Julia Ideson Building, Public library in downtown Houston, United States

The Julia Ideson Building is a two-story Spanish Renaissance-style library in downtown Houston, designed by Ralph Adams Cram of Cram and Ferguson. Its light stone facade has a central entrance behind a low wide staircase, a round-arched window above dark wooden double doors framed by columns, and arched windows along the upper level beneath a carved frieze band. It holds the Houston Metropolitan Research Center and the archives, manuscripts, and Texas and Local History departments.

Designed by Ralph Adams Cram of Cram and Ferguson in Boston, the Julia Ideson Building opened in 1926 as Houston's Central Library, replacing the earlier Carnegie building. It served as the city's sole main library until 1976, when the Jesse H. Jones Building opened and the main collections moved there. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977 and reopened in 1979.

The building holds collections and materials that tell the story of Houston's growth, including photographs, manuscripts, and documents about Texas history. These items show how the city and wider region developed and changed.

The building sits in downtown Houston and is easy to reach on foot, with clear signage to help you find your way around. Research areas and collections are open during regular business hours for visitors to explore.

The building carries the name of Julia Ideson, who was Houston's first professional librarian and led library services from 1901 to 1941. Her pioneering work in library organization left a lasting mark on the city.