It has been said that the Boston Museum of Fine Arts could be considered an interesting mixture of two other world-famous repositories of fine art: the Musee d'Orsay of Paris, and the British Museum of London. The people of Boston, and the city itself, are both strongly respectful and very supportive of the arts in general and of their fine arts museum specifically.

In an effort to make sure that this fine repository of the arts remains a leader in the field, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston is in the midst of extensive renovations. The east wing of the facility has all but disappeared in the process of the ongoing demolition and ensuing reconstruction. The completion of this expansive grand addition to the museum is highly anticipated and is expected to be dedicated in 2010.

The end result of this major undertaking is that the Boston Museum of Fine Arts will soon have the extra space that will enable the facility to be able to accommodate a number of new and expanded art exhibitions. The museum staff is also busy behind the scenes preparing art center programs and special educational events that will even further enrich the visitors' experience of the museum.

While the renovations are in progress, the museum is introducing many new exhibits and displays in areas that are not affected by the construction, to help encourage local area residents to continue patronizing the facility and taking advantage of the current offerings. Visitors to the Boston area are also encouraged to visit the many gallery exhibitions that are still running, even during this time of change and improvement.

The museum is easy to access by making use of the city's efficient transportation system known as the MBTA, or the "T," as many locals call it. For those arriving by car, there are two museum parking lots available.

One lot is actually a covered garage while the other is an open-air parking lot. Parking is fairly limited and tends to fill up very fast so patrons are encouraged to either take public transportation or carpool whenever possible.

Daily operating hours for the Boston Museum of Fine Arts are as follows: Monday and Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.; Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, 10 a.m. to 9:45 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Only select gallery exhibitions and the art gallery housed in the West Wing of the museum are open after 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday through Friday.

This Boston museum has an extensive collection of fine, exquisite and rare art pieces, which have been collected from many different areas of the world. The Art Gallery of Asia, Africa, and Oceania are very popular with art connoisseurs.

One current art gallery exhibit is the Weng Collection, which highlights Chinese paintings and works of calligraphy. The Art of Europe gallery is an equally extensive collection, which includes over 22,000 pieces of art and covers eras from the seventh century up to the twentieth century, featuring some of the greatest masterpieces of all time.

Additional art collections at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts include the Art of the Americas exhibit, the Art of the Ancient World gallery, Contemporary Art gallery exhibitions with various prints, drawings and photos. There are also fascinating exhibits that feature musical instruments, textiles, and the artistry of the fashion industry. The museum also has an interactive tour, which is an excellent way for visitors to learn about the history behind the works of art on display.