List of Carnegie libraries in Washington, D.C.

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The following list of Carnegie libraries in Washington, D.C. provides detailed information on United States Carnegie libraries in Washington, D.C., where 4 public libraries were built from one grant (totaling $682,000) awarded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York on March 16, 1899 (a philanthropic fund established by Andrew Carnegie). In addition, Howard University library (an academic library) was granted in 1910.

Contents

Key

  Building still operating as a library
  Building standing, but now serving another purpose
  Building listed on the National Register of Historic Places
  Building contributes to a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places

Carnegie libraries

LibraryImageLocationNotes
1 Main 2008-0601-DC-CityMuseumCarnegieLibrary.jpg Mt. Vernon Square
38°54′09″N77°01′22″W / 38.9026°N 77.0229°W / 38.9026; -77.0229 (D.C. Main)
The 11th library in the US to receive a grant. Designed by New York firm Ackerman and Ross, this Beaux-Arts building was dedicated on January 7, 1903. Andrew Carnegie and President Theodore Roosevelt attended the ceremony. The building ceased to serve as the central branch of DC Public Library in 1970; it now houses the offices, collections, and research library of the Historical Society of Washington, D.C. [1] It also houses an Apple store.
2 Mount Pleasant Mount Pleasant library (4356776281).jpg 1600 Lamont St., NW
38°55′50″N77°02′14″W / 38.930558°N 77.037176°W / 38.930558; -77.037176 (Mount Pleasant Neighborhood Library)
Designed by noted library architect Edward Lippincott Tilton, this is the last library built with Carnegie funds in Washington, D.C., having opened on May 15, 1925. [2]
3 Southeast Southeastern branch library (4363120779).jpg 403 7th St., SE
38°53′2.67″N76°59′47.25″W / 38.8840750°N 76.9964583°W / 38.8840750; -76.9964583 (Southeast Neighborhood Library)
Another building designed by Edward Lippincott Tilton, this library sits on a triangular site. It opened December 8, 1922. [3]
4 Takoma Park Takoma Park neighborhood branch of the D.C. Public Library System, 416 Cedar St., N.W., Washington, D.C LCCN2012630213.jpg 416 Cedar St., NW
38°58′28.99″N77°1′7.08″W / 38.9747194°N 77.0186333°W / 38.9747194; -77.0186333 (Takoma Park Neighborhood Library)
Built in the Renaissance Revival style by Marsh and Peter and opening on November 17, 1911, this was the first branch library in Washington, D.C. The building was renovated in 2008 and 2009. [4]

Academic library

InstitutionImageDate
granted
[5]
Grant
amount
[5]
LocationNotes
1 Howard University Dec 2, 1907$50,000Carnegie Bldg.
38°55′22.32″N77°1′15.04″W / 38.9228667°N 77.0208444°W / 38.9228667; -77.0208444 (Howard University Library)
A Whitfield & King of New York design, this building was dedicated April 25, 1910, in exercises attended by Andrew Carnegie and President William Howard Taft. It was repurposed in 1937, now serving as office space. [6]

Notes

  1. "Carnegie Library". Historical Society of Washington, D.C. Archived from the original on May 27, 2013. Retrieved 2013-05-28.
  2. "Mount Pleasant Neighborhood Library History". DC Public Library. Retrieved 2017-05-09.
  3. "Southeast Neighborhood Library History". DC Public Library. Archived from the original on May 14, 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-17.
  4. "Takoma Park Neighborhood Library History". DC Public Library. Archived from the original on May 24, 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-17.
  5. 1 2 Miller, p. 39
  6. "The Carnegie Library at Howard University, 1905-1937: A Documentary History". Howard University Library System. Retrieved 2009-07-17.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Yard (Howard University)</span> United States historic place

The Yard is one of the main quadrangles on the campus of Howard University in Northwest Washington, DC. The Yard is the principal open space at the northern end of the academic portion of the campus, flanked by nine academic buildings. It is the site of a variety of campus gatherings, most notably for its annual Homecoming festivities, known as "Yardfest". The quadrangle and three buildings, Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel, Frederick Douglass Memorial Hall, and Founders Library, are a listed National Historic Landmark, important for their role in the advancement of civil rights in education during the 20th century.

References

Note: The above references, while all authoritative, are not entirely mutually consistent. Some details of this list may have been drawn from one of the references without support from the others. Reader discretion is advised.