Indiana University in Bloomington holds countless treasures, some hidden right in plain sight. The Lilly Library is a perfect example. Facing Showalter Fountain, the handsome limestone building packs a big cultural punch, well worth a pop-in during any campus visit or prior to a show at the adjacent IU Auditorium.
Opened in 1960 after Indiana pharmaceutical company heir J.K. Lilly donated his extensive private collection of rare books and manuscripts to the university, the library caters to bibliophiles, history buffs and word nerds. Here, visitors can view an original copy of the Declaration of Independence, an authentic Gutenberg Bible, a genuine Academy Award Oscar trophy, and an impressive dictionary collection to name just a few gems on display.
All told, the library’s vast holdings include more than 460,000 books, 8.5 million manuscripts, 120,000 pages of sheet music and much more.
Don’t miss the chance to duck into the Jerry Slocum Puzzle Room, a repository for hundreds of hand-held mechanical puzzles — think Rubik’s cubes, Bernoulli boxes, tangrams and the like. You can even test your skills on several hands-on items. If you can time your visit just right, the library offers free weekly tours of the main galleries and the puzzle room.
Always free to visit, the Lilly Library is open to the Indiana University community and the general public. For hours and more information, go to libraries.indiana.edu.
