Originally intended to be a cultural center of Baltimore called the Peabody Institute Library, the George Peabody Library as
it stands now is the research library of Johns Hopkins University. The library was a part of the Institute from 1878 until
1967, when it became owned by the city of Baltimore. It was eventually passed to Johns Hopkins in 1982, and is now where the
university’s special collections reside. Many of the collection’s titles date back to the 19th century, and includes one of
the world’s foremost collections of Don Quixote editions. The building was described by the first Peabody provost as a
“cathedral of books,” featuring a 61-foot-high atrium, beautiful black and white marble flooring, numerous balconies, and
golden columns.