Chidsey Library, Historic library building on Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, United States.
Chidsey Library is a library building on North Tamiami Trail in Sarasota featuring Mediterranean Revival architectural elements. The structure displays stucco walls, tile roofs, and arched doorways characteristic of this style.
This building opened in November 1941 as Sarasota's first public library, made possible by a generous donation from John and Ida Chidsey. It served the community in this capacity until 1976, marking an important chapter in the city's educational history.
The building now serves as home to Sarasota County Historical Resources, preserving local history through archives, documents, and educational programs that connect residents with their past.
The building is located at 701 North Tamiami Trail and welcomes visitors interested in local historical materials and archives. Planning your visit ahead helps since the site sits along a busy corridor and can get crowded at times.
Architect Thomas Reed Martin designed this building, and by the 1940s it was packed with thousands of books serving the area's readers. This collection was vital to Sarasota's development as an educational center.
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