The Concord Free Public Library opened in 1873 with the intention of expanding into a public art museum. Founder William Munroe acquired big-ticket items like David Scott’s “Ralph Waldo Emerson,” Daniel Chester French‘s “bust of Simon Brown,” and William James Stillman’s “The Philosophers’ Camp in the Adirondacks” right off the bat, setting a precedent for the library’s prestigious collection.

Today, that Concord-themed collection includes more than 200 pieces of art, including sculptures, paintings, and lithographs. The library also houses Concord-related historical documents, histories, and an extensive Concord Authors Collection. The William Munroe Special Collections are open to the public on weekdays but are also available online.