Description

The Athenæum was created in 1814 with the ideal purpose of collecting items that are "connected with the history and antiquities of America, and the useful arts, and generally to disseminate useful knowledge." Since then, the Athenæum has been a point where researchers and academics can gather to peruse through the extensive collection of material on architecture and this history of interior design, which is unsurpassed to any other library. In 1845, the Athenæum found its permanent home, an Italianate Revival Style building designed by prominent Philadelphia architect, John Notman. While the exterior of the building is fairly simple and plain, the interior includes spacious reading rooms and is decorated with fine American furniture of the early nineteenth century. The building is also noted to be one of the first brownstone buildings built in Philadelphia. In 1977 the Athenæum was formally introduced as a National Historic Landmark.