I stopped by New Haven, CT last summer without expectations. I had a few days between dropping my son off and picking him up at camp, so I’d decided to spend it there, visiting my sister Jessica.
She took me to the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, and I’ll never forget it. If you have any interest in architecture, it is something to see. On the outside, it looks like a stark cube of marble and stone. When you get inside you start to realize that those white and gray veined marble slabs you see from the outside are the “windows.” These marble panels are one and one-quarter inch thick and filter light so that the giant column of rare books and manuscripts can be displayed without damage. It gives the interior a feeling that’s difficult to describe. The marble is literally glowing but in varying degrees around the square space.
If you find yourself in that neck of the woods, it’s worth stopping by. I would also highly recommend having a grilled cheese around the corner at Caseus. I’m not usually a fool for grilled cheese but this one will stay on your mind. Trust me.
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xx TC