The following exhibitions are on view and free to the public at the Boston Public Library:
Palaces for the People through February 24
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Boston Public Library partner to present the first major exhibition on the Guastavino Company and its architectural and historical legacy. Rafael Guastavino - a Spanish immigrant, innovative builder, and visionary architect - and his son Rafael Jr. contributed to the design and construction of structural tile vaulting in over 1,000 major buildings across the United States, including the Boston Public Library, Ellis Island, and Grand Central Station.
The People's Own: Construction of the McKim Building through January 31
From 1885 to 1895, the sound of construction and the shouts of workmen filled Copley Square. Passersby leaned out of trolley cars to get a better look and curious pedestrians stood in wonder in front of the Old South Church as the new Boston Public Library slowly took shape. Designed by Charles Follen McKim of the architectural firm McKim, Mead, and White, the McKim Building - as it is now known - opened its doors in February of 1895 at a cost of $2.5 million. This exhibition features historic photographs documenting the library's construction, dating primarily from August 1888 to December 1889.
An Elevated View: The Orange Line through January 19
Twenty five years ago, the MBTA relocated the Orange Line, dismantling the elevated rail that had long defined the City's Southwest Corridor. Two years prior to the project, the private nonprofit agency URBANARTS organized, on behalf of the MBTA, a program called Arts in Transit. The project paired photographers with photography students to document the corridor in transition from Forest Hills to Dover Station.
Boston in the Gilded Age: Mapping Public Places through March 17
The Gilded Age - the era from the late 1860s to the late 1890s - was a period of significant growth and transformation in Boston. Ingenious engineering projects allowed the city to expand, and a devastating fire led to swift and progressive redevelopment of the commercial district.
Boston Sports Temples through May 31
Boston Sports Temples showcases Bostonâs beloved sports venues - most notably the Boston Garden, Fenway Park, Braves Field, and Suffolk Downs - and their unique roles in the daily lives and hearts of generations of New Englanders. Featuring the BPL's outstanding collection of historic sports photography, the exhibition will follow the creation and evolution of these four great public venues