Kingston City Library
Also known as: Carnegie Library
Why it's listed
Built in 1903/4 at 399 Broadway in Kingston, this brick library was funded by a $30,000 gift from Andrew Carnegie. Raymond F. Almirall of New York City designed it in the Neo-Classical style, using polished brown Norman brick on a bluestone foundation with limestone trim. A pedimented limestone portal with two Ionic columns marks the entry, and its frieze carries floral and book motifs. The Church Construction Company built it, with trustees requiring local labor. Samuel D. Coykendall offered the Broadway lot. The library opened on February 12, 1904, and served the city until 1974, when it passed to the Kingston school district and joined the high school campus. Partitions, sheetrock and replaced front doors altered the interior, and the building now houses custodial staff offices. It is valued as a local example of Carnegie philanthropy, Progressive Era educational reform and Neo-Classical civic design, and as one of Kingston's most visible architectural resources.
Significance in brief: It is a distinctive example of an early twentieth century Carnegie library and an outstanding local example of Neo-classical civic architecture. It reflects the Progressive Era belief in education and stands as a visual landmark in midtown Kingston.
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 95001404, listed December 7, 1995. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 399 Broadway, Kingston |
|---|---|
| County | Ulster County |
| Listed | December 7, 1995 |
| Reference number | 95001404 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1904 |
| Architect / builder | Raymond F. Almirall (architect); Church Construction Company (builder) |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and Early 20th Century Revivals / Neo-Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Education |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Now used as headquarters for the Kingston High School custodial staff; the interior was altered during an unsuccessful classroom conversion, later abandoned in the 1980s. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.92623, -73.99594 (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 95001404.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6413497
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.