East Henry Street Carnegie Library, Carnegie library branch in Savannah, United States.
The East Henry Street Carnegie Library is a brick Prairie School building designed by Savannah architect Julian deBruyn Kops. A monumental staircase leads to the main entrance on the second floor, framed by two large piers topped with sandstone orbs. Four tiered brick walls with sandstone coping flank the stairs, and dark glazed bricks outline the piers and form a horizontal band above the second-floor windows.
The Colored Library Association of Savannah, formed in 1906, opened a library in Dr. Jamison's basement before approaching Andrew Carnegie, who granted $12,000. The Carnegie Colored Library opened on August 14, 1914, with Charles A. R. McDowell as librarian and 3,000 volumes. A separate board supervised it until Savannah desegregated its libraries in 1963.
The collection focuses on African American history and literature, particularly from the 20th century. The library served as an important gathering place for readers seeking materials about their own heritage and stories.
The library is located on East Henry Street and operates as part of a local system with regular hours. Visitors should check online before arriving to confirm current operating times and available services.
The library's 1914 building was designed by Savannah architect and engineer Julian deBruyn Kops, who gave it tiered brick walls with sandstone coping and a monumental staircase framed by two piers topped with sandstone orbs. It is one of the only Prairie Style buildings in the city, a style pioneered by Frank Lloyd Wright.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,721 contributors worldwide.
