Visiting the Library and Archives
Every year hundreds of researchers visit the Library and Archives to study the more than one million items that document New England's cultural and architectural history.
Location: Otis House, 141 Cambridge Street in Boston, Massachusetts. The Otis House is at the foot of Beacon Hill, next to the Old West Church.
Hours: Wednesday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. To make an appointment, please call us at 617-994-5946 or complete the online contact form.
Directions detail: The Otis House is at the foot of Beacon Hill, next to the Old West Church. Enter through the gateway on Cambridge Street and check in at the reception desk.
Parking: There is limited street parking. Nearby parking lots include Charles River Plaza, Boston Common Garage, and Government Center Garage.
Public transportation: Short walk from MBTA stations: Charles Street/MGH, Bowdoin Square (closed weekends), Government Center, and North Station.
To Prepare for Your Visit
A significant percentage of the holdings of the Library and Archives is represented in the Collections Database. Prior to your visit, we recommend that you explore the resources in the search system and note the items or collections that you would like to see. Each record is uniquely identified by the GUSN number. We ask that you notify the Library and Archives staff of your research needs in advance so that we can prepare documents and objects for you.
