Albert Spencer Wilcox Building, Museum and library building in Lihue, United States.
The Albert Spencer Wilcox Building is a museum and library in Lihue housed in a structure of beige concrete with walls of black and brown lava rock. The roof is covered in blue tile with a steep pitch that gives the structure its distinctive appearance.
Built in 1924 from a design by architect Hart Wood, this structure was Kauai's first public library. Emma Kauikeolani Wilcox, widow of Albert Spencer Wilcox, funded its construction as a memorial to her late husband.
The building is named after Albert Spencer Wilcox, a sugar plantation owner whose legacy shaped the island's development. Visitors experience how the local community uses this space to maintain connections with their past.
The location on Rice Street in Lihue makes it easy to find from most main roads in town. Visitors should allow time to explore the multiple exhibition areas that display local history and collections.
Architect Hart Wood integrated native lava rock directly into the concrete construction, creating a design tied specifically to Hawaiian architectural traditions. This blend of modern concrete and traditional volcanic material is uncommon and shows how the architect respected local building practices.
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