Central Library: Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Center

McKim Building, first floor
617-859-2387, info@leventhalmap.org

The Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Center at the Boston Public Library, an independent nonprofit institution founded in 2004, is one of the nation’s most significant centers for the public study of historical geography. The Leventhal Center stewards more than a quarter million geographic objects in the BPL’s collections, hosts exhibitions on a variety of themes, and works with students, teachers, and learners from all walks of life to explore and understand the relationship between people and places in the past, present, and future. The Center is also a leader in digital geographic projects ranging from online repositories of historic artifacts available to modern experiments with maps and data.

The Center is located on the first floor of the BPL's historic McKim Building in Copley Square. It includes an exhibition gallery, a public learning center with geography maps and texts, and a reading room for collections research. All of the Center’s spaces and programs are free and open to the public, and the Center welcomes visitors from all walks of life.

Educational programs for students in grades K-12 and at the university level are available in the Center’s gallery and classroom, and numerous teaching and discovery materials are available online. The Center is also a leader in teacher training on topics related to geography, civics, history, and visual studies.

The collection features internationally significant holdings, with material ranging from the fifteenth century to the present day. Distinctive research collections include Boston and New England; urban plans; maritime charts; and maps relating to the American Revolutionary War era. To stay informed about Leventhal Center activities and programs, subscribe to their newsletter or follow them on social media.