Visiting

The first floor and exhibition galleries are open to the public. All other floors are open to members only, however, they can be viewed on one of the weekly Art and Architecture Tours.

Hours
Monday 8:30 a.m.* to 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday 8:30 a.m.* to 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday 8:30 a.m.* to 8:00 p.m.
Thursday 8:30 a.m.* to 5:30 p.m.
Friday 8:30 a.m.* to 5:30 p.m.
Saturday

9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
After Labor Day through Memorial Weekend. 

The Library will be closed on Saturdays for the summer beginning on May 29th and will re-open on Saturdays on September 11th.

*Only the First Floor and the Newspaper Room are open to members from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.

To make an appointment to view rare materials, please see Special Collections.

 

The library is closed on the following holidays:

New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Day, Presidents Day, Patriot's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving Day, the day after Thanksgiving, and Christmas

 

10 1/2 Beacon Street
 

Directions
 

The Boston Athenæum is located at 10 ½ Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108.

By Public Transportation

MBTA Green or Red Line to Park StreetStation. Walk up the hill through the Boston Common or on Park Street  toward the State House. Take a right onto Beacon Street. The Athenæum is located a half-block away on the right and is a large brownstone building with a stone railing in front. Enter at the red door with 10 ½ marked on the glass.

 

By Car

From the West: Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90)

Exit 22 (Prudential Center/Copley Square). Follow signs to Copley Square (right lane). Left on Dartmouth St. (first light). Right on Boylston St. (second light). Note: Boylston splits at Arlington--Stay left! Left on Charles St.; right on Beacon St.

From the North or South: I-93 (via Storrow Drive)

Exit 26 (Storrow Drive). Exit at Government Center/Kendall Sq./Cambridge. Follow signs to Government Center (Cambridge St.). Stay on Cambridge St. as it turns into Tremont St.
From Tremont, take a right onto Park and another right onto Beacon.

Parking

  • Center Plaza/One Beacon Street (Note: Entrance accessible only from Tremont St.)
  • Allright Parking (across the street from the Boston Athenæum)
  • The Boston Common Garage

Members are allowed to bring a well behaved dog on a leash into the Athenæum. Pets are NOT permitted, however, in the Norma Jean Calderwood Galleries or the Recent Acquisitions Gallery at any time.

Dapper Athenaeum Dog