Boston Athenaeum

The Boston Athenaeum stands out on Beacon Street with its heavy, sand-colored facade and row of arched windows, a private sanctuary that guards the intellectual life of the city. Founded in eighteen oh seven, it began when a group of friends shared their private libraries to create a permanent collection for researchers. John Quincy Adams once sat among these shelves, and for decades, members debated local politics here. A thick, leather-bound book from the original collection still sits deep within the stacks.