The George Peabody Library is widely recognized as one of the most beautiful library spaces in the world, but is also an essential space for teaching and research.

Formerly the Library of the Peabody Institute of the City of Baltimore, the library’s collection dates from the founding of the Peabody Institute in 1857. In that year, George Peabody, a Massachusetts-born philanthropist, dedicated the Peabody Institute to the citizens of Baltimore in appreciation of their “kindness and hospitality.”

The library building opened in 1878 and was designed by Baltimore architect Edmund G. Lind, in collaboration with the Peabody Institute’s first provost, Dr. Nathaniel H. Morison. The stack room contains five tiers of ornamental cast-iron balconies, which rise dramatically to the skylight 61 feet above the floor.

The library contains 300,000 volumes, mainly from the 19th century, with strengths in religion, British art, architecture, topography and history; American history, biography, and literature; Romance languages and literature; history of science; and geography, exploration, and travel.

Peabody 360: Explore the Peabody Library

Check out the high-resolution 360-degree virtual tour of the stunning interior.


Hours

  • May 28 - June 03
    5/28 Sun 5/29 Mon 5/30 Tue 5/31 Wed 6/01 Thu 6/02 Fri 6/03 Sat
    10am - 2pm Closed 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 7pm Closed Closed
  • June 04 - June 10
    6/04 Sun 6/05 Mon 6/06 Tue 6/07 Wed 6/08 Thu 6/09 Fri 6/10 Sat
    11am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 7pm Closed Closed
  • June 11 - June 17
    6/11 Sun 6/12 Mon 6/13 Tue 6/14 Wed 6/15 Thu 6/16 Fri 6/17 Sat
    11am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 7pm Closed Closed
  • June 18 - June 24
    6/18 Sun 6/19 Mon 6/20 Tue 6/21 Wed 6/22 Thu 6/23 Fri 6/24 Sat
    11am - 5pm Closed 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 7pm Closed Closed
  • June 25 - July 01
    6/25 Sun 6/26 Mon 6/27 Tue 6/28 Wed 6/29 Thu 6/30 Fri 7/01 Sat
    11am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 7pm Closed Closed
  • July 02 - July 08
    7/02 Sun 7/03 Mon 7/04 Tue 7/05 Wed 7/06 Thu 7/07 Fri 7/08 Sat
    11am - 5pm 10am - 5pm Closed 10am - 5pm 10am - 7pm Closed Closed
  • July 09 - July 15
    7/09 Sun 7/10 Mon 7/11 Tue 7/12 Wed 7/13 Thu 7/14 Fri 7/15 Sat
    11am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 7pm Closed Closed
  • July 16 - July 22
    7/16 Sun 7/17 Mon 7/18 Tue 7/19 Wed 7/20 Thu 7/21 Fri 7/22 Sat
    11am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 7pm Closed Closed
  • July 23 - July 29
    7/23 Sun 7/24 Mon 7/25 Tue 7/26 Wed 7/27 Thu 7/28 Fri 7/29 Sat
    11am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 7pm Closed Closed
  • July 30 - August 05
    7/30 Sun 7/31 Mon 8/01 Tue 8/02 Wed 8/03 Thu 8/04 Fri 8/05 Sat
    11am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 7pm Closed Closed
  • August 06 - August 12
    8/06 Sun 8/07 Mon 8/08 Tue 8/09 Wed 8/10 Thu 8/11 Fri 8/12 Sat
    11am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 7pm Closed Closed
  • August 13 - August 19
    8/13 Sun 8/14 Mon 8/15 Tue 8/16 Wed 8/17 Thu 8/18 Fri 8/19 Sat
    11am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 7pm Closed Closed

George Peabody Library General Rules

In support of its mission to provide access to materials and services in an environment that is conducive to study and research, George Peabody Library requires all visitors to comply with the following general rules:

  • Photography and filming are permitted for personal use only:
    • Hand-held cameras
    • No flash, lights, and tripods
    • Disruptive photography or filming is not allowed
    • All participants (including library users and staff) must give consent
    • Share with us! @jhulibraries
  • Photography and filming for all other uses, including editorial, media, or commercial purposes, requires advance, written permission and may be subject to a fee. Please contact the Office of Private Events at privateeventsoffice@jhu.edu for more information.
  • Visitor access is limited to the ground floor.
  • Visitors who engage in conduct that disrupts or interferes with the scholarly environment may be asked to leave.

Contact George Peabody Library

Contact Us

Have a question about the Peabody Library?
Call 667-208-6715 or contact Paul Espinosa, Curator of the Peabody Library.

Private Events Office

Book a special event at the George Peabody Library

Contact Us

Offices located at Evergreen Museum & Library
443-840-9585
privateeventsoffice@jhu.edu
peabodyevents.library.jhu.edu/