The Mercantile Library

On April 18th, 1835, forty-five merchants and clerks from boomtown Cincinnati came together to create the Young Men’s Mercantile Library Association. To fulfill its initial mission, the Library maintains and expands its historic collection of books while presenting an expansive schedule of events. Full of visits by authors and writers, book discussions, workshops, and forums, there’s something on the schedule for all bibliophiles. Additionally, the Library is home to a diverse collection of artworks including portrait busts, paintings, and the sketchbooks of Cincinnati-trained artist Elizabeth Nourse.