Atheneum

Historic Free Public Library

Description

In 1834, the Nantucket Atheneum began as a private literary institution with 3,200 volumes. Now a free public library, the collection has swelled to more than 40,000 books. This is even more impressive when you factor in the Great Fire of 1846, which destroyed the library and everything inside it. Within six months of the infamous blaze, however, a new building--a handsome Greek Revivalist structure designed by Frederick Coleman--went up, and donations from around the country filled its shelves. The library has since thrived, though it's only had a handful of librarians in its long, storied past. The first and most famous of these was Maria Mitchell, who, while not running the library, managed to discover a comet, become the first woman elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, found and lead the American Association for the Advancement of Women, lead one session of Women's Congress, and has a crater on the moon named in her honor (among other distinctions). Today, the library is a pleasant refuge on the island, hosting cultural events and lots of programs for the kids, including weekly Storytime. Call ahead or check the website for more info on what's slated during your visit.