I am embarrassed to say that I have lived in Greater Boston for over sixty years and, until last week, had never visited The Boston Athenaeum, a perfect gem of a museum that is a working library, an art and sculpture collection and so much more. 

Situated a stone’s throw from the Massachusetts Statehouse at the top of Beacon Hill, the building itself is a classical beauty with stunning views overlooking the Granary Burial Grounds on Tremont Street. 

According to its website, “The library contains over a half million books from works published in the 1800’s to the latest best sellers. Special collections include active research holdings of 100,000 rare books, maps and manuscripts, and 100,000 works of art, from paintings and sculpture to prints and photographs.” 

Do not try to discover the Athenaeum on your own.  Take an hour-long-docent-led tour (you can sign up on their website). Our guide seemed to enjoy sharing her knowledge of a place she loves as much as we enjoyed learning from her.   

There are reminders of our past—remember card catalogues? You can walk through five floors of dusty stacks.  I stood in awe in front of bookshelves of George Washington’s own books.  

The Athenaeum has not asked me to write this.  I was genuinely thrilled to visit. 

You would be too.