story and photos by Kayte Deioma

To escape a passing shower in Boston, stop in to the Mary Baker Eddy Library for the Betterment of Humanity at the Christian Science complex on Massachusetts Avenue. If you’ve been looking for ways to get your kids thinking about the world and their place in it, the Library has designed a variety of interactive exhibits that can spark great discussions, whether you agree with the Christian Science philosophy or not.

When you have just a little time, visit the Mapparium and Hall of Ideas. The Mapparium is a three-story stained glass globe, which visitors can enter and view from inside. The countries represented in the Mapparium reflect the world as it was in 1935, when the globe was created. A seven minute audio tour and a short video clip highlight some of the significant changes that have occurred in the geo-political divisions of the world since then.

Next door, in the Hall of Ideas, philosophical quotations are projected around the room in playful swirls and streaks. They dance around a central fountain and flit across the floor before climbing the wall to a screen where they disassemble and reassemble themselves into the words of famous thinkers and young philosophers-to-be.

If you have more time, head upstairs, where The Quest Gallery uses technology and age-appropriate content to ask questions such as: Who am I? What is my purpose? Is there a higher power? The Monitor Gallery gives you a glimpse into the workings of a Pulitzer Prize winning newspaper, including history, “how to” exhibits and a window that looks into the offices of the Christian Science Monitor.

For more information, visit www.marybakereddylibrary.org or call (617) 450-7000 or 1 (888) 222-3711.

The Mapparium is  included in the Go Boston Card.