| Main Library | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 42°07′45″N 80°05′01″W / 42.12913°N 80.08367°W | |
| Location | 27 South Park Row Erie, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1897 |
| Dissolved | 1996 |
| Branch of | Erie City and County Library |
Main Library | |
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| Location | 27 South Park Row Erie, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Built | 1897 |
| Architect | Alden & Harlow |
| Architectural style | Beaux-Arts, Second Renaissance |
| NRHP reference No. | 79002225[1] |
| Added to NRHP | April 26, 1979 |
The Main Library, also known as the Erie Public Library, combines elements of the Beaux Arts Classicism and Second Renaissance Revival styles of architecture. Both were commonly used at the end of the nineteenth century to convey the importance of public buildings. The building features arched openings, a prominent cornice, swag and garland decorations, and a roofline balustrade. It is clad in Pompeian red brick. The original facade is dominated by a marble portico, which was removed and stored by previous owners. It was reassembled and conserved as part of the renovation, recapturing the library's original grandeur.
The library rotunda is one of the most significant interior spaces in Erie and was meticulously restored as part of the renovation. Mahogany paneling and marble floors serve as a backdrop for a decorative paint scheme. Spectacular allegorical murals on each side of the coffered skylight refer to literature, art, science, and poetry. They were completed by Elmer Ellsworth Garnsey, who also completed murals in the New York Stock Exchange Building and the Library of Congress.[2]
- ^ "NPS Focus". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. Retrieved October 31, 2010.
- ^ General Services Administration page on the Erie Federal Courthouse and Post Office.