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    Boston Athenaeum

    4.2 (71 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Boston Athenaeum Photos

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    Lynn J.

    The Boston Anthenaeum... Is it a library? Is it a museum? Is it live jazz music venue? Was it a private Boston club? The answer is, "all of the above." This historical building was once a private club, but is now open to the public, for a membership fee of $500 a year. THE DEAL: if membership isn't in your budget, definitely visit during an open house!

    Charging $40 to see books is just downright unAmerican. Charging that much to see pieces of our history is just sad.

    the elevated floors that I had mentioned that the rude staff laughed and said I could not go on
    Grier F.

    Pretentious and condescending behavior. For $40 for a day pass just to be treated poorly is not a good look. They make the upper floors exclusive by up charging. The only nice person were the security guards. Everyone else working here give off incel vibes. It was my first time and I had asked if it's alright to go up the stairs and the staff just laughed and said there were none. When clearly I saw other guests using it.

    The 5th floor, quiet space.
    Lily G.

    The entire Athenaeum is stunning beyond belief. For anyone fond of books-- particularly the smell, the feel, the novelty, the quiet of reading them-- this place is for you. The interior rivals museums, and the rooms are large and varied. There are quiet spaces, children's spaces, rentable meeting rooms, cozy fireside spaces, anything you could wish for for laptop work and reading. All are curated beautifully, and kept impeccably clean and fresh. Needless to say the place is filled with books, but also includes amazing art and sculptures. They do have modern works (both art and books) but the majority are historic. Modern amenities like outlets, clean toilets and kitchens/kitchenettes are available. Check out the Drum, there are floors and floors of books if you peek through the cracks. I wish I could bottle the scent. Also check out the balcony overlooking the cemetery on the 5th floor. Amazing space!!

    Brooke C.

    This place is pretty cute! It was just smaller than I expected and an exhibit was closed which made it even smaller. Still has charm and would be a nice place to get work done if you're cool with the $8 entrance fee.

    Thuy-Linh P.

    Went to the Boston Athenaeum for my boyfriend's Exeter alumni event. Such a lovely venue as we are both appreciative of the arts, literature, and history. This place has been on our list of Boston places to explore and the reception event was really well done. There was a lot of space for mingling and chatting with the Philips Exeter alums. After a speech about what Exeter has in store for the future, there was a buffet-style dinner. There was a Mediterranean station and dumpling station for dinner as well as desserts, drinks and hors d'oeuvres such as tuna poke, Peking duck wraps, etc... We will most definitely be back to see the other floors and exhibits soon.

    Loving the red leather
    Deb B.

    Absolutely beautiful adventure for a day in Beacon Hill area. We didn't get access to the stacks as we were just visiting briefly. The building itself gorgeous and welcomes you with red leather doors and a grand foyer. Inside you will see balconies providing access to the volumes. Ticket area is just inside the doors and we got the basic entry just to check out the building (main floor) and the art it holds. Sculptures, paintings, seasonal local art exhibits. So much to see. I found a mini Boston Athenaeum book nook hidden amongst the volumes.

    Scenes from the Boston Athaeneum
    Gretchen B.

    In all of my years living in Boston and Cambridge, I had never been here, until today. I cannot believe what I was missing out on. This is one of if not the most beautiful building(s) in the city. The art, the books, the lovely areas to work or sit in peace are breathtaking. I was lucky to come during their free open house. If you are not a member, admission is typically $10 and there are certain areas you won't be able to go. They also do one Saturday a month for free, but again, you can only go to certain areas. The open house though is where you can explore even the members only areas. Either way, it is worth it to experience the Athaeneum and it's history and beauty. It is one of my favorite places in the city now. Do yourself a favor and visit. You will be blown away.

    My girlfriend and I stumbled across the Athenaeum on the way back to the Omni Parker during a week in Boston. This place is a little hidden gem in a city with a lot of touristy things to do. We got there late in the day, close to closing, and were given a great tour by the staff. We really enjoyed the sculptures, art work, and ambience upstairs (like stepping back in time), as well as the rows and rows of historic books. Really an interesting place and we will come back on our next visit and take our time visiting.

    Books on the 2nd floor. Visitors are not allowed to access the 2nd floor.

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    No working WiFi and the staff charge you to sit there. Underwhelming library that was half closed.

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    Review Highlights - Boston Athenaeum

    Because it is hidden and because it is a private library, it feels as if you had stumbled upon a wing of someone's private home.

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    Boston Public Library - Exterior

    Boston Public Library

    4.6(659 reviews)
    1.0 miBack Bay

    The Boston Public Library is an institution. It is famous for being the first large, free…read moremunicipal library in the United States, established in 1848. Known as a "palace for the people," it is renowned for its stunning Renaissance Revival architecture, the iconic Bates Hall reading room, and an extensive collection of over 23 million items. My niece loved taking pictures of the outside building as well as the inside areas near the fountain. On certain days and times, you can watch live broadcasts from GBH inside the cafe.

    This is an absolutely gorgeous library, the older section houses fantastic art and feels more like…read morea museum than a library. It also has the Courtyard Tea Room (reservations available on Open Table) for traditional afternoon tea on the main level. I was able to peek inside but it was being prepared for a private event. Adjacent to the tea room is the Map Room Lounge for small bites and cocktails. Very cool. Bates Hall was amazing to walk into, but it was full of people studying, so I limited my visit to one end of the hall. In between the older part and the newer part of the library (where most of the books are, and a coffee shop/gift shop as well) is the Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Center. They currently have a super interesting display called "Declarations: Printing a New Nation" with original copies of the Declaration of Independence in various formats. It was also really interesting to see the display of the maps of Boston over time and how the city changed. A must see if you are in Boston!

    Photos
    Boston Public Library - The lions. The ceiling. The floors. All of it was gorgeous!

    The lions. The ceiling. The floors. All of it was gorgeous!

    Boston Public Library - Bates Reading Room

    Bates Reading Room

    Boston Public Library - Newsfeed cafe in the library

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    Newsfeed cafe in the library

    Robbins Library

    Robbins Library

    4.4(50 reviews)
    6.2 miArlington Center

    I've driven past this library for decades but never went inside until the past few years. After my…read moresecond visit to,look around, I just had to get myself a library card here. Besides being an architecturally appealing building, I love the layout and offerings. I've found books, and other items that other libraries either don't have or are hard to get, being checked out frequently. I recently discovered their nice DVD section. I found all seasons of Get Smart and rented them all over a period of about 5-1/2 weeks. They have a decent selection of Blu-Ray discs as well. The first room on the left as you enter is where they keep newspapers and periodicals. It's also a wonderful spot to sit and read. There's a small but adequate metered parking lot behind the building , which is managed by the Town. There's on-street metered parking as well. Just a block or two away, you'll find free parking on the side streets. They also offer passes to museums and some other local attractions, although, in most cases, the discount is somewhat less than those available from the Boston Public Library. The advantage is this is both easier to get to and park at. They do also offer,some virtual passes that you can easily obtain online. It is near at least two MBTA bus routes (77, 87). The staff is very helpful and friendly. They are associated with several other libraries within their network as well.

    Great library. Helpful staff. Lots of audiobooks and DVDs. And a comfy area to explore fiction…read more Love the big overstuffed chair there.

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    Robbins Library
    Robbins Library
    Robbins Library - Teens only study area

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    Teens only study area

    John F Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum - Nail-biting election night results against Nixon.

    John F Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum

    4.5(328 reviews)
    3.3 miDorchester

    The JFK Presidential Library is one of the most impressive, inspiring museums I've visited. JFK led…read morean extraordinary life, and the library does a remarkable job showing why he remains such a compelling and influential figure. Walking through the exhibits, you really feel the weight of an era when the presidency carried a different kind of dignity and aspiration. The way Kennedy spoke, what he stood for, and the sense of public service he embodied stand in stark contrast to the tone of modern politics. Visiting the library made me appreciate that difference even more. Trump has made the United States a laughing stock. I wish we could just erase Trump from existence. The museum itself is beautifully designed, bright, and right on the water -- an amazing setting. The core exhibits are informative, moving, and very well curated. I especially loved the special exhibit on presidential pets, which added a fun and charming touch. Overall, the JFK Library is fascinating, inspiring, and absolutely worth the trip. Highly recommended.

    Great museum both for its content and its architecture. I went after there was some reconstruction,…read moreso it was free entry, but it's definitely worth it to come for the entry fee. There is a fairly large parking lot, and it's right on the water which is scenic. It's a very thorough exhibit from a movie talking about JFK's early life, then the exhibits from his marriage, the election, life in the White House, the Cuban missile crisis, and then his unfortunate assassination and the aftermath. The information was well laid out and displayed, so it took a couple of hours to get through and leave in a pensive mood. Well, until I went to the Presidential Pets exhibit which lightened the mood. Well played! There are also a decent gift shop and a cafe on site. It was a great presentation and well worth visiting.

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    John F Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum
    John F Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum
    John F Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum

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    Boston Athenaeum - libraries - Updated May 2026

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