Armenian Library and Museum of America, located in Watertown, Massachusetts, United States, is an institution that has the largest collection of Armenian artifacts in North America.HistoryIn 1971, alarmed by the growing loss and destruction of Armenian books and artifacts brought to this country by immigrants from Armenia, a group of talented Greater Boston Armenian-Americans banded together to form ALMA to collect and preserve these books and artifacts. From humble beginnings in two rooms rented in 1972 in a church parish house in Belmont, ALMA grew and expanded into a Watertown church's 4000sqft basement and opened to the public in 1985.In 1988, ALMA was able to buy and remodel the former Coolidge Bank and Trust Building at 65 Main Street in Watertown. After being opened to the public as the Armenian Library and Museum of America, the building was dedicated to the memory of Stephen P. Mugar and Marian G. Mugar, his wife.Building descriptionALMA's present home is a four-story building plus basement containing approximately 30000sqft. ALMA occupies all of the basement, the first and second floors, most of the third floor and has its library on the fourth floor. The building also houses the United States offices of the Armenia Tree Project, as well as the Armenian International Women's Association ("AIWA") and Project SAVE Armenian Photographic Archives.
