A museum of art and culture from New England and around the world. Exhibitions, programs, publications, symposia, research, conservation, historic houses, campus-like setting. Oldest continuing museum in the nation, begun in 1799. Collections focus on American decorative art, maritime, Asian and Asian export art, contemporary art, art from Oceania, Africa, India, photography, a research library, and a complete Chinese house brought from China and reassembled at the museum.