Boston Athenaeum - historic independent library

The Boston Athenaeum, founded in 1807, is one of the United States' oldest independent membership libraries and cultural institutions. Located at 10 1/2 Beacon Street, the Athenaeum maintains extensive collections of rare books, manuscripts, maps, and fine art and has long been part of Boston's literary and intellectual life. Its reading rooms, exhibition spaces, and special collections are frequently cited in accounts of the city's cultural history.