East Portland Branch, Public Library of Multnomah County

The East Portland Branch is a red brick library building with terra-cotta ornaments and a green Spanish tile roof on Southeast Alder Street. The structure shows early 20th-century design with spacious interior rooms and lofty ceilings.

The building opened in 1911 with Carnegie Foundation support and served the growing community for many years as a public library. After 1967 it stopped operating as a library and later became an office space.

The spaces reflect early ideas about how people should learn and read in libraries. Separate areas for adults and children show that designers once thought different groups needed their own environments.

The building sits near public transit stops and is easy to spot from the sidewalk. The front entrance and tall windows make the architectural details visible from the street.

Architect A.E. Doyle first designed a temporary building to meet the immediate need for library services in the neighborhood. The permanent structure that replaced it brought both utility and architectural quality to the area.

Location: Portland

Inception: 1911

GPS coordinates: 45.51771,-122.65434

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:08