Library Park Historic District


  • Travel Genus: Sight
  • Sight Category: Historic District

Las Vegas Carnegie Library

The library was funded by a grant from Andrew Carnegie, and was one of the 1679 libraries constructed between 1886 and 1917 through Carnegie's program. Carnegie devoted some forty million dollars to his library project. Las Vegas's library was designed by the firm Rapp and Rapp, and built in 1903. The building itself recalls Monticello with its dome resting on an octagonal drum, recessed portico entry, arched windows with sandstone details, and brick masonry work. Its neoclassicism is in keeping with the buildings facing the library park and in its immediate neighborhood.

Las Vegas received $10000 from Carnegie; the building site - a square shaped park - had been set aside as early as 1882. Between 1887 and 1893 the Women's Christian Temperance Union, and from 1893 to 1903, the Reading Room Association pressed for the library. Las Vegas's library is the result of their efforts and Carnegie's largesse. It was one of just a few Carnegie libraries in the state of New Mexico, and one of just a few of the libraries funded by Carnegie nationwide that still serve as libraries today- HABS, May 2005

Significant Structures

Stephen D Davis Jr House; 506 Columbia; Jacobethan Revival; 1902-08; 2 1/2 stories; ashlar sandstone foundation; wood frame with wood shingles (1st and roof), stucco and 1/2 timbering (2nd, 3rd); moderate overhang with exposed rafters; 15/1, 9/1, 4/1, 1/1 double-hung windows, wood casement windows, wood surrounds; single door with side lights and transom; wood shingles on porch apron and piers; wooden brackets, pedimented lintel and 1/2 timbering in porch gable.

512 Columbia; Picturesque Cottage; ca. 1882; 1 story, gabled, L-shape; stucco over rubble foundation; clapboard with endboards; wood shingle roof; small overhangs with frieze boards; 2/2, 1/1 double-hung windows with wood surrounds and molding cornices; window bay with wooden brackets; 2 single doors to porch; lumberyard classic column.

Dr H J Mueller House; 524 Columbia; Italianate/Mansard; 2stories, irregular shape, gable and mansard roofs; stuccoed wood frame; cast iron cresting; moderate overhang with frieze boards and brackets; 1/1 double-hung window, some bracketed window hoods; chamfered porch posts with molding "bases" and "capitals", wooden brackets, pointed arches and stick railing; portion of porch filled in.

Immaculate Conception School; SE corner 6th and National; W.F.C.; 1921; O.W. Bartlett, architect; 2 story flat roofed T-shape; stuccoed concrete (?) foundation; brick walls; casement (?) windows in groups of 2 or 3 separated by columns, continuous stone sills, round heads (1st) or singly or paired with stone sills, round heads, projecting brick arches on projecting string course (2nd); stone dentil course; stepping parapet with stone cap, urns and belfry; deeply recessed entry marked by projecting stone pediment on entablature on stone columns.

Waring-Rosenthal House; 800 5th; Queen Anne; 1895-1898, porch remodeled 1902-08 by Edward Barker; 1 1/2 stories, irregular shape, gables; stone foundation; stuccoed wood frame walls; asphalt shingle roof; fishscale wood shingles, stickwork and sunburst applique in gables; 3/1, 1/1 double-hung windows with wood surrounds; fixed window with stained glass transom and bracketed hood; single door with transom; lumberyard classic porch columns.

Louis Fort House; 812 5th; Queen Anne; 1895-98; by John Hill; 2 stories, irregular shape, gables; ashlar sandstone foundation; clapboard with end and frieze boards (1st), fishscale wood shingles (2nd and gables); wood shingle roof; moderate overhang, large bargeboards; 12/1, 9/1, 1/1 double-hung windows with wood surrounds and stained glass transoms (1st floor bay) or molding cornices (2nd); single door with transom; lathe-turned porch railing, columns and spindle frieze, cut-out brackets; same details for shallow gable balcony on wooden brackets, and topped by gable stickwork; turn-of-the-century wrought iron fence.

Las Vegas Carnegie Library; center of Library Park; W.F.C./Neoclassical; 1903; by Rapp and Rapp; 1 story, rectangle with symmetrical wings, flat roof with dome on octagonal drum; random ashlar sandstone foundation/podium, basement windows; 1/1 double hung window, sandstone sills, arched transoms and keystones; double doors in deep recess with side lights, brick piers, molding cornice, and Roman window transom; two columns in antis topped by pressed metal entablature encircling building.

902 5th; Queen Anne; pre-1898; 1 story, T-shape, gables; stuccoed foundation; clapboard with endboards (with molding "capitals"); wood shingle roof; small enclosed overhang; fishscale shingles and bracketed "pediments" in gables; 1/1, 6/6 double-hung windows with wood surrounds, fixed round stained glass windows; single door with transom; stick porch railing, lathe-turned columns, spindle frieze.

University Methodist/Christian Science Church (City Recreation and Arts Center); NW corner 6th and Columbia; Romanesque Revival; 1921-30; 2 story, square, flat roof; concrete foundation; textured tan brick over wood frame; round headed stained glass windows, 6/6 double-hung window with projecting sills in recesses; doors in deep recess with three openings defined by brick pilasters topped by lighter brick string course; corbel brick cornice; brick parapet with concrete (?) cap.

Library Park, square block bounded by Washington, Sixth, Columbia and Fifth; 1879 platted, ca. 1903 side walks, ca. 1930 trees; symmetrical placement of cottonwoods and sidewalks (which encircle library, radiate to corners and encircle park) complement formal, 'classical styling of library building. - NRHP, 14 August 1985


Advertisement

Timeline

Y/M/D Person Association Description Composition Food Event
Y/M/D Person Association Description Composition Food Event
1882/00/00
1903/00/00 Rapp and Rapp Architect Carnegie Library built at 500 National Ave
1903/00/00 Carnegie Corporation Benefactor Carnegie Library built at 500 National Ave

Data »

Particulars for Library Park Historic District:
Area of Significance Architecture
Criteria Architecture-Engineering
Sight Category Historic District
Architectural Style Late Victorian
Historic Use Library
Level of Significance National
Architectural Style Neoclassical
Owner Private
Historic Use Single dwelling



US National Registry of Historic Places Data »

Accurate at time of registration: 12th March 1979

PLACE DETAILS
Registry Name: Library Park Historic District
Registry Address: Liberty Park and environs
Registry Number: 79001549
Resource Type: District
Theme Group: Las Vegas New Mexico MRA (AD)
Owner: Private, Local
Architect: Rapp and Rapp; et al.
Architectural Style: Classical revival, Mixed (more than 2 styles from different periods), Late victorian
Area in Acres: 14
Contributing Buildings: 21
Non-Contributing Buildings: 6
Contributing Structures: 1
Other Certification: Additional documentation
Certification: Listed in the National Register
CULTURAL DETAILS
Level of Significance: National
Area of Significance: Architecture
Applicable Criteria: Architecture-Engineering
Period of Significance: 1900-1924, 1875-1899
Significant Year: 1882
Historic Function: Education, Domestic
Historic Sub-Function: Single dwelling, Library
Current Function: Education, Domestic
Current Sub-Function: Library Single dwelling

Shopping on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Google Ad

Google Ad
?