SeeBack Bay-Beacon Hill

Boston Public Library

BPL

This is the headquarters of the Boston Public Library (BPL). This branch is defined by its two buildings, the original McKim building from 1895, and the newer Boylston building, opened in 1972. They were built to similar scale and use similar materials, but the ornamentation–or lack thereof–clearly separates them. The Boylston building completed extensive renovations summer of 2016; featuring a new cafe, radio station, and other amenities for the people of Boston. Don't miss the beautifully quiet interior courtyard, a place to spend a solitary moment reflecting in the heart of the city.

Address: 700 Boylston St
Getting there: T: Copley
Hours: Mon-Thu 9AM-9PM, Fri Sat 9AM-5PM, Sun 1-5PM
Price: Free
Website: bpl.org (opens in a new tab)

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Listing from Wikivoyage: Boston/Back Bay-Beacon Hill, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Updated 28 Sept 2026. Something wrong? Tell us.

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