Founded in 1857 by philanthropist George Peabody (1795-1869), the institute is home to the nation's oldest music school and one of its most prestigious. The building, designed by architect Edmund G. Lind in 1878, also houses one of the finest libraries in the United States. The five-storey, glass-covered galleries and neo-Classical white and gold decor provide a spectacular setting for the 300 000 or so books the institute contains.