Waterworks Museum (Metropolitan Waterworks Museum)
Museum in Boston's Chestnut Hill pumping station, free to walk in, with giant steam pumping engines and ticketed weekend tours that climb two engines and go below.
Ways to visit
Museum and Great Engines Hall (self-guided) Open
- What you see
- Exhibitswaterworksmuseum.org, 2026-10-26
- How
- Walk inwaterworksmuseum.org, 2026-10-26
- When
- MonTueWedThuFriSatSunWednesday to Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed Monday, Tuesday and seven holidays. The homepage may announce schedule changes.Closed: Mondays, Tuesdays, New Year's Day, July 4, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Dec 24, Dec 25, Dec 31Calendar ↗waterworksmuseum.org, 2026-10-26 · waterworksmuseum.org, 2026-10-26
- Booking
- Not required · same day possible · on siteWalk-in visitors are welcome Wednesdays to Sundays.waterworksmuseum.org, 2026-10-26
- Cost
- FreeAdmission free.waterworksmuseum.org, 2026-10-26
- Requirements
- None stated.
Special Access Tour (engines climb and basement pumps) Open
- What you see
- Inside tourwaterworksmuseum.org, 2026-10-26
- How
- Timed ticket, Scheduled tour · about 1.5 hourswaterworksmuseum.org, 2026-10-26
- When
- MonTueWedThuFriSatSunSaturdays and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. (about 90 minutes); arrive 10 to 15 minutes early, check-in closes at 2:15. Friday tours for groups of 4 or more by request, two weeks ahead.Calendar ↗waterworksmuseum.org, 2026-10-26
- Booking
- Required · onlineTickets sell out quickly; purchases are final but can be rescheduled.Book (museum events calendar (Eventbrite)) ↗waterworksmuseum.org, 2026-10-26
- Cost
- PaidSpecial Access Tour: $20 · Card to Culture (EBT, WIC, ConnectorCare, SUN Bucks): $10waterworksmuseum.org, 2026-10-26
- Requirements
- Minimum age: 12+. At least 12 years old and 46 inches tall.
- Height: Yes. At least 46 inches because of safety rail height.
About
The museum sits in the Chestnut Hill High Service Pumping Station and keeps the Leavitt, Worthington and Allis steam pumping engines in its Great Engines Hall. The Leavitt-Riedler engine is an ASME Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark. General entry is free; a separate paid Special Access Tour goes into the basement and onto two engines. Education programs and private tours for groups of 10 or more are arranged by email and left out here.
Run by: Waterworks Museum.
Getting there
2450 Beacon Street, Boston, MA, 02467
On Beacon Street at the Chestnut Hill Reservoir, a 7 to 10 minute walk from the Green Line B, C or D stops.
The pin marks the site itself, not necessarily the entrance (42.33169, -71.15565). Apple Maps directions go to the street address instead. Show on our map · Google Maps · Apple Maps
Museum: 617-277-0065 · info@waterworksmuseum.org
Last checked 2026-10-26. Sources are listed below.
Sources
- waterworksmuseum.org · official page · read 2026-10-26For: name; who runs it; Museum and Great Engines Hall (self-guided): open or closed; Museum and Great Engines Hall (self-guided): what you see
- wikidata.org/wiki/Special:EntityData/Q7390… · Wikidata · read 2026-10-26For: location
- waterworksmuseum.org/visit/ · official page · read 2026-10-26For: street address; phone and email; Museum and Great Engines Hall (self-guided): kind of visit; Museum and Great Engines Hall (self-guided): days and hours; Museum and Great Engines Hall (self-guided): booking; Museum and Great Engines Hall (self-guided): cost; Museum and Great Engines Hall (self-guided): requirements; Special Access Tour (engines climb and basement pumps): what you see; Special Access Tour (engines climb and basement pumps): kind of visit; Special Access Tour (engines climb and basement pumps): booking; Special Access Tour (engines climb and basement pumps): cost
- waterworksmuseum.org/events/special-access-tour-20… · official page · read 2026-10-26For: Special Access Tour (engines climb and basement pumps): open or closed; Special Access Tour (engines climb and basement pumps): days and hours; Special Access Tour (engines climb and basement pumps): requirements
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