The Museum of Fine Arts was founded in 1870 and was subsequently opened to the public on July 4, 1876. The museum's collection includes 500,000 pieces of art from a range of periods and parts of the world. In recent years, the museum has opened new wings including the Art of the Americas Wing and the Linde Family Wing for Contemporary Art, in which visitors can explore contemporary art as well as spaces for educational purposes. 

The School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, founded in 1876, is located next to the museum and since 2016 has been part of Tufts University.