Herman Melville Memorial Room is located inside The Berkshire Athenaeum, Pittsfield’s public library.

Herman Melville was a boy of 14 when he first visited Pittsfield. In 1850 Melville purchased a property adjoining the Robert Melville farmhouse, calling it Arrowhead. Here, together with his burgeoning family, he would spend thirteen of the most productive years of his life.

The Berkshire Athenaeum is the national center for Melville studies. Established in 1953, it has grown into the world’s largest collection of Melville personal memorabilia and a rich source of research material.