Local Museums in North End / Waterfront Dominate State Rankings

Matt Conti | August, 2016 | northendwaterfront.com

New England Aquarium at Central Wharf (NEWF Photo)

The North End / Waterfront neighborhood is home to three of the top ten largest museums in Massachusetts, according to 2015 attendance data published this week by the Boston Business Journal.

Coming in second on the list, the New England Aquarium trails the Museum of Science as the annual favorite. Interestingly, attendance at the Aquarium fell to 1.28 million visitors in 2015, down from 1.37 million the previous year. With an entrance fee of $26.95 and 245 paid staff, total revenue on its tax filing totals approximately $41.5 million.

Ranking an impressive #4 on the list is the historic Old North Church on Salem Street. Old North is free to enter ($3 suggested donation) which brought it a record 578,000 visitors in 2015. Donations and tours helped the foundation post $1.4 million in revenue with 30 paid staff members. At #8 on the list is the Paul Revere House in North Square with 283,848 visitors, up 23 thousand from the previous year. That’s not too shabby considering the major construction at the campus in preparation for the opening of its new visitor center on Lathrop Place. With a $3.50 entrance fee (North End residents enter free!), the Paul Revere House had revenue of $1.4 million and 24 paid staff members.