An independent, member-supported subscription library and cultural center founded in 1836, the Providence Athenaeum occupies a Greek Revival building—completed in 1838 and designed by William Strickland—that resembles a miniature temple atop Benefit Street. It integrates rich architectural features—columned façade, high‑ceilinged reading rooms—with intimate spaces lined by towering bookcases, ornate busts, wooden ladders, skylit alcoves, and vintage furnishings. The collection includes tens of thousands of volumes, rare books, and archival materials, and the institution remains a hub for literary life—hosting author talks, salons, lectures, and a children’s library that dates back to the early 20th century. It has drawn notable literary figures and thinkers and continues to safeguard a legacy of intellectual engagement within Providence’s historic College Hill.