NYPL Muhlenberg Branch Library

 library, landmark

3-story Neo-Classical library building completed in 1906. Designed by Carrère & Hastings with structural elements by the Guastavino Fireproof Tile Co., it is clad in limestone on the front facade, and brick on the exposed east elevation. The arched entrance doorway, located at the eastern side of the fa9ade, is treated in the same manner as the two first floor windows. The three openings are arched, with decorative keystones. Replacement painted steel double doors are set below a six-light transom, also non-historic. The first floor windows have arched, 12-light painted steel casement replacement sash. Four-sided bronze lanterns with foliated brackets flank the doorway. A bronze pineapple crowns each lantern and "New York Public Library" is etched into the glass panels. To the left of the entrance is a bronze plaque.

The ground floor is set apart from the upper floors by a molded stone cornice with a decorative circle-and-sheaf frieze broken by the keystones. Pedimented stone enframements surround the tall rectangular 2nd floor windows. The pediments are supported by foliated brackets with swags. There is a foliated-circle frieze below the pediments and shallow stone panels below the sash. A slightly projecting sill above the ground floor cornice runs the width of the facade. The shorter rectangular 3rd-floor windows have a simpler stone surround with bracketed sills and eared lintels.

A projecting stone cornice is composed of foliated modillions, a row of dentils, and a decorative frieze in a Greek fret pattern with a slim molded stone band below. Like the ground floor, the 3rd-floor windows pierce the cornice frieze. This gives the impression of a facade composed of four pilasters rising from the ground floor cornice to Greek-key capitals. The stone parapet above the cornice reinforces this design with slightly projecting panels at both ends. The parapet is incised in the center section with "THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY."

The library is named for William Augustus Muhlenberg, the first rector of Chelsea's Church of the Holy Communion. As rector, he donated many books to the Free Circulating Library, which later became part of the New York Public Library. It was built with funds from Andrew Carnegie.

www.nypl.org/locations/muhlenberg