Carnegie Free Library of Beaver Falls
Courtesy of Mvincec
20 September 2007
Website:
Telephone Number:
Location:
1301 7th Avenue, Beaver Falls, PA 15010
Hours:
Mondays through Thursdays 10 AM to 5 PM
Saturdays 10 AM to 4 PM
Description:
The Carnegie Free Library of Beaver Falls, a historic Carnegie library in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, was funded by Andrew Carnegie and designed by a prominent Pittsburgh architect, reshaping the typical Carnegie library's architectural image. Serving as Beaver County's first library, it remains operational, hosting various community organizations and recognized as a historic site.
Community leaders established a private library association in late 1883, initiating a lecture series to raise funds. Andrew Carnegie's donation spurred efforts to construct a new building, leading to the allocation of $50,000 for its construction. Designed by Frederick J. Osterling, the library opened in 1903, garnering attention for its grandeur and influencing future Carnegie library designs.
Initially, it served as both a library and a community center, integrating with the local school district and hosting various events. Architecturally, it features Neoclassical design with Palladian influences, notable for its extensive use of glass and grand entrance. Internally, it comprises three floors housing utility rooms, reading spaces, and historical archives.
Despite renovations over the years, including the conversion of the performance hall into reading space, the library's original architectural integrity has been largely preserved, leading to its listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. Today, it operates within a larger county library system, continuing its legacy as a vital cultural and educational hub.
