Identifier: pictorialguideto00bost (find matches)
Title: Pictorial guide to Boston and the country around
Year: 1902 (1900s)
Authors:
Subjects: Boston (Mass.) -- Guidebooks
Publisher: Boston : G.W. Armstrong Dining Room & News Co.
Contributing Library: New York Public Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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he city in the effort to makethis library representative of all that is worthiest in Americaninstitutions. The free public library system is known in count-less cities and towns; travelling libraries are carrying instructionand entertainment to many a lonely farm-house or humble work-shop; slowly, but surely, an appreciation for the best in art and 8 GUIDE TO BOSTON. literature is permeating tke masses; and in all this work for thebettering of humanity, Boston has been a pathfinder and aninspiring power. In this building and its decorations she hasdone much toward arousing and fostering a love for true art, andthis art influence is destined to be far-reaching and beneficent.The architect of this building was Mr. Charles F. McKim, of theNew York firm of ^^IcKim, Alead & White. The corner-stonewas laid Nov. 28, 1888. The building was completed and thrownopen to the public for use in March, 1895. The total cost of thebuilding, including all decorations contracted for, was $2,368,000.
Text Appearing After Image:
c.3.a^»co. CENTRAL LIBR.XRY, GROUND FLOOR. THE PUBLIC LIBRARY. 9 The Library is two hundred and twenty-five feet long, two hun-dred and twenty-seven feet deep. Its height from the sidewalkto the top of the cornice is seventy feet. The material used isMilford granite. In color this granite is a grayish white, which,in some lights, becomes faintly tinged with pink. The Library isin the Italian Rennaissance style of architecture, is quadrangularin shape and surrounds an inner court. The chief characteristicsof the building are its simplicity and the accentuation of horizontal lines of composition. The main facade, looking east over Copley Square, consists of

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