Mapparium

The Mapparium is a walk-through glass globe that spans three stories and contains approximately 608 colored glass panels. The interior shows the entire Earth, allowing visitors to see all continents and countries from within the sphere.

The construction was completed in 1935 and shows the world map as it existed then, with countries like Italian East Africa and Siam. The borders were never updated, giving a snapshot of the political situation at that moment.

The globe was created as an educational project by a religious publishing organization to help people understand global geography. Visitors today can see the world as it was perceived during that era, with political boundaries frozen in time.

Visitors enter the globe via a bridge and can join guided tours to learn more about the geographical details. Photography is not permitted inside, so take time to observe the details carefully during your visit.

The spherical space has special acoustic properties where sounds reflect clearly from one side to the other, allowing people to communicate easily across the distance. This unusual feature is a consequence of the perfect dome shape and surprises many visitors.

Location: Massachusetts

Inception: January 1, 1935

Made from material: glass

Operator: The Mary Baker Eddy Library

Address: Massachusetts Avenue

Website: https://marybakereddylibrary.org/project/mapparium

GPS coordinates: 42.34521,-71.08618

Latest update: December 6, 2025 16:02