DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum

Museum Outdoor sculpture park and contemporary art museum

Outdoor sculpture park and museum in Lincoln, Massachusetts on the Charles River, displaying contemporary and large‑scale works; visitors walk the grounds, view sculpture and see rotating exhibitions.

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DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum is a contemporary art museum and outdoor sculpture park in Lincoln, Massachusetts, founded on the estate of Julian de Cordova and opened in 1950. It combines indoor galleries with a roughly 30-acre outdoor collection of modern and contemporary sculpture.

The site features an extensive outdoor sculpture park with more than 60 works set across lawns, meadows and wooded paths, allowing for close viewing of large-scale pieces and site-specific installations. Indoor galleries present rotating exhibitions and programs focused on contemporary art, complementing the outdoor collection and offering changing displays throughout the year.

The museum was established from the de Cordova estate and has grown since the mid-20th century to include an expanded outdoor program and rotating exhibition schedule. Over subsequent decades the institution developed its sculpture park as a major regional venue for large-scale contemporary works.

Located in the town of Lincoln, Massachusetts, the campus sits about 12 miles (around 20 km) northwest of downtown Boston in a semi-rural suburban landscape of fields and woodlands adjacent to residential areas.

  • Park scale: The outdoor sculpture park covers roughly 30 acres and contains more than 60 outdoor works scattered across lawns and wooded areas.
  • Visiting tip: Best visited from spring through fall when the outdoor works and walking paths are fully accessible; comfortable walking shoes are recommended for uneven surfaces.

What to See #

  • Sculpture Park: An outdoor campus of paths, lawns and viewing areas covering roughly 30 acres and displaying a rotating collection of large-scale contemporary sculptures in a park-like setting.
  • Museum and galleries: A museum building that presents rotating indoor exhibitions, site-specific commissions and the institution's collection of contemporary art; originally founded on the donor estate in 1950.
DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum
51 Sandy Pond Road, Lincoln & Concord, MA 01773
42.4312, -71.3115
Wed-Sun 10am-5pm, closed Mon-Tue (check website for seasonal changes)
Adult $12, Seniors/Students $10, Children under 12 free (prices subject to change)

How to Get to DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum #

By car: From Boston take I-90 West to MA-2 West then follow local roads to Sandy Pond Road; parking available on site. By public transit: commuter rail to nearby Lincoln/Concord area with a taxi or rideshare for the final 10-15 minutes; no direct MBTA subway connection.

Tips for Visiting DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum #

  • Enter through the Sculpture Park gate on Sandy Pond Road to begin with the outdoor works and avoid retracing steps.
  • Rent a map at the admissions desk-many large works are catalogued only by number and can be easy to miss among the trees.
  • Bring binoculars in spring: many sculptures perch on mown rises and are best appreciated from a distance as well as up close.

Best Time to Visit DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum #

Best visited in spring or fall for fewer crowds and better light across the 30-acre outdoor sculpture park.

Spring (Apr-Jun)
April-June · 5-20°C (40-68°F)
Wildflowers and leafing trees frame the sculptures; quieter than high summer and excellent for photography.
Fall (Sep-Oct)
September-October · 5-18°C (40-64°F)
Crisp air and turning leaves give the park a cinematic backdrop; golden light hits metal works beautifully.
Summer (Jul-Aug)
July-August · 18-30°C (64-86°F)
Busiest time for families; allow extra time for walking the outdoor circuit.

Weather & Climate near DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum #

Climate

DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum's climate is classified as Hot-Summer Continental - Hot-Summer Continental climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -9°C to 28°C. Abundant rainfall (1177 mm/year), wettest in November, distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.

Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
28°
Warmest Month
-9°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions

January

January is the coldest month with highs of 1°C and lows of -9°C. Significant rainfall (103 mm).

Comfort

-4°
Feels Like Freezing
-4°C
Temperature
-9°

Weather

103 mm
Rainfall
4.0 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

February

February is freezing with highs of 3°C and lows of -9°C. Regular rainfall (87 mm).

Comfort

-3°
Feels Like Freezing
-3°C
Temperature
-9°

Weather

87 mm
Rainfall
4.2 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

March

March is cold with highs of 7°C and lows of -4°C. Significant rainfall (104 mm).

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
-4°

Weather

104 mm
Rainfall
4.3 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

April

April is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 2°C. Regular rainfall (100 mm).

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
13°

Weather

100 mm
Rainfall
4.2 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

May

May is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 7°C. Regular rainfall (93 mm).

Comfort

14°
Feels Like Cool
14°C
Temperature
20°

Weather

93 mm
Rainfall
3.7 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

June

June is mild with highs of 24°C and lows of 12°C. Regular rainfall (91 mm).

Comfort

18°
Feels Like Mild
18°C
Temperature
12° 25°

Weather

91 mm
Rainfall
3.4 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

July

July is the warmest month with highs of 28°C and lows of 16°C. Regular rainfall (92 mm).

Comfort

22°
Feels Like Mild
22°C
Temperature
16° 28°

Weather

92 mm
Rainfall
3.2 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

August

August is mild with highs of 27°C and lows of 15°C. Regular rainfall (94 mm).

Comfort

21°
Feels Like Mild
21°C
Temperature
15° 27°

Weather

94 mm
Rainfall
3.0 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

September

September is cool with highs of 23°C and lows of 10°C. Regular rainfall (94 mm).

Comfort

17°
Feels Like Cool
17°C
Temperature
11° 23°

Weather

94 mm
Rainfall
3.1 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

October

October is cool with highs of 17°C and lows of 4°C. Significant rainfall (101 mm).

Comfort

11°
Feels Like Cool
11°C
Temperature
17°

Weather

101 mm
Rainfall
3.5 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

November

November is cold with highs of 11°C and lows of 0°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (113 mm).

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
11°

Weather

113 mm
Rainfall
3.7 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

December

December is freezing with highs of 4°C and lows of -6°C. Significant rainfall (105 mm).

Comfort

-1°
Feels Like Freezing
-1°C
Temperature
-6°

Weather

105 mm
Rainfall
3.9 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

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