Central Library, Boston

Name: Central Library
Address: 79 Highland Ave, Boston, United States

#596 among attractions in Boston

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Facts and practical information

The Central Library is the main branch of the Somerville, Massachusetts, public library system. It is an architecturally distinguished Renaissance Revival brick building designed by Edward Lippincott Tilton and was built in 1914 with funding assistance from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. ()

Built: 1914 (110 years ago)Coordinates: 42°23'9"N, 71°5'40"W

Address

79 Highland AveSomerville (Prospect Hill)Boston United States

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Day trips

Central Library – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: Legoland Discovery Center Boston, Memorial Hall, The Highland, Grolier Poetry Bookshop.

1 miNE
Amusement, Game and entertainment center, Theme park
Legoland Discovery Center Boston, Boston
26 min walk • Nestled within the bustling city of Boston, the Legoland Discovery Center offers a vibrant adventure for families and Lego enthusiasts alike. This indoor amusement park is a haven of creativity and fun, designed to ignite the imaginations of children and the young at...
1.2 miSW
Gothic Revival architecture, Memorial, Theater
Memorial Hall, Boston
32 min walk • Memorial Hall, immediately north of Harvard Yard in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is an imposing High Victorian Gothic building honoring Harvard men's sacrifices in defense of the Union during the American Civil War‍—‌"a symbol of Boston's commitment to the Unionist cause and the...
0.6 miNW
Cycling, Bike path
The Highland, Boston
17 min walk • The Highland is a historic multiunit residence at 66 Highland Avenue in Somerville, Massachusetts. The three story brick building was built in 1892 to a design by architect Samuel D. Kelley.
1.5 miSW
Shopping, Bookshop
Grolier Poetry Bookshop, Boston
38 min walk • The Grolier Poetry Book Shop is an independent bookstore on Plympton Street near Harvard Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Although founded as a "first edition" bookstore, its focus today is solely poetry.
1.4 miSW
Nightlife, Restaurant
The Plough and Stars, Boston
37 min walk • The Plough and Stars is a bar and music venue in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1969 by brothers Peter and Padraig O'Malley, named after the play by Seán O'Casey.
0.4 miSW
Music venue
P.A.'s Lounge, Boston
11 min walk • P.A.'s Lounge is a live music venue in Somerville, Massachusetts, located near Union Square at 345 Somerville Ave. The venue's name derives from its original popularity as a club frequented by Portuguese immigrants. P.A.'s then became a Portuguese seafood restaurant before re-opening as a live music venue and bar in the fall of 2002.
~1630 ftW
City, Area
Somerville, Boston
8 min walk • Somerville is a city located directly to the northwest of Boston, and north of Cambridge, in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2020 United States Census, the city had a total population of 81,045 people.
~1150 ftNW
City hall
Somerville City Hall, Boston
6 min walk • The Somerville City Hall is a historic municipal building at 93 Highland Avenue in Somerville, Massachusetts. Built in 1852 and enlarged several times, it has served as the city's first high school, first public library, and only city hall. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.
~1480 ftS
Park
House at 5 Prospect Hill, Boston
8 min walk • The house at 5 Prospect Hill in Somerville, Massachusetts is rare in the city as a Queen Anne house executed in brick. Built c. 1880, it is a 2+1⁄2-story house with a side-gable roof and a projecting gable section on the left front.
1.3 miSW
Museum, Art gallery
Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts, Boston
34 min walk • The Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts at Harvard University, in Cambridge, Massachusetts is the only building designed primarily by Le Corbusier in the United States—he contributed to the design of the United Nations Secretariat Building—and one of only two in the Americas.
1.4 miNE
Hotel, Gambling, Nightlife
Encore Boston Harbor, Boston
35 min walk • Encore Boston Harbor is a luxury resort and casino located in Everett, Massachusetts, and owned by Wynn Resorts. The resort is in a commercial-industrial area on the Mystic River, about 5 miles from downtown Boston. Its development rehabilitated a 33-acre parcel of land previously used for industrial purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which popular attractions are close to Central Library?

Nearby attractions include Hollander Blocks, Boston (4 min walk), House at 49 Vinal Avenue, Boston (4 min walk), Gilman Square, Boston (5 min walk), Somerville City Hall, Boston (6 min walk).

How to get to Central Library by public transport?

The nearest stations to Central Library:

Bus

Somerville Ave @ Stone Ave • Lines: 91 (12 min walk)
Washington St @ Boston St • Lines: 91 (12 min walk)

Metro

Sullivan Square • Lines: Orange (23 min walk)
Assembly • Lines: Orange (26 min walk)