Ballard Carnegie Library
historic place
The Ballard Carnegie Library is a historic place in Seattle, King County, Washington. It was erected in 1904. Philanthropist Andrew Carnegie provided a $15,000 grant for its construction. This building served as the free public library for the independent city of Ballard. After Ballard's annexation by Seattle in 1907, it became the first major branch of the Seattle Public Library system. It also functioned as a community center, offering English classes for Scandinavian immigrants. The Classical Revival style structure was designed by architect Henderson Ryan. The library remained in use until 1963. In 1979, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This site illustrates the importance of public libraries in early 20th-century community development.