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Boston Athenæum

ArtHistoryLiteratureClosed · Opens 9amFrom $11Park Street (Red & Green Lines)

Das 1807 gegründete Boston Athenæum zählt zu den ältesten unabhängigen Mitgliederbibliotheken der Vereinigten Staaten. Es beherbergt rund eine halbe Million Bücher, etwa 100.000 Kunstwerke sowie den größten erhaltenen Teil der persönlichen Bibliothek von George Washington aus Mount Vernon. Auch ohne Mitgliedschaft ist der Zugang zum Erdgeschoss möglich (11 $ für Erwachsene): Das Ticket umfasst die Norma Jean Calderwood Gallery, wechselnde Präsentationen von Kunst und Spezialsammlungen im Bayard Henry Long Room sowie die denkmalgeschützte Architektur des Eingangsbereichs. Eine einstündige, von Guides geleitete Art & Architecture Tour gewährt tiefere Einblicke in das Gebäude und seine Sammlungen und schließt den Eintritt ins Erdgeschoss ein; die Plätze sind begrenzt und oft Tage im Voraus ausgebucht. Die oberen Etagen des zwölfstöckigen Gebäudes – darunter der berühmte Lesesaal im fünften Stock samt Terrasse – stehen Gästen mit einer Tagesmitgliedschaft für 40 $ offen.

What's On

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Permanent Collections

Plan Your Visit

Getting there

10½ Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108, United States

Nearest station: Park Street (Red & Green Lines)

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Hours

Mon09:00–20:00
Tue09:00–20:00
Wed09:00–20:00
Thu09:00–20:00
Fri09:00–17:00
SatToday09:00–17:00
SunClosed

Admission

From $11

First-floor admission (includes the Calderwood Gallery and special collections installations): $11 for visitors 14 and up, $8 students/educators/military with valid ID, $5 for children 13 and under accompanied by an adult, $2 per adult with an EBT, WIC or ConnectorCare card under the Card to Culture programme, free for members and for NARM/ROAM cardholders. A one-day membership giving access to all 12 floors, including the fifth-floor reading room and terrace, is $40 online or at the welcome desk. One-hour docent-led Art & Architecture Tours (groups of seven or fewer) are ticketed separately through events.bostonathenaeum.org and include first-floor admission; they often sell out several days in advance and members book free tickets for themselves plus up to three guests. Private group tours for 8–20 people cost $25 per person and must be requested at least three weeks ahead. Academic tours are $5 per student. Research appointments in Special Collections are free and open to all.

Accessibility

The Athenæum publishes an accessibility guide covering access to the building's many levels. Contact Member and Visitor Services on (617) 720-7604 for accommodations or for information beyond the guide.

Nearby

Nichols House Museum

Architecture4 min walk

Museum of African American History

Architecture4 min walk

Old State House

Architecture5 min walk

Otis House

Architecture5 min walk

Visitor Information

How much does Boston Athenæum cost?
Standard adult admission to Boston Athenæum is $11. First-floor admission (includes the Calderwood Gallery and special collections installations): $11 for visitors 14 and up, $8 students/educators/military with valid ID, $5 for children 13 and under accompanied by an adult, $2 per adult with an EBT, WIC or ConnectorCare card under the Card to Culture programme, free for members and for NARM/ROAM cardholders. A one-day membership giving access to all 12 floors, including the fifth-floor reading room and terrace, is $40 online or at the welcome desk. One-hour docent-led Art & Architecture Tours (groups of seven or fewer) are ticketed separately through events.bostonathenaeum.org and include first-floor admission; they often sell out several days in advance and members book free tickets for themselves plus up to three guests. Private group tours for 8–20 people cost $25 per person and must be requested at least three weeks ahead. Academic tours are $5 per student. Research appointments in Special Collections are free and open to all.. Prices for special exhibitions and timed-entry slots may differ.
What are the opening hours of Boston Athenæum?
Boston Athenæum is open The Athenæum's first-floor gallery is open on the building's public hours: Mon–Thu 09:00–20:00, Fri–Sat 09:00–17:00, closed Sundays. These are public/visitor hours, not member-only hours; the upper floors and the fifth-floor reading room need a $40 one-day membership. Early closing at 13:00 on 25 November 2026, and closed on Thanksgiving (26 Nov 2026), Christmas Eve (24 Dec 2026), Christmas Day (25 Dec 2026), New Year's Eve (31 Dec 2026) and New Year's Day (1 Jan 2027).. Holiday hours can vary, so check the museum's website before you go.
Where is Boston Athenæum?
Boston Athenæum is located at 10½ Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108, United States, in the Beacon Hill area of Boston. The nearest station is Park Street (Red & Green Lines).
What can I see at Boston Athenæum?
Bostons traditionsreiche Privatbibliothek von 1807 auf dem Beacon Hill: Wechselausstellungen im Erdgeschoss, Bücher aus dem Besitz von George Washington und geführte Rundgänge. Current highlights include Imaginierte Nation (Imagined Nation), Where's Boston? 50 Jahre später (Where's Boston? 50 Years Later), Sondersammlungen neu lesen (Re-Reading Special Collections).
Do I need to book Boston Athenæum in advance?
Booking ahead is recommended, especially for weekends, school holidays, and special exhibitions. Tickets are normally on the museum's website, and a pre-booked timed slot helps you avoid queues at the entrance.
When is the best time to visit Boston Athenæum?
Weekday mornings shortly after opening are typically the quietest, especially mid-week. Late afternoons can also be calmer. Weekends, school holidays, and the lunch rush are the busiest periods.
Is Boston Athenæum accessible?
The Athenæum publishes an accessibility guide covering access to the building's many levels. Contact Member and Visitor Services on (617) 720-7604 for accommodations or for information beyond the guide.

ajay_suresh / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

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