A internationally-revered rare book and manuscript library serving as a resource for scholars throughout the world, as well as a center of cultural enrichment available to the public, the Lilly Library offers over 8.5 million manuscripts, 450,000 books, 150,000 pieces of sheet music, 30,000 mechanical puzzles, and a variety of other interesting cultural artifacts.

A few of the library's most notable items include the first printed edition of The Canterbury Tales, a New Testatment of the Gutenburg Bible, the First Folio of Shakespeare's works, George Washington's letter accepting the presidency of the United States, the Boxer Codex, Thomas Jefferson’s personal copy of the Bill of Rights, and the intimate & fascinating archives of cultural luminaries such as Orson Welles, Sylvia Plath, Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., and Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o.

Exhibits vary throughout the year. On permanent exhibit is the Gutenberg Bible, printed before 1456, and John James Audubon's "Birds of America" prints.

Admission: Free

Registry