Directions and Parking

Public Transportation

Taking the MBTA Subway

Take the Red Line to the Harvard Square stop. Walk through Harvard Yard and down Kirland Street one block to Divinity Avenue. Turn left on Divinity Avenue, and the museum will be on the left.

Take the Fitchburg Line to Porter Square. Walk 50 yards on Somerville Avenue, cross the tracks on the bridge, and bear right onto Oxford Street and continue to #26, the Harvard Museum of Natural History, which is connected to the Peabody Museum. (Admission is included to both museums.) The museum is less than a mile from Porter Square.

Bike Share

Bluebikes is Metro Boston’s public bike share program. The majority of bike-docking stations are available year-round, but in winter, it’s best to confirm station locations. See the Bluebikes map to locate the bike docking station one block away from the museum entrance.

Driving Directions

Off-Campus Parking

There are a limited number of two-hour metered spaces located on Oxford and Kirkland Streets. These meters only accept US quarters, credit cards, or the local parking app Passport. After 8:00 pm the meters do not require coins but may be restricted to Cambridge residents. Parking is free on Sundays, and resident permits are not required. Please read the street signs carefully.

Commercial Garages

There are commercial parking garages in Harvard Square; however, the museum cannot validate parking for those businesses.

Free Event Parking

When noted, occasional Peabody Museum events have limited event parking at the 52 Oxford Street Garage (a Harvard University garage). Be sure to tell garage attendants the name of the event and sponsoring organization (Peabody Museum, Harvard Museums of Science and Culture) on arrival.

University Permit Parking

Limited parking is available for museum visitors in nearby University-operated garages including the 52 Oxford Street Garage, located at the intersection of Everett and Oxford Street. Permits must be purchased in advance. Day permits (valid until 11:00 pm) can be purchased online up to two weeks in advance and range in price from $11 to $22 per pass. All major credit cards are accepted and sales are final. For customer service related to the purchase of permits, please contact the Harvard Parking Office at (617) 496-7827 or parking@harvard.edu.

Weekend permits for the 52 Oxford Street Garage may be purchased online or in person at the admission desk of the Peabody Museum (11 Divinity Avenue) or Harvard Museum of Natural History (26 Oxford St.). A license plate number is required for purchase.

Be prepared to print out your permit.

Go to Harvard University Online Parking Permit System (HOPPS)
Register as a "Visitor."
Search Parking
Select the reason for your visit from the drop-down menu, such as "Museum Tour," "Event Participant," or "Other"
Choose a Subcategory: "Peabody Museum"
Enter the desired date and Permit Type, such as "Weekday" or "Weekend," then choose Search
In the Harvard University Destination field, enter Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology
Select a parking location: 52 Oxford Street Garage in Harvard University's Northwest Building is the closest to the Peabody Museum. The 52 Oxford Street Garage is open seven days a week.
Add to Cart
Click the Cart icon in the upper right to pay
Print out the permit
Remember to bring your printed permit when you park
Need more help? See more about Harvard visitor parking.

Accessible Parking

The 52 Oxford Street Garage has both ADA Accessible and Disability parking. For further information see Harvard University Accessible Parking. See also Peabody Museum Accessibility for general information

Tour and School Buses

Tour and school buses must get detailed bus parking instructions from the Education Department by calling reservations at 617-495-2341.

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