I have been living in Boston for about a year now, and it was not until two days ago when I had heard about the Mapparium. Located inside The Mary Baker Eddy Library right next to the Christian Science Church on 200 Massachussetts Avenue in Boston, Massachusetts, the Mapparium is something that I need to check out.
What is it? The Mapparium is a world-famous stained glass globe and it gives a three-dimensional perspective of the Earth. It is a huge globe that you can walk into. Apparently you can whisper on one side of the globe and then another person on the other side of the globe would be able to hear everything that you said. The tours are free and leave every twenty minutes. The last tour leaves at 3:40. Over 10 million people have walked the thirty-food glass bridge that goes through the three-story Mapparium since 1935.
The massive globe is not the only thing in this building. You can explore the grand, neoclassical Hall of Ideas. The Hall of Ideas was built in 1934 and is A a mix between art and technology. It is made up of more than 800 quotes that look like they are bubbling up from the center of this sculptural fountain and that spill onto the floor. These quotes become single words to convey the power of ideas.
First Church of Christ, ScientistA is a marvel in itself. I love looking at that church every time that I walk past it on Mass Ave. It looks so out of place and different than anything in Boston, MA, but it is absolutely gorgeous. I walked into it to see what the inside looked like, and my jaw was dropped for the majority of the time. There were no religious symbols plastered everywhere and the organ was huge! I believe that my tour guide said that this organ consisted of over 3000 pipes.
I have not been in the Mapparium yet because I keep getting there too late, but I’ll hopefully make it to this marvel before next week is over! Also, if you are afraid that your religion will affect the visit, please do not be worried about that.
