The Carnegie Historic Library
345 West Freemason Street
Norfolk, Virginia

Originally Designed and Financed by
Andrew Carnegie circa 1903

One of Andrew Carnegie's lifelong interests was the establishment of free public libraries to make available to everyone a means of self-education. There were only a few public libraries in the world when, in 1881, Carnegie began to promote his idea. Carnegie subsequently spent over $56 million to build 2,509 libraries throughout the English-speaking world.

In 1901, the board of the Norfolk Library Association applied to philanthropist Andrew Carnegie for a grant to build a public library and received the pledge. The children of William Selden donated the site for the library on West Freemason Street in memory of their father.

Built in 1903, and located in the heart of the Freemason Historical and Cultural Conservation District, the Norfolk Historic Library is said to be one of the last remaining Carnegie libraries in the United States. The building is constructed of stone and marble, and depicts a level of craftsmanship and grandeur seldom seen today. The district contains the last remaining concentration of such structures within downtown Norfolk.

This historic landmark was converted for office use during the 1970's and was recently renovated. Class A office space available for leasing.