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If you areTravel in solo, or with a group of book lovers, consider adding a stop in a library to your next travel destination. What should not like in a library? You can consult the latest books on the batteries and admire the beautiful buildings in which the libraries are housed.

But of course, libraries are not only for book lovers. Many of them also serve as museums, galleries, places where you can learn new skills such as cooking or coding, and many of them are also beautiful works of art themselves.

The libraries are magnificent for a whole series of reasons - while some are visually amazing because they are so modern and technologically advanced, others are apparently old and filled with history, experiencing visitors who are fascinated by architecture and the details.

Read the rest to discover the most impressive libraries that the United States has to offer.

Read this then:The 10 best American cities to visit if you like old houses.

The best libraries in the United States

1. Los Angeles Central Library

The city of Los Angeles is well known and well visited because of its film industry, but it is also a fairly popular literary city, filled with many book lovers who are customers of the main public library of the city, theLos Angeles Central Library. The library building, located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, is designed in Art Deco style and stands out from many most modern skyscrapers in the neighborhood.

The exteriors of the building are a marvel of architecture, but the interior of the library is also filled with works of art, including four major murals perDean Cornwell which display the history of California.

"His real remarkable attraction is the work of art, with painted walls and ceilings, you will not have time to look at books when you look at the fascinating works around you," saidJim Campbell, the CEO and founder of the travel websiteHoneymoon lenses.

2. Providence Athenaeum

TheProvidence Athenaeum Can be appointed according to Athena, the goddess of war and reason, but by designing the building, the architect William Strickland may have been more influenced by the gods of beauty, because the Library of Rhode Island is One of the most amazing in the country. The library, one of the ancient lairs of Edgar Allen Poe, is an independent subscription library supported by members, and the building in which it is housed was built in 1836. Interiors are a dream of amateurs books, and the library itself is also filled with interesting artifacts.

"The library has interesting statues and a collection of exceptional rare books, including a study by Egypt that Napoleon commanded and an original copy of" Birds of America "by John Audubon," saidSteve Prohaska, a travel expert and founder ofSee the best places. "A special exhibition here also contains some of the personal effects, photos and signed letters of Walt Whitman."

Visitors can make self -guided tours of the museum with the help of their brochure and their information display.

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3. Boston public library

Boston is one of the most historic cities in the country, it is therefore logical that the city's public library is also one of the oldest and most appreciated in the country. Serving more than four million customers per year, theBoston public library is also one of the country's largest public libraries.

The Boston library system was founded for the first time in 1848, but its main branch, located in the Place Copley in the city, opened its doors in 1895. The building was designed in an architectural style Beaux-Arts, And its Bates room, one of the most striking areas of the library, has a large cash ceiling that recalls the Renaissance buildings.

"The McKim building is the historic part of the library, founded for the first time in 1848", explainsAmanda Ghanbarpour, a travel writer atMy vintage card. "The architecture of this part of the library is magnificent, with its ornate ceilings, its stairs, its paintings and its statues. But the best part is the reading room of Bates, with its vaulted ceiling and its rows of tables with Reading lamps, surrounded by books of books on all sides. It is really a work of art. "

4. Congress library

Perhaps the best known of all libraries in the country, theCongress Library is a research library used by members of the US Congress, and it is also the Facto National Library of the United States.

The library, hosted in Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., is the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States, established in 1800. Its oldest building, theThomas Jefferson building, which was built at the end of the 19th century, is undoubtedly its most visual. Her beautiful and open Hall houses a mosaic of Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom.

The library is open to visitors from Tuesday to Saturday, but you need to reserve a pass at the timed online entrance before entering. Visitors can stop in one of the library's reading rooms to do research, although only government representatives and high -ranking library employees can consult documents or attend one of the librariesmany events, like concerts or historical conferences.

5. Armstrong brown library

Many libraries are proud of the large number of authors whose works are housed in their walls. TheArmstrong Brun Library, on the campus of Baylor University in Waco, Texas, is a little different. It houses the largest collections of works by poets from the English Victorian eraRobert Browning andElizabeth Barrett Browning.

While the Browning work collection by the University continued to grow, the school needed a dedicated space for this, building the Armstrong Brun Library in the middle of the 20th century. In addition to the literary works found in the library, it also houses the largest collection of secular stained glass in the world, so it is also a dream for art lovers.

"The Armstrong Brun Library is undoubtedly one of the most amazing libraries in the United States," saidJenny Ly, the founder ofBurst. "European influences are obvious in the design. But these are the finest points - the fixed glass representations of Elizabeth's poems, literary interpretations of their words and quotes painted on the walls - which transform a chaotic collection of Thoughts in a paradise carefully maintained for lovers of the book. "

In addition to allowing visitors to visit the library and the museum, the magnificent building is also popular as a wedding place.

6. Nashville public library

TheNashville public library is a resource for anyone interested in the history of Music City, but the building in which it is accommodated, located in the city center of the city, is also an impressive and historic building in its own right.

The library building was built for the first time in 1901, and has such an amazing architecture that you could forget that you are there in search of books and not only to admire the building itself.

"Robert A.M. Stern architects from New York designed the three -story building and 300 thousand square feet in a modern classic style with columns and pillars", explainsJill Kilgore, a director of public relations media atTENNESSEE Tourist Development Department. "Inside is a large staircase in the hall, light wells and large windows for the capital of the State and the original illustrations ordered in particular for the library."

Read this then:The 10 best American cities to visit for lovers of history.

7. Library of the Château de Hearst

It is logical that the library of one of the mostbeautiful residences in the country, theHearst castle, would also contain one of the most beautiful libraries. The gigantic house was built at the beginning of the 20th century for the newspaper of the newspaper William Randolph Hearst, and its massive library was not only for books, although it holds a lot. It also houses art like ancient Greek vases and a 16th century Spanish ceiling.

"The Library of the Château de Hearst, on the Central Coast of California, is one of the most beautiful libraries in the country," explainsLarry Snider, Vice-president of operationsCasago Rental vacation. "Built to reflect European architecture styles admired by Hearst, it contains around 4,000 pounds as well as its collection of texts, paintings, statues and medieval textiles."

8. Free Public Library of Louisville

TheLouisville free public library It looks more like a building in a private university than a free public library in the center of the largest city in Kentucky. The main branch was built in 1906 by the architectural film of New York Pilcher and Tachau, which also designed buildings in private universities, it is therefore logical that the exteriors of the library look so refined.

"The main branch of the free public library of Louisville is considered one of the best examples of the Beaux-Arts architecture in Kentucky, with stained glass, a ceiling in Tarreau, white marble columns and two stairs with Balustrades in bronze and iron "Jordan Skora, a marketing communications director atLouisville tourism. "On the property is a 13 -foot bronze statue from Abraham Lincoln, the only native American president of Kentucky."

Although the library was a beloved historic institution in the city, it was not always certain that the building would resist the test of time, because it was seriously damaged during a flood in 1937.

"During the great flood of 1937, a large part of the library was damaged while the Ohio river was 30 feet above the flood stadium, covering 60% of the city," said Skora. "Nevertheless, the library prevailed, becoming the first American library with its own FM radio station in 1950."

9. Morgan Library and Museum

When you imagine a beautiful library, you probably imagine theLibrary and Morgan Museum, a research library and a museum in Manhattan. Although the name of the small library does not sound a bell, it is sure to say that one of its owners, J.P.Morgan's, could. The library is a collection of the financier and the private library of the investment banker, which contained books, prints and drawings of manuscripts.

"The Library and the Morgan Museum is one of the most beautiful libraries in the United States," saidNick Mueller, operations director atHawaiianislands.com. “The financier JP Morgan had a complete collection of art, rare books and prints in ancient artifacts. In 1924, her son donated the library to the public and she has been open since. a block."

The library stands out from its shelves on the ground, bordered by manuscripts and elderly books, and its richly decorated interiors, including its wall ceilings and its dramatic rotunda room with a dome -shaped ceiling.

10. Suzzallo and Allen libraries

You wouldn't expect it toSuzzallo and Allen libraries, the main libraries of the University of Washington in Seattle, for having been built only over the past 100 years. The library seems to have been there for several centuries, and instead of belonging in an urban university campus, it should be in a castle in the countryside somewhere. It is a beautiful building that reflects the modern needs of the university campus it serves.AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB

"Seattle has a library known as the Harry Potter library", explainsSarah Simon, a travel blogger atMukikapup trips. "The libraries of Suzzallo and Allen are on the campus of the University of Washington and are considered to be" the soul "of the school. Architecture is in the college Gothic style and includes a Batwing vaulted ceiling, a facade in Outdoor with footprints and statues and coats from around the world. There are also artistic installations, one of the biggest books in the world, hand painted globes and stained glass to see. "

In addition to the students who do research, visitors are invited to visit libraries from Sunday to Friday.

11. Kansas City public library

Libraries are beloved institutions for the books and resources they have inside their walls. But theKansas City public library is a precious part of the city and one of the most beautiful libraries in the country, for the books they have outside the library.

The central branch of the city's public library, which once housed the first national bank, has a facade designed to look like a gigantic shelf, designed with 25 -foot pound spines showing titles of classic novels likeCharlotte Web andKill a mocking bird.

"His parking garage, which is designed as a huge shelf, is one of the main attractions," saidMartin Betch, the co -founder of the travel websiteHi-van.

Read this then:The 10 most beautiful small towns in the United States

12. Parkway Central Library

The main branch of the Philadelphia public library system is theParkway Central Library. It was opened in 1927 and is the largest branch of the 54 branches of the library system. It is also, no doubt, the most beautiful. The building in which the library is housed is seven floors, including four open to the public.

"The library is so beautiful that many choose it as a place of marriage," saysMélanie Musson, a travel expert withFencing. "But, despite its greatness, the complex architectural details give an intimate feeling to space. It is therefore ideal for large and small rallies."

But weddings and other developed cases are not the only reason why people visit the library. In addition to checking books, films and other articles, the library offers a series of opportunities to learn, including cooking lessons.

"One of the unique offers in this library is that they have complete commercial cuisine on the fourth floor," said Musson. "It was designed and used as an educational center for the culinary arts."