Discover little-known details about the Providence Athenæum! We offer an eight-point self-guided tour that will acquaint you with our building and our collections, as well as a weekly drop-in tour and Group Tours by reservation.
The self-guided Raven Tour will lead you through all three of the library floors, divulging little-known details about the Providence Athenæum along the way. Tours take approximately 15-20 minutes. Paper guides are available at the front entrance. Please ask at the Circulation Desk for more information.
Join us on Wednesday mornings at 10:30am or Saturday mornings at 11am for a 20-minute staff-led library tour. Learn about our vibrant history, beautiful building, and active role in the 21st century!
Drop-in tours are open to the public, free of charge, and require no reservations. For more information, please contact Reference Librarian/Special Collections Assistant Stephanie Knott, at 401-421-6970 x16 or sknott@provath.org.
All group tours can be accommodated Monday through Friday from 9:30am to 5pm, are limited to 25 people maximum, and require a reservation. (Please Note: Special pricing applies to groups larger than 25 people, which require two tour guides.)
Tour 1 | History of the Library & Architecture Tour
This staff-led basic tour includes the history of the library and a guided tour of the building. Tours are approximately 45 minutes. (Fee $125)
Tour 2 | History of the Library & Architecture Tour, plus Special Collections Materials from the Rare Book Room
This staff-led tour includes the history of the library, a guided tour of the building, and an overview of the special collections in the Philbrick Rare Book Room. Tours are approximately 75 minutes. (Fee $200)
Tour 3 | Special Collections Subject Tour
A customized, curated presentation of materials from the Special Collections. Sample specialized subject tours include: Description de l’Egypte; Edgar Allan Poe and Sarah Helen Whitman; Natural History; and the History of the Book. These tours, tailored to a group’s specific interest from the strengths of the Special Collections, are approximately 90 minutes. (Fee $250)
To inquire about or to schedule a group tour at the Providence Athenæum, please contact Kate Wodehouse, Director of Collections & Library Services, at 401-421-6970 x26 or kwodehouse@provath.org.
