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U.S. Roadside Attraction no. 9

Hood Milk Bottle, Boston, Massachusetts

Photo: Giant milk bottle in Boston

Banish all thoughts of baked beans. If you want some ice cream that’ll make you scream, head to this 40-foot-tall snack stand at the Boston Children’s Museum. While not exactly a roadside attraction—it’s more a waterfront sight—the nearly 80-year-old icon has delighted lactose-loving families for ages. If it was real it could hold 58,620 gallons of milk.


Boston Children's Museum

Permanent exhibits

The New Balance Climb at Boston Children's Museum
  • Arthur & Friends: The exhibit features the characters from Marc Brown’s books and the television series. Children can learn and play in the Read Family Kitchen, Mr. Ratburn’s Classroom, and the Backyard Sleepover.
  • Art Studio: The Art Studio is a place where children and families can create art together.
  • Boston Black . . . A City Connects: This exhibit explores Boston’s Black community and its history and diversity. Children can decorate and ride on a Carnival float, shop at a Dominican store, learn about hairstyles at Joe’s Barber Shop and African Queen Beauty Salon, and dance to Cape Verdean beats.
  • The Common: The Common is a central area where visitors can experience light shows, musical chairs, a gigantic checkers game, and many other activities. The Common is also used for gatherings.
  • Construction Zone: Inspired by the Big Dig, the Construction Zone gives visitors a chance to ride a Bobcat, play with trucks, and use jackhammers.
  • Countdown to Kindergarten!: This model classroom welcomes kids to take part in a typical Kindergarten experience while adults can ask staff “teachers” questions they may have about Kindergarten.
  • The Gallery: The Gallery is an activity and art exhibition area.
  • Global Gallery: The 2,500-square-foot (230 m2) space hosts exhibits from around the world.
  • Japanese House: The Japanese House is a real two-story townhouse from Kyoto, Japan, Boston’s Japanese sister city. Visitors can learn about Japanese family life, culture, art, architecture, and seasonal events at the exhibit.
  • Johnny's Workbench: Visitors are able to work with hand tools and natural materials at this exhibit. The exhibit was recently updated, and now visitors are able to create a small woodworking project to take home.
  • Kid Power: This exhibit teaches visitors how to live healthier lives by eating right and exercising.
  • KidStage: At KidStage, visitors can watch and often participate in performances on the kid-sized stage. The exhibit introduces children to the performing arts—music, singing, dance, and comedy.
  • New Balance Climb: The New Balance Climb is a three-story climbing structure located in the front of the museum. It was designed by Tom Luckey.
  • Peep's World: Peep's World recreates the world from the WGBH series Peep and the Big Wide World and teaches young children science skills.
  • PlaySpace: PlaySpace is for the museum’s youngest visitors—children between the ages of 0–3 years. Children can explore a tree house climber, a toy train set, and a "messy activities" area. The exhibit also includes an crawlers-only area with soft mats and other objects to lie and climb on.
  • Science Playground: Visitors can learn about the natural world in "Investigate," discover the laws of motion in "Raceways," or play with bubbles in “Bubbles.”

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