A couple weekends ago we were in Baltimore for the weekend. It had been years since I'd seen the Peabody Library in the beautiful Mt Vernon neighborhood. The George Peabody Library is widely recognized as one of the most beautiful library spaces but is also an essential space for teaching, reading and doing research. The Library of the Peabody Institute dates from the founding of the Peabody Institute in 1857. It was originally used as an institute for music, but then the Massachusetts born philanthropist George Peabody gave the city and it's citizens the library in appreciation of their "kindness and hospitality." The building in one of many of the Peabody Institute, and this building was opened as a library in 1878 and designed by Baltimore architect Edmund G Lind. The spectacular architecture, glass domed roof 61 feet above the floor, and five tiers of ornamental, cast iron reading rooms and balconies are very dramatic upon entering. If you don't expect it, when you enter, it's enough to take your breath away. A great way to kill a day looking at titles and finding a quiet corner to work or read. The place contains over 400.000 volumes mainly from the 19th century with strengths in religion, British Art, architecture, topography, American history, biography and literature, romance languages and literature, history of science, geography, exploration and travel, fiction and nonfiction, and a huge art section.
.webp)
Talk about finding a place to read. And its all in distance of other things to see in the My Vernon neighborhood.
I love libraries and that one is one of the finest. You could get lost in there!
ReplyDeleteVery cool place, I surmise you'd love it.
DeleteQuite an enormous and impressive place. I could spend ***days*** in there.
ReplyDeleteHoly shit. It's like Hogwarts but with sunlight. I'd love to visit that place.
ReplyDeleteAnd who would you be from the film????
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHow exquisite!
ReplyDeleteI could spend days at that library. Amazing.
ReplyDeleteAh!
ReplyDeleteLibraries are the best. And this one is fabulous. Libraries are the only place where many people can find information, entertainment and knowledge. Baltimore is looking more and more fabulous through your eyes, babes!
XOXO
When I lived in Harrisburg and we were first clubbing we used to go to Baltimore at least twice a month for years. Baltimore is a fabulous City. And the aquarium is quite fascinating. It's been a few years since I was at the aquarium now. Not to mention it has the trendy Fells Point and Little Italy right next to it. You would go nuts.
DeleteAn impressive Victorian splendiferous building. This one is my favourite https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radcliffe_Camera is not as big, but then it is only part of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodleian_Library this library. But I love anywhere I can get books to read.
ReplyDeleteThe Radcliffe always fascinated me.
DeleteWhat a magnificent library! I could live there...
ReplyDeleteMr Peabody was a remarkable man. One of the first great philanthropists, he made his money in London and left us The Peabody Trust housing association (which provides affordable housing to this day) as a legacy, before moving back to Baltimore to do all the good works there. Interesting to note that the banking business from which all that charitable money was built up is still going - as J.P. Morgan! Jx
It's been so long since I read anything on him I completely forgotten about his London connections. He has truly done some good things in his life. A shame there's not more like him today.
DeleteAbsolutely! Jx
DeleteWell it's been years since I've seen the George Peabody Library. It's an excellent pictures, and I did recall it being very Grand when you walked in. I'd never seen so many books. When my William was around we traveled the US extensively, and I have to say I don't think there's anywhere in the US that has better architecture and more quirky places than the Northeast and Mid- Atlantic regions. Just so many interesting towns and cities and talk about all the culture. And it's so diversified from each other.
ReplyDeleteCard catalogs? I haven't thought about those in years.
ReplyDeleteCool to see them. I loved going through them in school.
DeleteWhat a magnificent place!. If I squint, I can actually see books in one of those photos.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen this many books in a library since my visit to Vienna's, Austrian National Library. Maybe even the NYC Public...
DeleteWow! I have not seen that one.
ReplyDeleteNow I cannot believe you have not been there!!!!!
DeleteThey certainly don't make majestic buildings with architecture that spectacular anymore. On this side of the Country they didn't do much in the way of preservation of most of the Historic magnificent buildings and the Modern ones are so underwhelming and Meh.
ReplyDeleteI agree Dawn. While I love visiting out there, I think at the end of the day I'm soooo Northeastern. I love the distinctive seasons, and all the quaint towns and this architecture. I will say this area of the country does a pretty good job of preserving great places like this.
Delete