Surely, landmarks such as the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., and the New York Public Library are on any bibliophile’s must-see list, but the United States is also home to many other stately libraries well worth a visit. Their collections are housed in buildings that exhibit award-winning architecture and are often surrounded by stunning scenery. From a Gothic-style castle library to a log cabin library in South Dakota, here are eight of the coolest libraries in America that are bound to impress.
Tyrrell Historical Library – Beaumont, Texas
Originally built as a church in 1903, the Tyrrell Historical Library is a beloved landmark in the city of Beaumont, about 80 miles west of Houston. In 1923, oil tycoon “Captain W. C.” Tyrrell purchased the church and donated the building to the city to be used as a library, which opened in 1926. Exhibiting Richardsonian Romanesque and Victorian Gothic architecture styles, the stone castlelike structure is easily one of the most beautiful libraries in the Lone Star State. Outside, it features dramatic archways and stained glass windows, while inside are extensive archives of materials relating to the culture and history of southeast Texas.
State Law Library – Des Moines, Iowa
Iowa is renowned for producing many of America’s best journalists and fiction writers — offering residencies, workshops, and writing camps across the state — so it’s no surprise this Midwestern state is also home to a bookworm’s dream. The State Law Library in Des Moines, located on the second floor of the state Capitol building, features Victorian-style architecture with spiral staircases, elaborate chandeliers, and stacked shelves of approximately 100,000 books. With everything from fiction to Iowa-related legal documents, the library is a wonderful place to be inspired.
Mill Valley Library – Mill Valley, California
If snuggling up with a good book in a chair beneath towering redwoods sounds like an ideal way to spend an afternoon, you should head to the Mill Valley Public Library in Marin County in the San Francisco Bay Area. Built in 1966, the unique structure seems to blend into the surrounding forest. Inside, it features handcrafted walnut furniture and many original works of art. There’s also a deck overlooking a park with a creek, a wood-burning fireplace, and floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the surrounding woods.
Nashville Public Library – Nashville, Tennessee
A popular wedding venue in Music City, Nashville Public Library’s Main Library is located two blocks south of the Tennessee Capitol. Designed in a modern classical style, the opulent building is made of granite, marble, and quartz. It houses a grand staircase in the lobby, large windows with views of the state Capitol, historic murals, skylights, and lots of outdoor space for reading or working on a sunny day. The stately interior houses impressive collections spanning three floors, including works on civil rights and the women’s suffrage movement.
Arabian Library – Scottsdale, Arizona
Named for a breed of horse popular in the Middle East, Scottdale’s Arabian Library, opened in 2007, takes inspiration from the red-rock slot canyons of northern Arizona. Featuring weathered walls, an earthen stone roof, and landscaped grounds with native paloverde trees and hopbush shrubs, the modern library offers a tranquil environment for visitors. When the sun hits the library at dawn and dusk, the reddish-brown building is particularly riveting.
Hillary Rodham Clinton Children’s Library – Little Rock, Arkansas
The Hillary Rodham Clinton Children’s Library and Learning Center was built in 2013 to foster imagination in young ones. The former first lady’s namesake covers 30,000 square feet and 6 acres in downtown Little Rock, where the Clintons once lived. Home to a greenhouse, vegetable garden, arboretum, and kitchen for learning about the culinary arts, the space is much more than a place to read — it’s a place for kids to learn more about their environment and experience the great outdoors.
Hot Springs Public Library – Hot Springs, South Dakota
The log cabinlike exterior isn’t what you’d typically expect of a library building, but Hot Springs Public Library fits right into its surroundings in the Black Hills of South Dakota. With stone fireplaces and large windows that peer out onto the surrounding scenery, the building is a cozy retreat for bookworms and those in search of much-needed peace and quiet. When the sun comes out, readers can also enjoy the outdoor patio.
Slover Library – Norfolk, Virginia
Blending modern and traditional architecture styles, the Slover Library in Norfolk represents the multiple uses and characteristics of libraries today, as places for historic preservation and portals for cutting-edge technology used to access information. As one of the most technologically advanced libraries in America, the structure was designed with sustainability in mind, earning LEED silver certification. With seven floors of computer labs, an art studio, lounge spaces, a waffle shop, and shelves of books, Slover really is more than a library — it’s the city’s ideal hangout spot.
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