Widener Library, Boston

The Harvard library was built in memory of Harry Elkins Widener, a Harvard graduate from way back in 1907, who met his fate on the Titanic. Now, Harry wasn't your average bookworm – he was the kind of guy who'd risk it all for a good read. Legend has it that as the ship was going down, Harry didn't just grab a lifeboat and call it a day. No, he gave up his spot just to rescue his favorite book from his stateroom.

Even though he was just 27 when he met his tragic end, Harry had amassed an enormous collection of books. He was on a mission to collect first editions from all his favorite authors, like Charles Dickens and Robert Louis Stevenson. In his will, Harry made a final plot twist – instructing his mother, Eleanor Widener, to donate his beloved collection to Harvard. Eleanor, however, did not simply follow the instruction—she turned it into a grand architectural tribute. Instead of just building an addition to Harvard's library, she funded a whole new library in his memory.

Unveiled in 1915, the building is a sight to behold. You could call it Georgian, Beaux-Arts, Hellenistic, or even Imperial, depending on your mood. But when you walk up to the entrance, you can't help feeling like you're about to embark on an epic quest with those dramatic stairs and those columns that are so regal they could be knighted...

Inside, there's a maze of bookshelves that stretch for over 50 miles – that's like trying to find your way out of a bookworm's labyrinth. Designed by one of the nation's very first major African American architects, Julian Abele, this library boasts a staggering 3.5 million volumes in a jaw-dropping 450 languages!

Unfortunately, it's not open to the public, which means you'll have to admire this bookish beauty from the outside. But don't be sad: the columned wonder and its steps make for a great spot to take a breather during your stroll through history.

And, of course, it incites you to salute Harry's selfless commitment to literature!