Central Public Library was designed by Cass Gilbert of New York City (who also designed the Woolworth Building in New York) and was opened to the public in 1912. Financed in part by a USD 500,000 grant from Andrew Carnegie, the USD 1.5 million Renaissance Revival building is one of the finest public buildings in St. Louis. It is built of Maine granite and approached by a monumental staircase on the Olive Street side; the jewel of the building is probably the two storey central hall, which is covered by a lavishly decorated, ceiling. Numerous ceilings in other rooms are based on models from Renaissance Florence.
Website: slpl.org
Phone: (314) 241-2288
Cross Streets: Between N 14th St and N 13th St
Closed now
- Fri 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
1301 Olive St Saint Louis, MO 63103-2325 ·584.21 mi
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Amenities
- Family friendly
Reviews
tripadvisor
This is a very grand old building in the style of classic big city libraries. It was nice to see that it is being well-maintained and we loved the interior design. A true seat of learning for all.
MoreEvery time I visit, the homeless there are a great help in finding the right books. Some no more than the people who work there. Plus seeing them use this free resource is awesome. Plus theyre really good at chess.
MoreFree tours Monday 11 am and 1230 pmSaturday 11am, noon, and 1 pmSpecial collections tour every 3rd Thursday of each month
MoreThis library takes up a whole city block and is worth stopping in while walking around St. Louis. The library has some great architecture inside and outside the building.
MoreThis is a beautiful Carnegie library built in 1912 and renovated in 2012. It is full of amazing woodwork, ceilings, leaded and stained glass windows, chandeliers, and wooden library shelving. It is definitely worth touring even if you don't need to use the library.
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