This public square is the site of finish line of the Boston Marathon and home to several notable buildings and landmarks.
Copley Square was named after painter John Singleton Copley and was originally known as Art Square for housing several cultural and educational institutions. Today, the most notable buildings in the square are the Boston Public Library, Old South Church, Trinity Church, and the John Hancock Tower, New England's tallest building.
The Boston Public Library’s current Back Bay building, located directly across the street from Copley Square, was built in 1895 and has been called “The Palace for the People.” All adult residents in Massachusetts are entitled to borrowing and research privileges, and with over 23 million items, the BPL is one of the largest municipal public libraries in the world. There are more than 10,000 free public programs held at the Library each year, and the BPL also houses famous paintings by John Singer Sargent, Edwin Austin Abbey, and others.