The St. Johnsbury Athenaeum is more than a library. It is a private, non-profit public library and art gallery that stands as a regional treasure. A National Historic Landmark, this building has served as a center of culture for 140 years. The Athenaeum is a legacy of the Fairbanks Family of St. Johnsbury, inventors and manufacturers of the world's first platform scale. It stands as a monument to the nineteenth century belief in learning.

After raising money last year for improvements , the decision has been made to focus on preserving what lies inside this historic building.