The Mapparium is a unique exhibit at the Christian Science Plaza in Boston Massachusetts. Located with a few other exhibits in The Mary Baker Eddy Library for the Betterment of Humanity, a non-religious public museum and library, the globe is illuminated from the exterior so that the details of its construction can be easily seen. Built in 1935 and based upon Rand McNally political maps published the previous year, the Mapparium shows the political world as it was at that time, including such long-disused labels as Italian East Africa and Siam, as well as more-recently defunct political entities such as the Soviet Union. See this amazing historical exhibit with your handicap van rentals Boston today!

A little history

Inspired by the famous spinning globe in the lobby of the New York Daily News building, the Mapparium was commissioned to architect Chester Lindsay Churchill. Like its New York inspiration, the Mapparium features a panel of weather instruments. The 608 stained glass panels were produced by the Rambusch Company of New York. The Mapparium was officially opened to the public on June 1, 1935. The Mapparium was closed in 1998 for a four-year cleaning and renovation. It reopened in 2002 and now features a sound-and-light-show that illustrates how the world has changed since 1935. Computer-controlled lighting by the Color Kinetics company provides effects and highlights regions as the narration discusses them. The stained glass restoration was performed by the Boston-area firm Serpentino Stained Glass.

What it’s all about

The Mapparium is a 3 story tall glass globe of stained glass that is viewed from a 30 foot long bridge through its interior. The bronze framework of the mighty globe holds over 600 concave glass panels, which are illuminated by 300 lights placed outside. Electric clocks ring the equator, giving comparative times around the world. Visitors enter on the elevated bridge through the Indian Ocean and exit through the South Pacific.

The view from within

Step into the Mapparium with your handicap van rentals Boston and view all the countries in accurate geographical relationship to each other. Since you are viewing the world from the inside different parts of the globe are at different distances from the eye and are thus distorted by perspective. Another cool fact about the Mapparium is its acoustics. The hard spherical surface of the globe reflects sound and produces striking acoustical effects. It forms a remarkable whispering gallery so that visitors standing at corresponding locations near opposite ends the bridge can speak to each other and be heard as if they were standing next to each other.

The Mary Baker Eddy Library

The Mapparium is located with the May Baker Eddy Library, a lending library and museum as well as the trpository for the papers of Mary Baker Eddy, an influential American author, teacher, and religious leader who founded Christian Science. The Mary Baker Eddy Library is housed in a portion of the eleven-story structure originally built for The Christian Science Publishing Society, part of the Christian Science Center complex. If you`re already there to see the Mapparium you should definitely make some time to explore the grounds as well with your handicap van rentals Boston. Among other things you will be able to find include the Hall of Ideas, Press Hall and the Monitor Gallery.

Before you go...

The Mapparium is located on 200 Massachusetts Ave and is open Tuesday to Sunday 10 am to 4 pm. For more information when you travel with your handicap van rentals to Mapparium check out their official website at www.marybakereddylibrary.org or call 617 - 450 - 7000