Main Library
Why it's listed
Built in 1880 in Erie, Pennsylvania, the Main Library is a two-story rectangular building of light brown vitrified brick, with its first story sheathed in granite and white terra cotta used for the roof balustrade, Corinthian capitals and window trims. Henry Shenk built it to designs by Alden & Harlow of Pittsburgh. A one-story portico of Georgian marble with Ionic columns shelters the round-arched entrance. Inside, the entrance leads to a vestibule wainscoted in Verte Campan marble and a central rotunda with a mahogany second-floor gallery. Four large allegorical paintings representing Literature, Poetry, Science and Art decorate the cove. The building has served the city and county for roughly 98 years. Its architecture is regarded as a fine example of the late nineteenth-century library type, and the surviving building is considered a well-preserved work by its architects.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is one of the older and most architecturally distinctive public buildings in Erie, and a fine example of a late nineteenth-century library. It has served the city and county for about 98 years. It is also presented as a well-preserved example of the work of Alden & Harlow, an architectural firm important in western Pennsylvania.
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 79002225, listed April 26, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 3 S. Perry St., Erie |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | April 26, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002225 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Alden & Harlow (architect); Henry Shenk (builder) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition marked excellent |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.12895, -80.08366 (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 79002225.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6735999
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.