st. johnsbury athenaeum

Earlydog

Nice place. Definitely worth a quick visit in conjunction with the Fairbanks Museum. Afterward, head down to the Taproom down the street for some cold beer and a snack and you have the makes of a great outing!

l0velld

Excellent place to visit. The gallery is beautiful and the collection of art work very impressive! The architecture is outstanding and it also functions as a library everyday. The library staff was very friendlyand informative. This was a great stop on our trip from Vermont to Maine.

scottishvermonter

Saint Johnsbury is blessed with an athenaum founded in 1871 by Horace Fairbanks. Lucky for the town, he valued elegance, and his tastes were simple: he only wanted the best! His values are reflected in this elegant edifice, both inside and out. The architect and benefactor chose each and every detail. The woodwork shows a standard of craftsmanship rarely seen in modern buildings. The art gallery is amazing. It is dominated by a 10 feet by 15 feet Albert Bierstadt painting known as "The Domes of Yosemite" which entices every visitor to enter the world of America's magnificent landscape. The sedate atmosphere is very relaxing as though Mr. Fairbanks just left the building. Personally, besides the vast collection of books, I value another treasure: the dedicated librarians and docent volunteers who make this, our local library, truly spectacular!

HollyK263

We tried to do our own tour and with iPhone in hand looked up the photos - did read that it is much better with a docent and now wished we had caught someone. Most of it was just a library and they were closed from 1-2, so be careful. You will be caught out in the cold.

DoualaE

Housed in a beautiful building that is the functioning city library, it includes a quality selection of 19th century paintings. Ewa, the docent, imparted a wealth of information.

swj

This is a gorgeous old building. The collection of artwork in the place is first rate. The collection is large enough to be interesting but not so large as to be overwhelming. The work is displayed nicely and nice booklets are available that tell about the works. I wish that I lived in a town with such a beautiful library. The price is right, too - free!

nls_61

On a long journey across from the coast to central Vermont, we stopped in St Johnsbury for a break. One of the places mentioned in our guidebook was the Athenaeum so we decided to have a walk up the hill and take a look. What luck! The library has been beautifully restored and is a must-see in itself. Then the gallery behind is fascinating. The docent could not have been more welcoming and she explained the background and story of each painting clearly to us. A lovely and informative afternoon stop.

Ashley25NorCal

This wonderfully restored facility serves as the public library for Saint Johnsbury. The building, a gift of a local philanthropist in the 1800s, is just simply marvelous with its original book stacks and spiral iron staircases to the upper level. If you are a book lover, the Athenaeum is everything that an eBook is not! Plan to stop if even for 15 minutes during your visit to Saint Johnsbury.

richarddO5674KJ

I f you are visiting NE Vermont this is one place you shouldn't miss. Besides being a wonderful library the Athenaeum houses a fine art collection comprised of American & European artists. Many of the paintings have been cleaned or restored and are in excellent condition. The lighting inside the gallery is excellent allowing the vibrant colors to show at their best. Several years ago the second floor was restored so be sure to climb the staircase (or take the elevator) to see what was found while undergoing restoration. The woodwork inside is quartered oak and cherry done by local craftsmen. There is also a children's room in the library so there is something for all ages. There may be a fee for the gallery but it's well worth it. If there isn't, be sure to leave a donation. Having lived in the area for over 48 years I tend to be a little biased.

mollys180

This building is so beautiful you have to stop and stare. Then you get inside and there's even more to feast your eyes on - beautiful arches and ceilings and stonework and balconies, and numerous tiny spiral staircases - and that's before you even get to the art museum deep in the building! The whole collection is inspiring - lots of Hudson River school - and the gem is Albert Bierstadt's magnificent 10 x 15 foot "Domes of the Yosemite." To really get the proper perspective, take the time to climb one of the tiny spiral staircases to the balcony and gaze across at the huge painting dominating the room under the skylights. The staff are very knowledgeable and glad to share their knowledge - or to leave you in peace to gaze and enjoy.

Gloria409

We chanced upon this delightful museum which still bears its original name of "Museum of Natural Science" engraved in the old brownstone arch, right on the main street of St Johnsbury. Inside we were delighted to see the many exhibits and the original architecture, including a beautiful vaulted ceiling and an open balcony around the second level. This museum feels like stepping back in time to a period when many of the discoveries were first made. You can linger among the displays and experience the feeling of a gentler time. There are a number of unique and interesting artifacts and it is relaxing to browse through the beautiful uncrowded space. My 11-year-old son found plenty of things to catch his interest too. It was just lovely.

st813

This is a beautifully restored building in the heart of St. Johnsbury and is of historical significance to the town and surrounding area. The employee's are always helpful. There is a large atrium of artwork from famous American artists. All art is in excellent condition. The Athenaeum is a worthwhile stop if traveling through the area.

Canada1939

We were passing through St. Johnsbury and saw a reference to the Athenaeum on a brochure. I am so glad we stopped! What a beautiful building and perfect setting for a library. This is what a library should look like. The staff were friendly and informative. As others have said, what a gem.

nkorourke

The Library is awesome, it's like going to one of those library in Europe. The art collections not so much, not my cup of tea. But it's worth to see just for the building itself.

StevenB746

I've passed by the Athenaeum many times and finally went in. The architecture and spiral staircases of the library were very unique and a nice sight to see. We spent some time in the children's room and the staff was very helpful. Lots of fun toys, puzzles, and stuffed animals to play with for the little guy. After he tired of that we did walk through the gallery and the attendant was very knowledgeable. Impressive collection for this area!