Boston, MA – The Museum of American Finance, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, will open its new exhibit headquarters on Commonwealth Pier in the Boston Seaport on Friday, July 3. Admission to the 5,400 sq ft Museum will be free of charge, reflecting its core mission of making financial education accessible to all.
The Museum worked with the renowned firm G&A Strategy and Design to create world-class exhibits that draw from the Museum’s collections—while integrating the latest technologies in a partnership with the Fidelity Center for Applied Technology (FCAT). The Museum will feature seven inaugural exhibits in Boston:
- “America in Circulation,” an interactive currency exhibit featuring hundreds of the most beautiful and interesting examples of American money, on loan from the collection of Mark R. Shenkman
- “Alexander Hamilton Experience,” featuring a multilingual AI-generated Hamilton, developed in partnership with FCAT
- “A Financial Revolution,” bringing to life the founding of the US financial system, to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary
- “Investing in US Financial History,” a six-station interactive timeline enabling visitors to take a deeper dive into the history of the US financial markets, from the 18th century through today
- “Hub of Innovation,” on the role Massachusetts has played in the nation’s financial development (sponsored by MassMutual)
- “The Future of Finance,” on the worlds of blockchain, crypto, tokenization and the evolution of financial technology (sponsored by Bitwise)
- “Personal Finance,” a hands-on exploration of the tools needed to achieve and maintain a healthy financial life, presented by the Personal Finance Institute
The exhibits were guest curated by some of the nation’s leading experts in finance, economics and numismatic history, including Rahul Arora, Ric Edelman, Mark Higgins and Richard Sylla. The lead sponsors are Fidelity Investments, Bitwise, MassMutual, and Rosalind E. and Mark R. Shenkman, as well as founders John E. Herzog and the Rodney S. Klein Stock Market Museum & Library.
“We are thrilled that our opening in Boston coincides with our nation’s 250th anniversary, as our exhibits will give school groups, tourists and the local community an opportunity to view the country’s founding financial documents, many of which have never before been on public display,” said MoAF President David Cowen. “Visitors will leave our Museum with a greater understanding and appreciation for our nation’s financial history—much of it centered in the Boston Harbor area—as well as knowledge that will help them better their own financial lives.”
In 2025, the Museum announced it had signed a 10-year lease for exhibit space at Commonwealth Pier, the waterfront destination in Boston’s Seaport being developed by Pembroke, the international real estate business.
"We are delighted to welcome a free museum with an important educational mission to Commonwealth Pier—improving financial literacy,” said Kristan McLaughlin, Director, Customer Experience and Asset Operations at Pembroke. “The Museum’s focus on American financial history complements Commonwealth Pier’s historic ties to Boston’s maritime and commercial legacy, and its mission furthers our commitment to creating a new waterfront destination designed for exploration and connection."
The Museum’s opening in Boston marks the first time it will have a permanent exhibit headquarters since it left its former home at 48 Wall Street in New York City in 2018. Founded in 1989, the Museum has a 37-year track record of creating engaging, state-of-the-art exhibits in New York and around the country, with traveling exhibits and temporary installations bringing its collections to national audiences since the closing of its Wall Street space. Its rich archive spans the entirety of American finance and houses one of the nation’s most important collections of 18th century US financial documents, including multiple letters and documents from Alexander Hamilton that established the basis for the US financial system.
The Museum’s events and educational initiatives—offered for free in both virtual and in-person formats—currently reach more than 10,000 students and adults annually. The Museum will add Boston-based programs via partnerships with Boston area community organizations and educational institutions to supplement its existing programming.
PRESS CONFERENCE AND MEDIA PREVIEWS
Members of the press are invited to attend a press conference, followed by exhibit previews, on the morning of Wednesday, July 1, at the Museum’s new home (200 Seaport Boulevard).
9:30am: Doors open/continental breakfast
10:00am: Press conference
10:30am-12:00pm: Media access to exhibits, with guest curators available for interviews
Reservations are required, and space is limited. Working members of the press who plan to attend should RSVP to Kristin Aguilera at kaguilera@moaf.org by June 28.
A digital press kit with object highlights, photographs and more details on MoAF Boston can be found at https://www.moaf.org/news/press-kit.
About the Museum of American Finance
The Museum of American Finance, a chartered 501(c)3 non-profit organization, seeks to improve understanding of the influence of financial institutions and capital markets on the US and global economies, and on individuals’ lives. The Museum is dedicated to educating the public on finance and financial history through exhibits, financial literacy programs and public events. An affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, the Museum seeks to empower individuals of all backgrounds to strive toward financial independence, while encouraging curiosity and discovery. For more information, visit www.moaf.org or connect with the Museum on social media @FinanceMuseum.
About Pembroke
Pembroke is an international real estate advisor that acquires, develops and manages properties and places, specializing in mixed-use, residential and office environments in the world’s leading cities. The business facilitates private capital for its investors and takes a long-term approach to real estate, investing in markets with proven growth potential.
Pembroke has offices in Boston, Hamburg, London, Munich, San Francisco, Stockholm, Sydney, Tokyo and Washington, DC, and manages more than 9.8 million square feet / 915,000 square meters across North America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. By combining a global perspective with deep local expertise, Pembroke creates and manages world-class properties that deliver strong outcomes for tenants, investors and the communities they serve. Learn more at Pembroke.com and connect on LinkedIn.
About Commonwealth Pier
Commonwealth Pier is a year-round waterfront destination that invites exploration, connection and community along Boston Harbor. Anchored in the Seaport neighborhood, it offers an experience where dining, work and leisure converge with the city’s history, arts, culture and innovation. Originally opened in 1913 and known as Commonwealth Pier, later home to the Seaport World Trade Center for decades, the historic site has been comprehensively reimagined by Pembroke as today’s Commonwealth Pier, honoring its legacy while embracing a new future. The new Commonwealth Pier brings together a dynamic mix of new restaurants and retail, modern office space, a waterfront plaza, a revitalized Harborwalk, the Seaport East and West office towers and the Seaport Hotel—all woven together through art and thoughtfully designed green spaces, connecting locals and visitors to the broader Boston community and waterfront. For more information, please visit commonwealthpier.com