Brooklyn Public Library--Central Building
historic place
The Brooklyn Public Library's Central Building, located in Kings County, New York, is a significant historic place. Its history began in 1889 when the Brooklyn Park Commission was authorized to select a location for the library. Ground was broken in 1912 for an initial Beaux-Arts design by architect Raymond F. Almirall. However, construction faced delays due to economic difficulties, including World War I and the Great Depression. In 1935, architects Alfred Morton Githens and Francis Keally were commissioned to redesign the building in the Art Deco style. Construction resumed, and the Central Building officially opened to the public on February 1, 1941. The building's design evokes an open book, with its spine facing Grand Army Plaza. Its impressive entrance features a 50-foot-high portico and gilded figures. Inscriptions adorn the exterior, including the phrase, 'While men have wit to read and will to know, the door to learning is the open book,' found over the front entrance doors. This landmark continues to serve as a vital cultural and educational institution for Brooklyn.