This past weekend I was in Boston and stopped by the Boston Public Library, one of my favorite buildings in the city. Designed by McKim, Meade and White and finished in 1895, the building faces Copley Square, the heart of the city, showing the importance of libraries. The facade was modeled after that of the Palazzo della Cancelleria.
the interior courtyardInside are a few really beautiful spaces, the old newspaper room on the first floor inside the entrance is now an exhibition space seen here: currently showing a collection of Massachusetts maps.
why aren't plaques this beautiful and artful anymore?
the cafe off the exhibition spaceThe Bates reading room is really the heart of the building and lies at the top of the grand staircase. Before 1933 the entire room was swathed in green velvet to muffle sound and light.
the church-like reading room
upper hall at the top of the staircase
beautiful paneled room ( with no apparent use ) off the upper staircase
