A Journey of Discovery
The architecture at the Boston Public Library is a captivating blend of contrasts, perfect for an evening of progressive entertainment. Design a flow that seamlessly transitions from tradition to innovation to create an exciting experience for your guests.
At BPL, books are just the beginning. Founded in 1848, the Boston Public Library (BPL) was the first extensive free municipal library in the United States. In 1895, the Copley Square location, designed by architect Charles Follen McKim, became the library’s home. The Boylston Street building underwent a significant renovation in 1971 to expand and modernize the facility. Highlights include first-edition folios by William Shakespeare, original music scores from Mozart to Prokofiev, and John Adams’ library.
McKim Building
Iconic, Cultural, Coveted
As the city of Boston grew, Boylston Street became a key route, connecting visitors and residents from the Common and Public Gardens through Back Bay to Fenway.
Today, the McKim Building is an iconic part of Boston’s landscape, facing the renowned Copley Square. It features Catalan vaulting in the main lobby, an Italianate outdoor courtyard, murals in the Chavannes Gallery and Abbey Room, and the grand Bates Hall, impressing all who enter.
Boylston Street Building
Vibrant, Energetic, Modern
The Boylston Street Building is the vibrant hub of the BPL Central Library. It features a modern design, with the waving wooden ceiling of Boylston Hall and the dramatic skylight of DeFerrari Hall.
This building offers versatile event spaces, including halls, conference rooms, technology labs, and a café/radio station in partnership with The Catered Affair and GBH. By night, it transforms from a bustling library into a dynamic cultural event setting.
Programs
Experience the Boston Public Library | Additional Opportunities for your Guests
We love the opportunity to show visitors the true gems at the Boston Public Library and would happily schedule a private tour for your group.
Norman B. Leventhal Map Center
The Map Center collection includes over 200,000 maps and 5,000 atlases dating back to the 15th century. A curated tour through the current exhibition or viewing of items stored in the vault will be the highlight of your event. The Map Center Collection includes: • Geographia, originally produced by Claudius Ptolemy, printed in 1482. • First Printed Map of Boston, a plan of the Town of Boston (1725-1728) by John Bonner. • Theatrum Orbis Terrarum (1570), by Abraham Ortelius. A spectacularly colored and illustrated atlas showing maps of the world based on contemporary exploration. Viewings in the Norman B. Leventhal Map Center begin at $500.
Rare Books and Manuscripts Department
The Boston Public Library holds thousands of rare books, manuscripts, and historical artifacts. Treat your guests to the exclusive opportunity of a private tour through the department while viewing some of the most treasured pieces. Our collection includes:
Shakespeare’s First Folio (London, 1623), the first collected works of William Shakespeare published seven years after his death and is one of the most important works of the English Literary canon.
Boston Massacre materials, including John Adams’ original trial notes for the defense of the British soldiers, Paul Revere’s sketch of the scene of the Massacre used in court, and his engraving of the scene.
Medieval and Early Renaissance Manuscripts is a distinguished collection of secular and non-secular manuscripts dating from the 10th-14th centuries.
This exclusive opportunity begins at $2,500.
Art & Architecture Tours of the McKim Building
Private tours led by our volunteer guides can be customized to your group and range from 20-60 minutes in length. Highlights include:
Mural cycles by Pierre Puvis de Chavannes, Edwin Austin Abbey, and John Singer Sargent
Sculpture by Daniel Chester French, Bela Pratt, Frederick MacMonnies, and Augustus Saint-Gaudens
Building details by Architect Charles Follen McKim and vault designer Rafael Guastavino
Each guide is $200 and can accommodate 20 guests (four guide maximum per event).
Learn more about Boston and the Boston Public Library!
Video
The Catered Affair Experience at the Boston Public Library
Other Resources
The Boston Public Library Events Website
Tour the BPL – Take a virtual tour of the library and explore each room by day and ready for an event!
Contact Us
We’d love to hear from you! Call our venue team at Boston Public Library directly at 617-859-2282. Otherwise, please fill out your information; we will contact you within 24 hours.