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All 77 Providence Attractions »

Providence Athenaeum

251 Benefit Street, Providence, RI 02903
401-421-6970
Ranked #4 of 60 attractions in Providence
5.0 of 5 stars 12 Reviews
Type: Libraries, Architectural Buildings, Historic Sites
Description: One of America's oldest lending libraries established in 1753.
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12 reviews from our community

Visitor rating
    10
    2
    0
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Date Rating
1 review
4 of 5 stars Reviewed May 26, 2012 NEW

A must see if you are in the area. I found it romantic and very charming More

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Westport, Massachusetts
Senior Contributor
34 reviews 34 reviews
Reviews in 8 cities Reviews in 8 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
4 of 5 stars Reviewed April 27, 2012

I think everyone should experience this area. If you are nearby it is worth the visit. More

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See 14 more reviews by Robin S for Providence
Chicago, Illinois
Senior Reviewer
7 reviews 7 reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed March 31, 2012

it's an old and small building, but it has an "antique" feeling More

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See 4 more reviews by skyde_k for Providence
Senior Reviewer
6 reviews 6 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed March 31, 2012

My only regret is that I did not know about this Library sooner. It is more than a library, actually, it has little nooks and alcoves where you can get lost in whatever reading material suits you. It also has a downstairs sitting area with the daily papers and coffee (for a small fee). The smell of old books, the... More

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See 4 more reviews by sciencenut for Providence
Corvallis, Oregon
Senior Reviewer
10 reviews 10 reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
5 of 5 stars Reviewed February 9, 2012

I had some studying to do and no one minded that I just plopped down at a table and started to study. The atmosphere was old and preserved. I flipped through a book of poetry published 200 years ago! Be very careful of the bindings! More

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See 6 more reviews by thappy for Providence
Dallas, Texas
Senior Contributor
29 reviews 29 reviews
Reviews in 10 cities Reviews in 10 cities
13 helpful votes 13 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed February 8, 2012

Our visit was provided by a brilliant and lovely assistant professor who teaches at RISD. What a privilege it was to chill for a couple of hours surrounded by history, and the Internet! More

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See 2 more reviews by mavgirl17 for Providence
Providence, Rhode Island
Senior Reviewer
6 reviews 6 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
3 helpful votes 3 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed January 31, 2012

The Athenaeum has an incredible collection, including many rare items which are available to read by appointment. I had the pleasure of reading some accounting of George Washington's expenditures during his time as general of the Continental Army, written in his own hand. The collection dates back to pre-revolutionary times, and is quite an excellent place to visit for any... More

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See 4 more reviews by Geoff_Picus for Providence
Providence, Rhode Island
2 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
17 helpful votes 17 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed January 17, 2012

A fabulous collection housed in a beautifully maintained and unique old building with friendly staff and lovely atmosphere. More

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Providence, Rhode Island
Senior Contributor
35 reviews 35 reviews
Reviews in 8 cities Reviews in 8 cities
15 helpful votes 15 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed January 6, 2012

I absolutely love this place. It is a library hosted by a 300-400 year old building. The moment you step inside, you feel like you are in a different wonderful world. Before my daughter went to daycare (around 2), we used to go regularly to the story hours (twice a week for children 0-2 yrs of age). It was awesome... More

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See 24 more reviews by TravelLover77_5 for Providence
Swampscott, MA
Contributor
12 reviews 12 reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
5 of 5 stars Reviewed December 29, 2011

Beautiful building, classical design, the place makes you want to pull the dusty tomes of the shelf and bury yourself in reading. More

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See 4 more reviews by toomanymileswithkids for Providence

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