BPL

I had to take a trip to the Boston Public Library in order to get a book the BU library didn't have. I knew it was a famous tourist spot but I didn't realize how beautiful it was inside. The current building was constructed in 1895 and was inspired by a number of famous Renaissance palaces and libraries.


The main staircase has beautiful marble lions and faux windows painted on the walls between the marble arches.


Murals and elaborate decorations make the library look more like a cathedral than a public building.



The library is on Copley Square and shares the space with a number of other beautiful buildings. Probably the most infamous is the Hancock Building. Plagued with numerous construction problems that delayed the opening from 1971 to 1976, once finally inside the occupants of the upper levels were dismayed to discover that when it was windy the building swayed so much they got motion sick and a $3 million dollar damper had to be added. But worse was that if winds got above 45 miles per hour police had to evacuate the surrounding streets because the glass panes would start falling. Considering it is the tallest building in Boston you can imagine the damage that caused. It cost between $5 and $7 million to fix the windows.

But it is pretty, no?