Ballard Carnegie Library Building

Not to be confused with the existing Ballard Branch of the Seattle Public Library located nearby, the Carnegie Library Building in Ballard was constructed in 1904 through a grant from the Carnegie Library Program. Designed in a Classical Revival style, the library was built to serve the community at a time when Ballard was still an unincorporated township, not yet part of Seattle. In recent years, the building has provided space for commercial tenants instead of books. In the early 2000s, the ground floor contained a restaurant called "Carnegie's," and the space currently contains the Australian café, Kangaroo & Kiwi. The Ballard Carnegie Library Building was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1979, and the exterior was designated a Seattle Historic Landmark in 2012.

Built with funds from the Scottish capitalist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, the Carnegie Free Public Library in Ballard served the community when Ballard was still an unincorporated township, prior to becoming part of the City of Seattle. The architect Henderson Ryan (1856 – 1927) was commissioned to design the building in a Neo-Classical style. It was completed in 1904 with construction from brick, terra cotta, and stone. During the library’s first few years, the cost of obtaining a library card was only five cents, and patrons were welcome to borrow books every day, except on Sundays.

In the early 1900s, Ballard's population was mostly comprised of Scandinavian immigrants. The library contained multi-purpose classrooms that were used for English language studies, naturalization classes, and first aid training. It also contained books, magazines, and other cultural resources that helped immigrants adjust to life in a new country. Located across the street from the old Fire Station 18, the library was an important community space for Ballard residents during the first half of the 20th century. When residents voted for the township of Ballard to be annexed by Seattle in 1907, the library officially became the Ballard Branch of the Seattle Public Library system, with funds provided by the city.

The Carnegie Library Building remained part of the public library system until 1967, when it was replaced by a newer library constructed one block away. At the time, the original building was converted to commercial use, with tenants that included an antique shop, a kilt maker, and other local businesses. In 1979, the building became a National Historic Landmark, with a listing on the National Register of Historic Places. The exterior was also designated a Seattle Landmark in 2012 by the city's Landmark Preservation Board. Although the interior had been partially altered in the early 21st century while being used as a commercial space for restaurants and cafés, the façade of the building appears much as it did when the library opened to the public in 1904.

"Asset Detail for Ballard Carnegie Library: Nomination Form, National Register of Historic Places", National Park Service. June 15th, 1979. Accessed July 13th, 2023. https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/AssetDetail/NRIS/79002535.

"Ballard Carnegie Free Public Library", Studio TPJ. Accessed July 13th, 2023. https://www.tjp.us/blog/ballard-carnegie-free-public-library/.

Caldbrick, John. "Ballard Branch Library No. 2, The Seattle Public Library", HistoryLink. April 2nd, 2015. Accessed July 13th, 2023. https://www.historylink.org/File/11038.

"City of Ballard, Ballard Public Library, Carnegie Branch, Ballard, WA (1903-1904)", University of Washington Libraries. Accessed July 13th, 2023. https://pcad.lib.washington.edu/building/6758/.

McIntyre, Leslie. Ballard Carnegie Library, Atlas Obscura. August 28th, 2012. Accessed July 13th, 2023. https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/ballard-carnegie-library.

Sturdivant, Peggy. "https://www.westsideseattle.com/ballard-news-tribune/2012/11/07/finally-ballard-carnegie-library-officially-landmark", Westside Seattle. November 7th, 2012. Accessed July 13th, 2023. https://www.westsideseattle.com/ballard-news-tribune/2012/11/07/finally-ballard-carnegie-library-officially-landmark.