The Colorado Springs Public Library–Carnegie Building is a Neo-classical library building in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Funded by the Andrew Carnegie Library Fund. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places. It is associated with the City Beautiful movement.[1][3]
Colorado Springs Public Library–Carnegie Building | |
Colorado State Register of Historic Properties No. 5EP.646 | |
 | |
   | |
| Location | 21 W. Kiowa Street, Colorado Springs, Colorado |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 38°50′8.37″N 104°49′34.92″W / 38.8356583°N 104.8263667°W |
| Built | 1905 |
| Architect | Calvin Kiessling |
| Architectural style | Neo-classical |
| NRHP reference No. | 96001238 |
| CSRHP No. | 5EP.646 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | November 1, 1996[2] |
| Designated CSRHP | November 1, 1996[1] |
History
editAndrew Carnegie donated $60,000 for the construction of the library. One side of the library is semi-circular with a continuous ornamental balcony and a view of Pikes Peak and the Rocky Mountains. The building is made of granite, gray Tennessee marble, Breche Violette marble, sandstone and Roman-shaped gray hydraulic press brick. Inside the library the building had reading rooms, space for 17,000 volumes, an auditorium, and a reference room. Calvin Kiessling, the architect for the building, said "the building lends itself to all the requirements of modern library purposes and affords its patrons the unrestricted enjoyment of the beauties of the distant mountains and immediate surrounding."[4]
The Penrose Library was built in 1967 as an addition to the library. The Carnegie Library has a "cherished" collection on the city's history.[5]
Collections
editThe Carnegie building holds genealogy and regional history collections, which include books, archives, manuscripts, photographs, periodical and maps. Besides print materials, the library has access to genealogical databases and is a FamilySearch affiliate library.[6]
Demonstration garden
editA demonstration garden was opened in 2007 alongside the library. It was created by a master gardener, library staff, and volunteers, to provide a retreat within the city and a place to learn about plants selected for the local climate. The garden area has sculptures made by local artists, benches, stone walls, and a stage.[7]
See also
editReferences
edit
- ^ a b El Paso County - Colorado State Register of Historic Properties Archived 2013-12-24 at the Wayback Machine. History Colorado. June 3, 2013.
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
- ^ "National Register of Historic Places listing of El Paso County, Colorado". American Dreams, Inc. Archived from the original on June 1, 2013. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
- ^ Theodore Wesley Koch (1917). A book of Carnegie libraries. The H. W. Wilson Company. pp. 190–3. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
- ^ Guide to Colorado Historic Places: Sites Supported by the Colorado Historical Society's State Historical Fund. Big Earth Publishing. 2006. pp. 68–69. ISBN 978-1-56579-493-1. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
- ^ "Regional History and Genealogy Home". Pikes Peak Library District. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
- ^ Leslie Holzmann, Certified Colorado Gardener. "Pikes Peak Area Public Gardens". Pikes Peak Area Gardening Help. Retrieved June 3, 2013.