98
Poor
31
Terrible
11

dkerntx1
Weatherford, TX3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Family
Amazing place and a must see! Nothing else like it. Definitely worth taking an hour to see this beautiful view of the world.
Written 4 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ian1811
Scotland, UK585 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Couples
The mapparium room s stunning. Seeing the stained glass panels of the globe set in a freezeframe of the 1930's
Unfortunately you're not allowed to take photos :-(
The rest of the building has some outstanding features well worth seeing as well.
Can be worth buying tickets in advance, as we got caught behind a prebooked group and had to wait an hour. Gave us time to look around though.
Written 20 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

DansPawSox
Bristol, UK71 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Family
We all enjoyed our first visit to The Mapparium, especially the time we had inside the globe. Short and sweet, well worth seeing.
Written 8 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Nancy T
Bremerton, WA82 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Friends
The Mapparium is a 3-story globe made of stained glass. It portrays the world as it was in 1935. The idea was to change the panels as the world changed but then they decided to leave it as is for historical reasons. You see the world from the inside (as if you were at the earth's core looking toward the surface) as you walk a bridge through the middle. It is also a "whispering gallery." If you stand on one end of the bridge and whisper, people on the other end can hear you clearly. Also, if you stand in the middle and speak, your voice comes back to you in full sound surround.
Written 5 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Karen P
6 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Couples
The Mapparium was built in 1935! WOW! It is amazing to walk into a 3 story glass globe. I could not believe the number of Boston locals that had never been there or heard of it! It truly was amazing, only $6 entrance fee. All of the employees (or volunteers) were super helpful. GO! It is about 20 minutes to be in the globe with a guide and audio and then you can go out into the main lobby and learn more information. Very informative!
Written 24 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

JennieCV
Liverpool44 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Solo
Amazing glass worldview. The building it is in is stunning and worth a visit in its own right. Also lucky to catch a tour of the church. Wow. Excellent guides/ experts and fascinating to learn about about Christian Science whatever your own faith.
Written 22 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

shopgirl55355
Minneapolis, MN68 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Couples
This was a great bargain for $6. Such a cool concept. The only complaint I have is that you can't take pictures :) I understand the reasoning, but it's hard to explain to friends why I loved it so much when I couldn't show it off.
Written 15 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

veracolwell85
7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2022 • Family
The Mapparium experience was amazing! It will be enjoyable by both young and old. It was educational and entertaining. The colors and architecture were amazing.
Written 30 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jennifer W
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Family
Absolutely fascinating!! Well worth the trip. So interesting!! Would recommend it to anyone coming to Boston!!
Written 23 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Vacati0nier
Billerica, MA235 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023
We found this place by accident (though were around multiple times) when our friends visited us from abroad. Very nice and informative, worth a visit. The Mapparium Globe is unexpected and colorful, the sound inside of it is amazing, narrative is very informative. The free exhibitions are also interesting, they also have free church tours on Saturday and Sundays. Will probably go there again at some occasion.
Written 14 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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THE MAPPARIUM: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about The Mapparium

The Mapparium is open:
  • Sun - Sun 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Mon - Sat 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM


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