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St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, Saint Johnsbury

4.8
#5 of 8 in Things to do in Saint Johnsbury
Art Museum · Library
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Founded in 1871 and designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1998, St. Johnsbury Athenaeum is a private, non-profit public library and art gallery that serves to promote life-long learning through art, literature, and information services.

The Art Gallery features over 120 paintings, sculptures, and other fine works highlighting the American landscape, classical studies, and reproductions of Renaissance and Baroque masterworks. Many paintings by the Hudson River School artists are on display including Jasper Cropsey, Asher B. Durand, Sanford Gifford, and Worthington Whittredge. The most prominent painting in the Gallery is Albert Bierstadt’s mammoth ten-by-fifteen foot masterpiece Domes of the Yosemite, one of the most famous paintings in America.

The Athenaeum strives to be a 21st century library and stands as one of Vermont’s enduring landmarks. It is the Northeast Kingdom’s center of art and culture. The Athenaeum is the only arts-based National Historic Landmark in Vermont. Each year, the Athenaeum welcomes thousands of visitors from around the world. Offering poetry readings, internet access, book discussions, musical and artistic performances and presentations and community outreach programs, the Athenaeum continues to fulfill its original mission created by founder Horace Fairbanks. Fairbanks, whose family invented the platform scale, was an industrialist, philanthropist, and later governor of the state.
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St. Johnsbury Athenaeum reviews

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TripAdvisor traveler rating
TripAdvisor traveler rating 4.5
115 reviews
Google
4.9
TripAdvisor
  • Whether you go for the architecture, the art or because you like libraries, you won't be disappointed. This is a lovely place - they've kept all of the character of the building, original woodwork... 
    Whether you go for the architecture, the art or because you like libraries, you won't be disappointed. This is a lovely place - they've kept all of the character of the building, original woodwork...  more »
  • What a treat! Absolutely beautiful library with an amazing and beautifully presented collection of art. I could have spent hours in that lovely little gallery room. Thank you for sharing it with... 
    What a treat! Absolutely beautiful library with an amazing and beautifully presented collection of art. I could have spent hours in that lovely little gallery room. Thank you for sharing it with...  more »
Google
  • This building is gorgeous. It houses the town's library and a small gallery in the back. They like donations for the gallery which is well worth it. $5 a person or $10 for the family. The works are absolutely gorgeous and the Yosemite view is fantastic! The building inside is stunning with wooden spiral staircases. It's a great place to stop in and visit or to actually use as a library if you like. Staff here are friendly and nice a the bathrooms are clean. Definitely worth a stop in if you are in town.
  • Beautiful architecture, paintings, sculptures, and children's artwork.

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