The Boston Public Library

Founded in 1848, the Boston Public Library (BPL) is America’s third-largest public library, serving as both a major research institution and a community hub. Its flagship Central Library, designed by Charles Follen McKim and opened in 1895, is a landmark in Renaissance Revival/Beaux-Arts architecture—famously dubbed a “palace for the people”. Joined in 1972 by the modernist Johnson (Boylston Street) Building from Philip Johnson, the complex blends historic grandeur with cutting-edge public service facilities.

Within the Central Library, architectural highlights include the grand marble staircase flanked by white marble lions that visitors rub for luck, the ornate Bates Hall reading room with a vaulted ceiling, and richly decorated spaces like the Abbey Room and Sargent Gallery featuring murals by Edwin Austin Abbey and John Singer Sargent. The library remains dedicated to public access, supporting art, education, technology, and culture, from children’s programming to innovation centers.

Interesting Facts

• Marble lions at the Grand Staircase were intentionally left unpolished based on Civil War veterans’ request; rubbing their tails is considered lucky.

• The Pierre Puvis de Chavannes murals near the stairs are his only work outside France.

• The Abbey Room, originally the delivery hub for closed stacks books, features 15 panels depicting Sir Galahad’s quest by Edwin Austin Abbey.

• The Sargent Gallery contains John Singer Sargent murals painted over 30 years and lights via skylights .

• Recognized as a National Historic Landmark (1973) and Boston Landmark (2000), it’s among the first Beaux-Arts civic buildings in the U.S.