Spreading of the bolaamphiphile alpha,omega-docosanediol, HO(CH2)(22)OH, on water results in spontaneous aggregation into embryonic 3-D crystallites. These crystallites have been analyzed by cryo-transmission electron microscopy, scanning force microscopy, X-ray reflectivity, and external reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The molecules are aligned in an almost perpendicular fashion in a rectangular cell, and the crystallites are about five molecular layers thick.