Seattle Public Library
historic place
The Seattle Public Library's origins date to 1868 with the formation of the Seattle Library Association. By 1890, it was established as an official city department in King County. The first public reading room opened in 1891 in Pioneer Square. After a fire in 1901 destroyed an early location, Andrew Carnegie provided funding for a new building. The first permanent Central Library, a Beaux-Arts design, opened on December 19, 1906. This structure served the community for decades. A second Central Library, featuring an International style, opened on March 26, 1960. It notably included the first escalator in an American library. The current 11-story Central Library, designed by Rem Koolhaas, opened on May 23, 2004. This historic place has continuously evolved to serve the city's changing needs.