Boston Athenaeum- Boston, MA

The Boston Athenaeum is a magical place for library lovers. A fabulous urban oasis of architecture, art, antiques and of course books, it is the perfect place to spend a frigid winter day. 

Founded in 1807, and located on Beacon Street since 1849, it is one of the country’s oldest subscription libraries. Featuring five fabulous floors overlooking the Granary Burying Ground, its collection of over 600,000 volumes includes many extraordinary first editions, as well as portions of George Washington’s personal library. 

Scattered throughout the building are priceless pieces of art, including portraits by Gilbert Stuart and John Singer Sargent, as well as works by Augustus Saint-Gaudens and Daniel Chester French. Exploring the building is an adventure, with exciting architecture and decorative arts around each corner- not to mention the slightly claustrophobic catwalks, which are absolutely amazing. While public access is limited, a daily membership provides access to the entire building.