Boston - Museum of Fine Arts Boston

Considered one of the leading art museums in the country, the Boston Museum of Fine Arts houses a diverse collection ranging from Egyptian sculpture to modern video installation pieces.

The museum holdings are arranged in more than 200 galleries within the following departments:

The Asiatic Department contains a variety of painting, sculpture, drawings and ceramics from Japan, China, Korea, India and the Middle East.

Some of the highlights here include a 12th century lacquered-wood sculpture of a Buddhist Bodhisattva and Korean painted screens.

The Ancient World includes artwork from Greece, Egypt and the Middle East. Highlights include the ivory and gold statue of the Minoan Snake Goddess from 1500 BC and a statue of the Egyptian pharaoh Mycerinus and his queen from 2548-2530 BC.

The Decorative Arts Department contains artwork from Europe and the U.S. spanning 500 years. Examples include New England furniture and Italian Renaissance sculptures.

The Painting Department is separated again into various categories. It is a large and comprehensive collection ranging from a Rembrandt oil painting painted in the 17th century to American modern art.

The neo-Classical main building was designed by Guy Lowell and built in 1909. The modern West Wing hosts special exhibits and shows. It was designed by I.M. Pei and partners and completed in 1981.