Even before there was a United States of America, the city of Boston, Massachusetts, had begun to establish itself as an intellectual and cultural centre. At the forefront of colonial dissent, 17th-century Boston attracted theologians, philosophers, and writers. Academic institutions sprang up around these great minds, and the city began its tenure as America's university town. It is from this unique academic tradition that many of Boston's modern museums evolved. Today, the collections of Harvard University, Boston University, MIT, and other institutions are still on display to the public. They have been joined by other world-class art and science museums, as well as a plethora of smaller, specialized collections. From the private Museum of Dirt to national historical sites, Boston hosts a complex variety of cultural artifacts to please every taste. Whether you are holidaying, traveling for work, or simply getting to know this city better, "Museums of Boston" provides a curator's-eyeview of Boston, complete with maps and transportation guides.