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Isabella Stewart Gardner epitomizes the artistic elite of Boston whose legacy has enriched not only that historic city but the entire world. Jack and Isabella Gardner were Boston socialites whose appreciation for art and the financial ability to travel, become educated and collect the world enabled them to bring to their Beacon Street mansion a growing treasure trove. The collection outgrew the Beacon Street residence even with renovations and they had an Italianeseque 15th century style museum designed and built on the Fens, which until filling has been a marshy area. Originally Boston had large areas of swamp and marsh that were gradually filled in to be built upon. Beginning in 1899 construction began, in 1901 building was completed and the Gardners began installing the collection. In 1903 the new museum was opened to the public and has remained open to all since.

Isabella Stewart Gardner, whose provocative portrait was painted by John Singer Sargent, impressed her radiant and enthusiastic persona upon her museum. She avoided the European museum/gallery atmosphere, using instead a somewhat eclectic and light filled sensibility with the accent of fresh flowers. A comforting homelike atmosphere pervades, allowing an intimacy that traditional galleries lack by nature.

Many of the world’s artistic colony visited and performed and lectured at the museum. It became a social hub for the intellectual life of Boston that was shared by Brahmin and the working class achiever.

Boston is home and host to illustrious academic, art and historical agencies. The city dates from the 1630′s and has led from a cultural, political and culturally influential position ever since. The likes of John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Paul Revere and Isabella Stewart Gardner share a city of light that holds an open invitation to an entire world of knowledge and beauty seekers. The Isabella Stewart Gardner should be the first place to visit when traveling to historic Boston.