Join IWF/MA for an extraordinary evening at the Boston Athenaeum, one of the nation’s oldest and most distinguished cultural institutions. Founded in 1807, the Athenaeum is both a library and museum, home to more than 600,000 volumes and a quarter million rare books, maps, manuscripts, and works of art.

Members will enjoy an exclusive guided tour highlighting the Athenaeum’s historic architecture, world-class collections, and current exhibitions. Highlights include rare books and manuscripts dating back to the fifteenth century, volumes once owned by George Washington, and early American maps and prints. Members will also view items from special collections related to extraordinary Boston women. The Athenaeum is also renowned for its impressive art collection featuring works by Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargent, and Gilbert Stuart, along with its iconic spaces such as the Bayard Henry Long Room and the soaring multi-level “Drum” stacks.

The program will begin with the guided tour at 4:00 pm, giving participants the chance to immerse themselves in this remarkable institution. Following the tour, members are invited to gather for dinner at Folio restaurant at 5:30 pm. Folio offers a stylish and relaxed atmosphere with French and Mediterranean-inspired cuisine, providing the perfect setting to continue conversations and connections. Dinner will be pay-on-your-own.

This special evening brings together culture, history, and community, and we hope you will join us.