Take a Tour

Join one of our docents to experience the beauty of the Athenaeum’s iconic building on a one-hour tour. Learn about the library’s history and its remarkable collections while walking through grand spaces and cozy nooks.

Art & Architecture Tours

Reserve your spot here!

Join a Boston Athenæum docent for a tour focused on the history of the Athenæum, its iconic building, and its remarkable collections. Whether you are visiting for the first time or are a member who frequents the building, the stories are sure to fascinate you as you walk through the historic library.

Members and their guests: Tour price is included with membership
Adults (ages 12 and up): $15
Students/Educators/Military: $10 (valid ID required)
Children (ages 11 and under): $8
Card to Culture: $4
NARM/ROAM card holders: $5

Academic Group Tours

Request an academic group visit

We welcome K-12, homeschool, higher education and lifelong learning groups to the Athenaeum.

Your group visit may include a tour of the Athenaeum’s historic landmark building, a live presentation of materials from Special Collections, a tour of our current gallery exhibition, or all three. We will work with you to tailor an experience to your group’s learning goals, including selecting materials from Special Collections and designing activities or guiding questions for studying the materials.

Our special collections support learning across all fields of study, with particular strengths in Boston history, New England history, English and American literature, and art and art history.

Academic tours are limited to 30 students (please contact education@bostonathenaeum.org if your group is larger). We require at least three weeks’ notice to book. Tours and Special Collections visits can start no earlier than 9:30 am and end no later than 7:30 pm, Monday through Thursday (4:30 pm on Fridays and Saturdays).

Please contact education@bostonathenaeum.org if you would like to customize a tour to fit your group’s needs.

Private Tours

Request a private tour

We invite groups of between five and 30 people to schedule private tours to experience the beauty of the Athenaeum’s iconic building with a docent. Learn about the library’s history, its enduring home at 10½ Beacon Street, and its remarkable collections. Groups may add a viewing of materials from Special Collections tailored to the group’s interests.

Group tours are limited to 30 people (please contact education@bostonathenaeum.org if your group is larger). We require at least three weeks’ notice to book. Tours and Special Collections visits can start no earlier than 9:30 am and end no later than 7:30 pm, Monday through Thursday (4:30 pm on Fridays and Saturdays).

Please contact education@bostonathenaeum.org if you would like to customize a tour to fit your group’s needs.

Fees for Group Tours

Private, non-academic group tours have a guiding fee of $100 per 10 people, plus a $5 per-person admission rate. See the rate chart below.

Service	Rate	Description
Guiding fee	$100 per 10 people	The guiding fee applies to all private, non-academic tours. Fees listed below are added based on services requested for a visit.
Athenaeum Tour	$5 per person	Applies to all group tours of the BA’s historic building and admission to the Athenaeum’s public spaces on the first floor on the same day.
Gallery Talk option	$5 per person	For docent-led gallery talks in the current gallery exhibition and admission to the BA’s public spaces on the first floor on the same day.
Study Center option	$10 per person	For visits to the Study Center to view or work with materials from the BA’s special collections. The rate includes admission to the BA’s public spaces on the first floor on the same day.