The nearby Kennedy Library explores the history of one of Boston's most famous families; here, you might find your own clan's history. Neither collection is worth a trip on its own, but this is a worthwhile detour on the way to or from the Kennedy Library.

The Commonwealth Museum has videos, slide shows, and other interactive exhibits on the state's people, places, and politics. Topics covered recently in the regularly changing exhibits include the archaeology of the Big Dig, the Civil War, and state history. In the same building, the state archives contain passenger lists for ships that arrived in Boston from 1848 to 1891; state census schedules that date to 1790; and documents, maps, and military and court records starting with the Massachusetts Bay Company (1628-29). Knowledgeable staff members are on hand to answer researchers' questions in person, by mail, or by phone.