Athenaeum of Philadelphia

The Athenaeum is a research library in Philadelphia housing rare books, historical manuscripts, and an extensive collection of architectural drawings. The collection spans over two centuries of material, documenting how American building design and construction methods developed over time.

The building was constructed in 1845 as a private library and became one of the earliest institutions dedicated to collecting and preserving knowledge in America. Its architecture reflects the design trends of the mid-19th century and established a model for how scholarly spaces could be organized.

The name comes from the ancient Athenaeum, reflecting the mission to gather scholars and thinkers in one place. You can still sense this scholarly purpose today as people come here to study rare materials and learn about architectural heritage.

The building sits in a historic neighborhood and is easy to reach on foot from nearby transit stops. Plan ahead since this is a research-focused institution where some collections require advance access requests, so arrive prepared to explain what you want to study.

The building holds working drawings and sketches from American architects showing how individual buildings were actually designed and constructed. These behind-the-scenes materials reveal the creative process and decision-making that went into structures visitors see across the city and nation.

Location: Philadelphia

Inception: 1814

Architects: John Notman

Architectural style: Italianate architecture

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

Made from material: brownstone

Address: 219 South 6th Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19106

Opening Hours: Tuesday,Thursday-Friday 09:00-17:00; Monday 09:00-19:00; Wednesday 10:00-17:00; Saturday 10:00-15:00

Phone: +12159252688

Website: http://philaathenaeum.org

GPS coordinates: 39.94667,-75.15167

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:54