Visitors Warmly Welcomed!
The Athenaeum loves having visitors stop by our historic building. All public areas of the library are open to the general public. We encourage visitors to explore the winding columns of shelves and get delightfully lost in a book, the beauty of the architecture, or simply in the allure of history that abounds. Exhibits on display in the Philbrick Rare Book Room are available for viewing as staff coverage permits; please inquire at the Circulation Desk during your visit. We also offer a selection of more structured tours including:
Self-Guided Raven Tour: The self-guided Raven Tour will lead you through all three of the library floors, divulging little-known details about the Providence Athenaeum along the way.
Group Tours: All group tours can be accommodated on Monday through Friday from 9:30am to 5pm, are limited to 20 people, and require a reservation. To inquire about group tours at the Providence Athenaeum, please contact Kate Wodehouse, Collections Librarian, at 401.421.6970 ext. 26.
Library Tour: For groups, a $100 donation is requested for the basic tour which includes the history of the library, a tour of the building, and an overview of the Special Collections. Tours are approximately 45 minutes.
Special Collections & Library Tour: For groups, a $150 donation is requested for a tour which includes the history of the library, a tour of the building, and a customized presentation of materials from the special collections. These tours are generally tailored to a specific interest from the strengths of the special collections, and are approximately 1 hour, 15 minutes.
For additional information about group tours please contact: Kate Wodehouse, Collections Librarian, at 401.421.6970 ext. 26.
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