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

  • September 17 - September 23
    9/17 Sun 9/18 Mon 9/19 Tue 9/20 Wed 9/21 Thu 9/22 Fri 9/23 Sat
    11am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 1pm Closed Closed
  • September 24 - September 30
    9/24 Sun 9/25 Mon 9/26 Tue 9/27 Wed 9/28 Thu 9/29 Fri 9/30 Sat
    Closed 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm Closed Closed
  • October 01 - October 07
    10/01 Sun 10/02 Mon 10/03 Tue 10/04 Wed 10/05 Thu 10/06 Fri 10/07 Sat
    11am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm Closed Closed
  • October 08 - October 14
    10/08 Sun 10/09 Mon 10/10 Tue 10/11 Wed 10/12 Thu 10/13 Fri 10/14 Sat
    11am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm Closed Closed
  • October 15 - October 21
    10/15 Sun 10/16 Mon 10/17 Tue 10/18 Wed 10/19 Thu 10/20 Fri 10/21 Sat
    11am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm Closed Closed
  • October 22 - October 28
    10/22 Sun 10/23 Mon 10/24 Tue 10/25 Wed 10/26 Thu 10/27 Fri 10/28 Sat
    11am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm Closed Closed
  • October 29 - November 04
    10/29 Sun 10/30 Mon 10/31 Tue 11/01 Wed 11/02 Thu 11/03 Fri 11/04 Sat
    11am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm Closed Closed
  • November 05 - November 11
    11/05 Sun 11/06 Mon 11/07 Tue 11/08 Wed 11/09 Thu 11/10 Fri 11/11 Sat
    11am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm Closed Closed
  • November 12 - November 18
    11/12 Sun 11/13 Mon 11/14 Tue 11/15 Wed 11/16 Thu 11/17 Fri 11/18 Sat
    11am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm Closed Closed
  • November 19 - November 25
    11/19 Sun 11/20 Mon 11/21 Tue 11/22 Wed 11/23 Thu 11/24 Fri 11/25 Sat
    11am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm Closed Closed
  • November 26 - December 02
    11/26 Sun 11/27 Mon 11/28 Tue 11/29 Wed 11/30 Thu 12/01 Fri 12/02 Sat
    11am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm Closed Closed
  • December 03 - December 09
    12/03 Sun 12/04 Mon 12/05 Tue 12/06 Wed 12/07 Thu 12/08 Fri 12/09 Sat
    11am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 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/