From History to Architecture: Illinois’ Most Notable Libraries

Libraries have always been more than just places to read. They are unquestionably among the most exquisite and culturally significant structures in many American cityscapes, whether they are archives for our most valued cultural assets or opulent “palaces of learning” with some of the most breathtaking architecture you will ever see. The state of Illinois is a popular location for these opulent libraries.

Illinois has an abundance of libraries that are worth visiting for reasons other than the books, ranging from elaborate university libraries to public library branches with striking new designs. These seven Illinois treasures are among the most beautiful in the country.

Chicago Public Library Chinatown Branch

Thanks to Gilded Age billionaire Andrew Carnegie’s generous library-funding philanthropy, the United States is home to many impressive 19th-century libraries.

However, it is more uncommon to find a modern architectural masterpiece in a system of public libraries. But if you know where to look, you can find them. One such library is in Chinatown, Chicago.

The 2015-opened Chinatown Branch building’s Chinese inspiration is what makes it so distinctive. Feng Shui, a type of traditional Chinese geomancy, was used in its design, and it appropriately acts as a center for resources pertaining to Chinese culture and the Chinese-American community in Chicago.

Its nearly entirely glass exterior is equally impressive, and the rooftop provides some of the best views of the Chicago skyline anywhere.

After touring the exquisitely designed Ping Tom Memorial Park, you can stretch your legs if you’re nearby.

Newberry Library — Chicago, IL

Founded in 1887, the Newberry is a public research library with a focus on the humanities and is one of only two libraries on this list that isn’t connected to a university or public library system.

Since its founding, it has been regarded as one of the state’s most prestigious libraries due to its Romanesque Revival façade and invaluable collection of rare books.

However, don’t assume that because of its renown, the Newberry Library is inaccessible.

On the contrary, Chicagoans can use the resources of this reference library for both academic research and personal projects, as stipulated in the benefactor Walter L. Newberry’s will. It is especially well-liked by genealogical enthusiasts researching their family history because of its vast archive.

Chicago Public Library Blackstone Branch

The Blackstone Branch, which opened as the first Chicago Public Library in 1904, is also among the most aesthetically pleasing.

With intricate details ranging from stained-glass ceilings to a glass floor, its Neoclassical facade is modeled after the Erechtheion at the Acropolis in Athens. Enjoy library services like book clubs, language conversation groups, and even a game of chess in this remarkably impressive setting.

After enjoying some fresh air on the Lakefront Trail, the Blackstone Branch, which is situated in the Hyde Park neighborhood close to the Chicago River, is a great place to stop. Oakwood Beach, the ideal location to escape the summer heat, can be reached by heading north.

Northwestern University Library — Evanston, IL

There are many beautiful libraries on Northwestern University’s campus, but the brutalist University Library, built in 1970, is by far the most impressive.

The busiest library on Northwestern’s campus has a modern feel thanks to its imposing concrete exterior, which was designed by in-demand architect Walter S. Netsch and deviates from the typical opulent Neoclassical or Gothic Revival library.

It is also associated with the Charles Deering Library, a remarkably different but exquisite structure that functioned as the university’s library center prior to the opening of the University Library.

The Block Museum of Art may be worth seeing while you’re on the Northwestern University campus. For a respite from the never-ending bustle of the student body, also visit the picturesque, remote Shakespeare Garden.

Poetry Foundation Library — Chicago, IL

The nonprofit Poetry Foundation’s headquarters are appropriately located in the center of one of Chicago’s busiest neighborhoods—an open, airy, green, and welcoming space.

It has a large collection of poetry, exhibits, and performance spaces in an effort to give the community a place to interact with poetry and a permanent home for the organization’s Poetry magazine.

The most striking aspect of the building designed by John Ronan Architects is its simplicity, which is achieved through the use of large windows, basic materials, and little ornamentation.

What if all that refined elegance becomes too much? For a messy, delicious Chicago deep-dish pie, there’s no better place than the famous local location of Giordano’s Pizza.

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