St. Joseph Public Library - Downtown (Tour)

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The interior features a staircase of Tennessee marble with an oak balustrade and ornamental ironwork. Heavy oak woodwork is embellished with classical moldings. Pilasters and columns are spaced throughout the interior. The stained glass was designed and created by Paul Wolff of the St. Joseph Art Glass Company and installed in early December of 1906. The terrazzo flooring is original to the building. It is composed of stone set in a base, sealed, and polished to a lustrous finish.

2. Downtown St. Joseph Public Library

As a result of Missouri State Law permitting the St. Joseph School District to issue bonds on the vote of the citizens of St. Joseph, on March 31, 1900, a special election was held. 2,512 votes in favor, resulted in a building that the school district would share with the new free, public library. The building was designed by St. Joseph, Missouri’s foremost architect, Edmond Jacques Eckel. His schooling at the prestigious Ecole des Beaux-Arts school in Paris is reflected in the building’s architectural style

This Tour is a Virtual Museum or Site Tour.

St. Joseph Public Library - Downtown

Created by Jenna Sanders on April 24th 2019, 12:45:50 pm.

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Once called the Central Library, the Downtown Library is part of the St. Joseph Public Library system. Designed by architect Edmond J. Eckel, construction on the building began in 1900 and was completed in 1902. The interior of the building features stained glass work created in 1907 by artist Paul Wolff, which sits below its iconic copper dome. The interior of the building was restored very closely to its original state in 2004. Some of the restoration efforts included the terrazzo lobby floor which had been covered with carpet for over 50 years.

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St. Joseph Public Library - Downtown

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