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Author Alex

A travel fanatic, Alex is always on the lookout for his next exciting adventure. Over the years, this has seen him live and work in countries as varied as Brazil, Italy and Sudan, scale snowy peaks in Kyrgyzstan and play professional football in Zanzibar. When he's not traveling to far-flung destinations, he can be found writing about them from his hometown of Brussels – one of the most multicultural cities in the world.

Discover the Cultural Riches and Scenic Beauty of This New England Gem

Mechanics Hall

Known for its vibrant arts scene and rolling landscapes, this lively city offers a rich blend of culture, history, and green spaces.

26 Must-See Attractions in Maryland

Best Things to Do in Maryland

Fittingly described as ‘America in Miniature’, the Mid-Atlantic state of Maryland has something for everyone to enjoy.

Best Cities to Live in New Jersey: A Quick Guide

Best Cities in New Jersey to Live and Visit

While New Jersey, unfortunately, has a bit of a bad reputation, there are still many cities in the Garden State that are lovely to live in and visit.

Best Cities to Live in Arkansas: A Quick Guide

Best Cities in Arkansas to Live and Visit

Appropriately known as the ‘Natural State’, Arkansas is home to everything from rugged mountains and roaring rivers to vast forests and reflective lakes.

Best Cities in Indiana to Live: A Quick Guide

Best Cities in Indiana to Live and Visit

Although routinely disparaged for being ‘The Crossroads of America’, the oft-overlooked Indiana is home to much more than just rural farmland and busy interstates.

Best Cities to Live in Massachusetts: A Quick Guide

Best Cities in Massachusetts to Live and Visit

While Massachusetts is rightfully known for its rich history and heritage, its lively cities and college towns exhibit a fascinating mix of old and new.

From Victorian Mansions to Mississippi River Trails, This Midwest Capital Is Made for Exploring

Things to Do in St. Paul, Minnesota

Perched on bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River, this historic city is often overshadowed by its larger neighbor.

The Forgotten Mississippi River City That Feels Like Discovering Old America Again

Things to Do in Dubuque, Iowa

Historic riverfront buildings, steep bluffs, and old industrial architecture give this small city a strong sense of place along the Mississippi.

Discover the Historic Charm of This Colonial Gem — Living History Museums, Scenic Gardens, and Revolutionary War Sites Await

Things to Do in Williamsburg, VA

Renowned around the country for the role it played in the early history of the States, Williamsburg was once the capital of both the Colony and Commonwealth of Virginia.

Most Americans Have No Idea How Beautiful This Historic Southern City Really Is

Richmond

Historic neighborhoods, cobbled streets, and grand old mansions give this riverside city a strong sense of character and history.

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Bardstown, Kentucky

Bourbon Made This Town Famous, but That’s Not What Makes It Special

George Peabody Library Baltimore Visitor Guide Most visitors don't expect to find one of the most striking interiors in America tucked behind a row of white columns in a quiet Baltimore neighborhood. You walk through the doors of the Peabody Institute in Mount Vernon, turn a corner, and suddenly you're standing beneath a skylit atrium that climbs six stories above a polished marble floor. It stops you cold. The George Peabody Library Baltimore is that kind of place. It doesn't announce itself from the street. There's no flashy signage, no grand plaza. But step inside the stack room and you'll see why people call it a "cathedral of books." Over 300,000 volumes line the walls, and the space itself feels like something pulled from a 19th-century novel you half-remember reading. Johns Hopkins University runs the place as part of its Sheridan Libraries system. This isn’t a museum replica—it’s a working research collection. You can visit for free during public hours, which makes it one of the easiest cultural stops in Baltimore. Whether you’re chasing that perfect symmetrical shot up through the iron balconies or just want a quiet ten minutes surrounded by something genuinely beautiful, the library delivers without asking much of your time or your wallet. Cast-Iron Balconies And The Soaring Atrium The first thing that hits you is the scale. Five tiers of ornamental cast-iron balconies rise from the ground floor and climb 61 feet to a massive skylight that floods the room with natural light. The effect is vertical and dramatic, like standing inside a very elegant cage made of books and ironwork. Each balcony tier is lined with gold-and-black volumes shelved behind low railings, and the repeating geometric patterns of the iron railings create a visual rhythm that photographers obsess over. Point your camera straight up from the center of the floor and you'll get that iconic symmetrical shot that's all over travel feeds. The image almost looks digitally generated, but it's real, and it's been here since 1878. The marble floor adds to the atmosphere. Sound carries differently in here. Footsteps echo softly, and conversations drop to whispers without anyone being told. The reading room on the ground level sits just off the main atrium, offering a quieter space with wooden tables and the kind of warm, worn-in feeling that modern libraries rarely manage. The light keeps the space from feeling like a museum. On a clear afternoon, sunlight pours through the skylight and shifts across the iron railings and book spines, changing the room's character every hour. You could visit twice in the same day and walk away with completely different impressions. A Quick History Of The Landmark George Peabody, a financier who got his start in Baltimore before heading off to London, founded the Peabody Institute in 1857. He wanted to give something meaningful back to the city that launched his career—a free public library, a lecture series, a music conservatory, and an art gallery. The library building itself took its sweet time, finally opening up in 1878. Baltimore architect Edmund G. Lind teamed up with Nathaniel H. Morison, the institute's first provost, to design the interior. Lind focused on that dramatic stack room—he wanted it to feel grand enough to match Peabody's vision but still practical for researchers. Local craftsmen made the decorative cast-iron balconies, and people immediately noticed the design. It stood out as one of the most distinctive library interiors on the East Coast. The collection changed hands a few times. In 1966, the City of Baltimore took over and ran things through the Enoch Pratt Free Library. Then, in 1982, Johns Hopkins University stepped in, and the library became part of the Sheridan Libraries system. These days, the focus is on 18th- and 19th-century works—architecture, religion, science, geography, literature—with gems from folks like Edgar Allan Poe and Walt Whitman. George Peabody Library Baltimore

One of America’s Most Beautiful Interiors Is Hidden in Baltimore

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