In 1833, this Greek Revival building rose in East Lexington—a lyceum where the greatest minds of the American Renaissance would gather to debate, inspire, and transform a nation.
Lexington Enrichment Exchange
A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization
In 1833, this Greek Revival building rose in East Lexington—a lyceum where the greatest minds of the American Renaissance would gather to debate, inspire, and transform a nation.
Nearly two centuries of history await restoration
Eli Robbins builds a meeting hall for East Lexington. Architects Isaac Melvin and Curtiss Capell create a Greek Revival masterpiece.
Ralph Waldo Emerson begins a three-year ministry, establishing the building as an intellectual center.
Wendell Phillips, Theodore Parker, Lucy Stone, and Charles Sumner speak out against slavery.
Ellen Stone, granddaughter of builder Eli Robbins, deeds the building to Cary Memorial Library.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, preserving its legacy for future generations.
Burst pipes cause significant damage. The East Branch Library closes, leaving the building dormant.
LEX leads the effort to restore this landmark as a modern-day lyceum for public benefit.
Built in 1833 at 735 Massachusetts Avenue, this Greek Revival landmark served as East Lexington's lyceum where Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and abolitionists like Wendell Phillips and Lucy Stone once spoke. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1976.
Named after Ellen Stone, granddaughter of builder Eli Robbins, the building housed the East Branch of Cary Memorial Library until 2007. Our mission is to restore this historic treasure as a modern-day lyceum for public benefit.
Learn Our StoryContinuing the lyceum tradition for a new generation
Rotating and permanent exhibitions interpreting Lexington's Revolutionary War history and abolitionist movements.
Curriculum-aligned workshops, school field trips, and teacher development focused on primary-source local history.
Panel discussions and lectures by historians that continue the lyceum tradition of Emerson and Thoreau.
Free public screenings of donated historical documentaries highlighting Lexington's rich heritage.
Professional production services—100% of proceeds are donated directly to the Ellen Stone Building Restoration Fund.
"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
For nearly 200 years, this building has witnessed the birth of ideas that changed America. Now it needs your help to continue its legacy.
Through exhibitions and lectures, we will illuminate these stories for future generations. Join us in restoring this beacon of American thought.
Where Ideas Shaped a Nation
Since 1833
Help us restore the Ellen Stone Building—where Emerson, Thoreau, and America's greatest abolitionists once spoke—for future generations.
Lexington Enrichment Exchange, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law.