| Blackstone Library | |
|---|---|
 Front of Blackstone Library | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Town or city | 4904 South Lake Park Avenue Chicago, Illinois |
| Country | United States |
| Named for | Timothy Beach Blackstone |
| Year(s) built | 1902–1904, addition in 1938–1939 |
| Construction started | 1902 |
| Completed | 1904 |
| Renovated | 1977–1980, 2004 |
| Cost | $250,000 (nearly $9 million today) |
| Technical details | |
| Material | Granite exterior, mahogany furnishings, bronze doors and lamps, marble mosaics, murals |
| Floor area | 13,794 square feet |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Solon S. Beman |
| Designations | Chicago Landmark (December 8, 2010) |
T. B. Blackstone Memorial Library is part of the Chicago Public Library (CPL) System and is named for library benefactor Timothy Blackstone. The building was designed by Chicago architect Solon S. Beman. It is now known as the Chicago Public Library – Blackstone Branch and commonly referred to as Blackstone Library, or Blackstone Branch and sometimes Blackstone for short. The Concord Granite building's two-year construction started in 1902, and it was dedicated on January 8, 1904.[1] Blackstone Library marks the beginning of the CPL Branch System as the first dedicated branch.[2] Blackstone is also the only branch of the 79-branch Chicago Public Library branch system that was constructed using private funding (the system also includes a central library and three regional libraries).[1] The Blackstone Library is designated as a Chicago Landmark.[3]
The building is located in Chicago's Kenwood community area in Cook County, Illinois, United States and serves the Hyde Park, Kenwood, and Oakland community areas. The branch celebrated its 100th anniversary of service in 2004.[4] Today, the library has bronze and mahogany furnishings and has themed paintings on the rotunda ceiling. The library is equipped with custom-designed furniture and makes public Wi-Fi access available to its patrons.
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
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- ^ "Chicago Landmarks – Landmark Details". webapps1.chicago.gov. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
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