Ballard Carnegie Library, Carnegie library in Ballard, Seattle, United States
Ballard Carnegie Library is a brick building with stone accents on NW Market Street, showing the classical features typical of Carnegie libraries from that era. The main reading room and surrounding spaces remain visible today, though the building now serves commercial purposes.
The building was constructed in 1904 with funding from Andrew Carnegie and replaced an earlier reading room started by the Women's Christian Temperance Union. Its creation represented a significant expansion of community resources in the Ballard neighborhood.
The original layout separated spaces by gender, with a men's smoking room, a ladies' conversation room, and a 500-seat auditorium for public events. This division shows how communities organized social gatherings and reflected the customs of the early 1900s.
The building is a registered landmark located at an easily accessible spot in the Ballard neighborhood with good street visibility. Visitors can view the exterior anytime, but should note it now operates as a commercial space rather than a public library.
The collection grew to 300 volumes within six weeks of opening thanks to community donations, even though Carnegie's grant covered only construction costs. This shows how strongly the local community supported the new building and participated in making it complete.
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