Danville Public Library
Why it's listed
Danville's Carnegie-funded public library, at 307 North Vermilion Street, is a small one-story Beaux Arts building of brick and stone. Its west facade has a central stone entry pavilion flanked by brick wings under a bellcast hip roof. Paired columns frame the double-door entrance, and a parapet resembling a balustrade, with festooned panels and urns, rises above. Inside, twin curving staircases descend from the entrance to the basement, and the rooms feature decorated columns, archways, fireplaces and plaster moldings. A 1929 rear addition was designed to blend with the original. The library was designed by Chicago firm Patton & Miller, which produced at least 80 libraries in 16 states. It was listed as a good example of early twentieth-century library architecture and as one of few representative buildings of its period in Danville. It also connects the city to Andrew Carnegie's philanthropy and has housed the public library for most of the city's library history.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the library is an excellent small-scale example of Beaux Arts Classicism and one of few representative buildings of its era in Danville. It links Andrew Carnegie's philanthropy to the community and shows the work of Patton & Miller, a Chicago firm known for library design. It has also housed the public library for 73 of the city's 95 years of library service.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 78003064, listed November 30, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 307 N. Vermillion St., Danville |
|---|---|
| County | Vermilion County |
| Listed | November 30, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78003064 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1904 |
| Architect / builder | Patton & Miller |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts (Beaux Arts Classicism) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition except for minor repairs; occupied and in public use as a library. The rear was extended in 1929. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.12935, -87.62983 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 78003064.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5221381
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.