Seattle Public Library
historic place
The Seattle Public Library, located in King County, began with a library association formed in 1868. The city officially established it as a department in 1890, opening its first public reading room in 1891. After a 1901 fire destroyed much of its collection, Andrew Carnegie donated $200,000 for rebuilding. This led to the first dedicated Central Library building, a Beaux-Arts design, opening on December 19, 1906, at 1000 Fourth Avenue. A second Central Library, in the International Style, opened on the same site on March 26, 1960. It notably featured the first escalator in an American library. The current 11-story Central Library, designed by Rem Koolhaas, opened on May 23, 2004. Funded by a 1998 bond measure, it continues Seattle's commitment to public knowledge.