My wife and I visited the Mt. Angel Abbey, Oregon. The grounds are gorgeous and serene.
Their library caught my interest. Designed by architect Alvar Aalto, the library has sweeping, graceful floors and ramps.
Brother Christopher took us for a tour of the rare book vaults. Got to view books dating back to the 13th century, printed on parchment, which still looks surprisingly fresh today.
See also: In Portland, gotta stop at Powells