The Mary Baker Eddy Library sits on the Christian Science Plaza along Massachusetts Avenue, near Symphony Hall on the Back Bay/Fenway edge of Boston. It is best known as the home of the Mapparium, an extraordinary three-story stained-glass globe that visitors enter via a glass bridge, experiencing the world from the inside as it appeared in the 1930s. The room’s unusual acoustics and luminous panels make it one of the city’s most memorable attractions.
The library is dedicated to the life and work of Mary Baker Eddy, founder of the Christian Science movement and the newspaper The Christian Science Monitor. Alongside the Mapparium, exhibits explore ideas, history, and the power of communication, drawing on the library’s archives. The surrounding Christian Science Plaza, with its long reflecting pool and monumental church, is a striking public space. Check the official website for current hours, admission, and Mapparium access.
Good to know
- Home of the Mapparium, a walk-through stained-glass globe
- A ticketed attraction; confirm admission and hours on the official site
- Located on the Christian Science Plaza near Symphony Hall
- Dedicated to Mary Baker Eddy and the history of The Christian Science Monitor
Getting there
- Address: 200 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
- Neighborhood: Back Bay / Fenway (Christian Science Plaza)
- Nearest T: Symphony (Green Line E branch); Prudential (Green Line E) and Hynes (Green Line) are also nearby