Huntington Free Library and Reading Room facts for kids

The library in 2017

The library in the 1920s

The Huntington Free Library is a special library in the Bronx, New York City. It's open to everyone, even though it's privately funded. You can't take books home from here, but you can read them inside!

The library's main reading room has many items from the early 1900s. It also has a special collection about the history of the Bronx, with old books and photos. Plus, you can find current newspapers, magazines, and helpful reference books.

How the Library Started

The Huntington Free Library officially opened in 1891. It was founded by Collis Potter Huntington, a very rich businessman. He owned a big railroad company called Southern Pacific Railroad. Collis Huntington had a summer home nearby in Throggs Neck, Bronx.

The idea for the library actually came from Peter C. Van Schaick. He was a local person who loved helping others. In his will, he left money to build a free reading room for the village of West Chester (which is now part of the Bronx).

The building was finished between 1882 and 1883. But the people in the town didn't want to pay to keep it running. So, the building stayed empty for a while. Collis Huntington heard about this problem. He decided to take over the project. He added more space to the building, and the library opened its doors in 1891.

The American Indian Collection

In 1930, the library became even more important. Collis's adopted son, Archer M. Huntington, was a big supporter of the Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation. He built an addition to the Huntington Free Library. This new part was made to hold the museum's large collection of books.

Later, in 1990, the museum became the National Museum of the American Indian, which is part of the Smithsonian Institution. However, the library and its book collection were not part of that new arrangement. In 2004, the American Indian book collection was moved to Cornell University.

The Library Building

The original red brick building was designed by Frederick C. Withers. He was a famous architect known for his Gothic Revival style. Other buildings he designed include the Jefferson Market Courthouse in Greenwich Village and Gallaudet College in Washington, D.C..

When Collis Huntington took over in 1890, a local architect named William Henderson added more to the building. He built the back part of the reading room and a two-story home above it. Even though it was bigger, the new part matched the old building perfectly.

Today, a green iron fence surrounds the library. Large chestnut trees provide shade. In 1994, the 1882-83 building, along with the 1890 addition, was named a New York City landmark.

Inside the Reading Room

When you walk into the Reading Room, you'll see a large engraving of Collis Potter Huntington. It was made in 1911 and honors him. Above the fireplace, there's an oil painting of Huntington. The citizens of West Chester gave it to the library in 1893.

A big map of Throggs Neck from the 1850s covers the fireplace. This map was drawn by a Bronx historian, John McNamara. The library still uses its original Visitors Register. The first signature in it is from 1891, even before the library officially opened! Famous people like Booker T. Washington signed it in 1892 and 1894.

Much of the furniture in the library is original. It fits the style from the early 1900s. There are three fireplaces, but they don't work anymore. You can still see the pipes for the original gas lighting in the small book room at the back. A wooden sculpture of the library sits on a bookshelf. It was carved by a police officer named John H. Jones in 1901. He carved it during his lunch breaks in the park across the street!

The large map case and the library's card catalog are still used today. Other cool things to see include old typewriters. One is a very early Woodstock electric model. There's also a 1917 Tiffany grandfather clock.

In July 2012, parts of the TV show Boardwalk Empire were filmed in the reading room.