MIT is fairly well know for its long hallway that connects multiple buildings together (better known as the infinite corridor). Less well know, and what I actually think of more as a hidden gem is the Sol Lewitt: Bars of Color within Squares Art Exhibit.

You can find this giant exhibit by walking the infinite corridor to its east most end, where you hit a T shape and are forced to turn either north or south.  If you turn south and walk a few paces (maybe twenty) there is a short five foot entry on the west side of the hallway.  If you get there between 9am-5pm you can open the door to the MIT physics department and the gorgeous colorful U-shaped atrium.

The atrium is fairly empty during the day and a great spot to visit during the cold glum days of winter.  I have taken my son there multiple times during the winter when we were going crazy from being stuck in our apartment but he had a slight cold or runny nose and I didn’t want to go to the playroom or playgroups and risk infecting other kids.  This was at least a bright, warm space where he could move around a little bit and we could get out of the apartment.

Things to Note:

1) Price
Free

2) Kid Friendliness
Pretty kid friendly.  I brought my son there as a baby and toddler and he was more than happy to crawl/run around.  However the exhibit circles a bunch of class rooms so this is not a place to be super rambunctious, to scream, or be loud and crazy.  Also you’ll be walking across the art exhibit and they ask that you not do anything that might damage it so keep that in mind.

3) Stroller Friendliness
I’ve brought a stroller here many times.  I usually walk it on the outskirts of the tile exhibit and park it by the benches near the south wall while my son explores the colors.

Summary and Rating: ★★★☆☆

Three Stars.  It’s a nice place to go for some variety in the winter.  It’s free, warm and bright, but it’s not a place that is super interactive or a place that my 3 year old son can really let loose.  If you’ve got younger children, like crawling babies this makes for a fantastic afternoon visit.

Have you been here before?  If so I’d love to know more about your experience and any tips or tricks you have in the comments section below.

MIT Sol Lewitt: Bars of Color within Squares Art Exhibit
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
77 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139-4307

Website: http://www.mit.edu/~lvac/percent/lewitt.html