Last Updated on February 12, 2024 by Travelationship
Like most major cities, the Boston Public Library has several branches. I intended to focus on the Central Library branch comprising the Johnson and McKim buildings. It’s located in the heart of Copley Square. The Library opened in 1895 and is heavily influenced by Roman architecture. It contains enough marble to fill a small cargo ship.
Boston Public Library: Central Branch
The Libraries Exterior
Two statues by Bela Pratt stand watch over the main entrance; the one on the left represents science, while the one on the right depicts art.
The Entrance Hall and Main Staircase
Upon entering, you are immediately greeted by the grand entrance hall and the main staircase. I returned to it several times during our visit to marvel at the intricate details; I was rewarded with new sights each time.
Two incredible lion statues are located halfway up the staircase. Both are the work of Louis Saint-Gaudens and are dedicated to the Second and the Twentieth Massachusetts Civil War infantry regiments. The top of the stairs provides an excellent overview of the marvelous design and leads you to one of my favorite rooms in the Library.
Bates Hall Reading Room
This room instantly caught my eye. The grand hall has an enormous vaulted arched ceiling with two rows of large work tables, each decorated with classic green law lamps. Please note that this hall is designated a quiet room. Be respectful of the many people studying here.
Second Floor Abbey Room
This room is covered with richly colored murals named after their artist, Edwin Austin Abbey. The Quest for the Holy Grail is the work on display, traversing roughly one hundred and twenty feet of wall space.
Third Floor Sargent Gallery
Upon reaching the top of the staircase in the McKim building, you will find yourself in the Sargent Gallery. The room is named for its artist, John Singer Sargent, who spent years creating the masterworks on display entitled Triumph of Religion. When the Library opened, this was the entrance to the special collections, and Sargent believed it deserved a modern masterpiece to sit at its gates. The mural follows the gambit from pagan gods to dogma and its crown enlightened spirituality. The more you examine the mural, the more you will find it is full of symbolism and story.
Third Floor Special Collections
The crown jewel on display here is Second President John Adams’s 3,800-volume personal collection. Few other libraries rival their research collection in the United States. Don’t miss the puppet collection on the same floor. The group is small but very interesting.
The Courtyard
This space epitomized a peaceful haven in an otherwise busy city. Tables outline the open-air courtyard and are occupied by an array of patrons. The fountain by Frederick MacMonnies breathes serenity and is called Bacchante and Infant Faun.
Map Room Café
Our time in the Library was undoubtedly more prolonged than we expected. The convenience of the Map Room was much appreciated. I grabbed a tasty chicken sandwich, and Heather had the soup sandwich combo. The food hit the spot and was the perfect cap for our trip to the Library.
Logistics
Central Library Branch: 700 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02116. Tel: 617-536-5400
The main buildings are open Mon-Thur: 9 am-9 pm, Fri-Sat: 9 am-5 pm & Sun: 1 pm-5 pm. Some rooms or exhibits have special hours, so it is best to double-check their website here. Free tours are available; more info here. Give the Library at least an hour, possibly two if you take the tour, to show you all the secrets; you won’t regret it.
The Library’s website was instrumental in providing the dates and artists’ names for the article and is a wealthy resource not to be overlooked.
Recommendable: Most Certainly. It will surely surprise you, especially for students of history and those forever searching for hidden gems.
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