Exciting First Time Visit to the Boston Athenaeum

Recently, I had the opportunity to visit the Boston Athenaeum (BA) on 10 1/2 Beacon Street in Boston, MA for the fist time. I had an old friend and client, Chris L. take me. He is a long time member of the BA. At the time of our visit, there was a great deal of construction work going on. The BA is basically taking over part of the building next door and adding it to their private library to increase the square footage for books and other areas. On a side note, work is now complete and it looks amazing! The library has currently more than 600,000 volumes of books. I previously reserved a few books by Ernest Hemingway that were waiting for me when I arrived that morning. 

There were many things that stood out to me that day, well beyond the beauty and of course all the wonderful books and ephemera. One thing I first noticed, was the staff.  They were all amazing and very helpful and as a result, I'm already looking forward to getting back there for another visit to see the new addition. The second thing was the architecture of the room and the building itself. As you can see from my photo, it was absolutely beautiful. The current building was designed in the Greek Revival style by Edward Clarke Cabot, featuring an iconic façade with large windows and a grand interior. The space itself is renowned for its architectural beauty, especially the reading rooms with high ceilings and abundant natural light.

 The Boston Athenaeum was founded in 1807, though the current building was constructed in 1849. Making it one of the oldest independent libraries in the United States, playing a significant role in Boston's cultural and intellectual life.

Originally established as a reading room and library, the Boston Athenaeum aims to foster learning and cultural development. It was inspired by the English Athenaeums, which were social and intellectual clubs that promoted the exchange of ideas. The Boston Athenaeum also sought to bridge the gap between public and academic libraries by offering a space for both leisure reading and scholarly research.

Cost for a day pass was $40. You can also purchase a yearly membership. Many thanks to my good friend Chris L. for showing me his world. Now I just need to get up to Providence, R.I. to see their own version of this.