The Providence Athenaeum
The Providence Athenaeum
The Providence Athenaeum greets you with all the majesty a 250 year old Greek Revival structure has to offer. This historic landmark is no fossil, but a living, breathing entity that has served the citizens of Providence faithfully through the years.
The Athenaeum was constructed under the direction of the town fathers to be one of the first membership libraries in the country. The collection of books within range from European treasures to the best America has to offer. Members pay an annual fee to support the library and gain borrowing rights.
The mission of the Athenaeum is this: To provide books and other reading materials to anyone who loves reading and wants to stretch their intellectual boundaries. As such, the Athenaeum has vowed to conserve it's collection and preserve the original architecture for generations to come.
The library also serves as a gathering place for the community to enjoy cultural programs and social celebrations.
If you would like to visit the Athenaeum and browse through it's amazing collection of literature, here are the hours it is open to the public:
September through May
Monday through Thursday: 9:00AM to 7:00PM
Friday and Saturday: 9:00AM to 5:00PM
Sundays: 1:00PM to 5:00PM
June through Labor Day
Monday through Thursday: 9:00M to 7:00PM
Fridays: 9:00AM to 5:00PM
Saturdays: 9:00AM to 1:00PM
Closed Sundays
Holiday Closings
Martin Luther King Day:
January 15-16th
President's Day: February 19-20th
Location: 251 Benefit Street Providence, RI 02903
Phone: 401-421-6970
The Providence Athenaeum greets you with all the majesty a 250 year old Greek Revival structure has to offer. This historic landmark is no fossil, but a living, breathing entity that has served the citizens of Providence faithfully through the years.
The Athenaeum was constructed under the direction of the town fathers to be one of the first membership libraries in the country. The collection of books within range from European treasures to the best America has to offer. Members pay an annual fee to support the library and gain borrowing rights.
The mission of the Athenaeum is this: To provide books and other reading materials to anyone who loves reading and wants to stretch their intellectual boundaries. As such, the Athenaeum has vowed to conserve it's collection and preserve the original architecture for generations to come.
The library also serves as a gathering place for the community to enjoy cultural programs and social celebrations.
If you would like to visit the Athenaeum and browse through it's amazing collection of literature, here are the hours it is open to the public:
September through May
Monday through Thursday: 9:00AM to 7:00PM
Friday and Saturday: 9:00AM to 5:00PM
Sundays: 1:00PM to 5:00PM
June through Labor Day
Monday through Thursday: 9:00M to 7:00PM
Fridays: 9:00AM to 5:00PM
Saturdays: 9:00AM to 1:00PM
Closed Sundays
Holiday Closings
Martin Luther King Day:
January 15-16th
President's Day: February 19-20th
Location: 251 Benefit Street Providence, RI 02903
Phone: 401-421-6970




