Akin Free Library, Victorian public library in Pawling, United States
Akin Free Library is a Victorian-era public library in Pawling built from stone with a distinctive central clock tower and decorative copper cornices. The building extends downward with a raised basement level that houses different collections and exhibition spaces.
Albert J. Akin, founder of the Bank of Pawling, commissioned architect John A. Wood to construct this building between 1898 and 1908. The philanthropic investment by a prominent businessman shaped it into a lasting community resource.
The Historical Society Museum on the second floor displays local artifacts, including items from the Mizzentop Hotel and Quaker Hill Post Office.
The building sits on Old Quaker Hill Road and is accessible by car with nearby parking for visitors. The various collections spread across multiple levels, so visitors should allow adequate time to explore everything inside.
The lower level houses a Natural History Museum displaying around 200 mounted birds alongside mineral specimens. Among these exhibits sits an authenticated shrunken human head that often surprises visitors.
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