20 of the most stunning libraries in the United States

The Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. is absolutely stunning both on the inside and the outside, which is part of the reason why it’s arguably the most famous library in America. It’s also the largest library in the world, housing over 32 million books. 

The Stephen A. Schwarzman Building of the New York Public Library is an iconic building on an iconic street, Fifth Avenue. It cost millions to construct, even in 1900s money, and boasts the Rose Reading Room with 52-foot-tall ceilings. 

Slover Library is nestled in Norfolk, Virginia, and it’s renowned for its architecture and design. It’s an unmistakable building that’s been made even more gorgeous by recent structural additions. It’s even won an award for its design and construction. 

The Seattle Central Library is a feat of modern architecture. It was renovated in the late ‘90s and early ‘00s with celebrated architect Rem Koolhaas leading the design efforts, which cost nearly $200 million to complete. But the results were nothing short of spectacular. 

The Boston Central Library consists of two separate buildings, one of which contains Bates Hall, an enormous reading room. Bates Hall is marked by its signature tables and green lamps, making it decidedly Bostonian. 

The Fisher Fine Arts Library in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is a great library to visit if you value buildings that fit perfectly in their geographic area. The structure has a quintessentially East Coast feel and has retained its historical look since it was built in 1888.

The Mandel Public Library in West Palm Beach, Florida looks exactly how you might expect a library in Florida to look, but in the best way possible. It almost looks like a resort and is surrounded by palm trees. 

Kentucky’s Louisville Free Public Library Main Branch is gorgeous and palatial. Its outside is stunning, but its inside is absolutely spectacular, boasting beautiful staircases with ornate railings and striking white marble columns and floors. 

If you look up while in the Los Angeles Central Library, you might think you’re at the Sistine Chapel. The rotunda is home to remarkable paintings on the ceilings that date back to the 1920s. 

In Des Moines is the State Library of Iowa, and inside that is the Law Library, a dazzling room with thousands of books most people probably have no desire to even touch. But that’s okay because the room is beautiful. It’s even got a spiral staircase. 

Designers have to make law libraries beautiful; otherwise, no one would want to go inside them. No offense to lawyers, but law books aren’t exactly exciting. But places like the William W. Cook Legal Library in Ann Arbor, Michigan, which could’ve been a filming location for Harry Potter, sure give law libraries a better reputation. 

The St. Louis Public Library’s Central Library is a sight to behold. The architect responsible for the design, Cass Gilbert, also designed the Supreme Court Building in Washington, D.C. The library is one gorgeous building, inside and out. 

They say it’s what’s on the inside that counts, right? If that’s true, then the George Peabody Library in Baltimore, Maryland is certainly worth a lot. Its interior is so splendid that people get married there. And to be fair, the outside is breathtaking, too. 

The Geisel Library in San Diego, California might be the most unique library building in America. It’s made of concrete and features panels upon panels of glass windows, and it’s named for the famed author Theodor Seuss Geisel, otherwise known as Dr. Seuss.  

The Columbus Metropolitan Library in Ohio is so beautiful on the outside that you might not even want to go inside (though you should because the inside is also lovely). It’s got beautiful architecture and even more beautiful landscaping. 

The San Francisco Public Library isn’t a particularly well-publicized tourist attraction of the city, but it’s worth seeing. It’s a structure that’s not necessarily indicative of what the rest of the city looks like but is beautiful and fitting nonetheless. 

The Indianapolis Central Library in Indiana is so stunning that it’s included on the National Register of Historic Places. Its unique memorial outside features four stunning columns, making it a can’t-miss building. 

Out in New Haven, Connecticut, nestled in the Yale University campus, is the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library. It’s got an expectedly unique interior, and its exterior is truly a marvel.

Some of America’s best libraries sit on college campuses, including the Doe Library in Berkeley, California. This library is part of the UC Berkeley campus, and it’s quite a magnificent structure. Inside is a reading room that is exactly what you imagine when you picture collegiate students studying. 

The Suzzallo Library at the University of Washington in Seattle has a reading room that rivals any in the country. It’s absolutely massive and has a cathedral-esque look to it, thanks to its Gothic-style architecture. It’s something to see, and it’s got one of the best library names in existence.