Rosenberg Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Rosenberg Library
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Rosenberg Library in 2016
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| Location | 2310 Sealy St., Galveston, Texas |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1902 |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Second Renaissance Revival |
| MPS | Central Business District MRACentral Business District MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 84001722 |
| Added to NRHP | August 14, 1984 |
The Rosenberg Library is a special place in Galveston, Texas. It's located at 2310 Sealy Street. This library is the oldest one in Texas that has been open non-stop since it started. It's also the main library for the whole Galveston County Library System. The person in charge of the Rosenberg Library is also the librarian for Galveston County.
Contents
About the Rosenberg Library
The Rosenberg Library is more than just a place to borrow books. It's a historic building with a rich past. It helps people learn and explore the history of Galveston and Texas.
Building Design
The library building stands on a strong concrete base. Its walls are made from light-colored bricks. These bricks came all the way from St. Louis, Missouri. The walls also have fancy clay decorations called architectural terracotta.
Look up at the top of the building's brick columns. You'll see large panels with names carved into them. These are the names of thirteen famous writers. They include Homer, Virgil, Dante, Shakespeare, and Milton. Other names are Hugo, Goethe, Schiller, Irving, Bryant, Emerson, and Longfellow. The roof of the building is covered with green, shiny tiles.
A Look Back in Time
The library was named after Henry Rosenberg. He was a kind person who left money in his will to start a library. This was a gift to the people of Galveston.
Early Days and Challenges
The library was planned around 1900. But a huge storm, the 1900 Galveston Hurricane, hit the city that year. This terrible event delayed the building plans. The next year, a contest was held to design the library. A company called Eames & Young won the competition.
The Rosenberg Library officially opened in 1900. The beautiful building was finished a few years later. In 1905, it took in all the books from another library that had closed. This made the Rosenberg Library's collection even bigger.
Separate Libraries
For many years, some public places in the southern United States were separated. This meant that different groups of people used different facilities. The Rosenberg Library also had a separate branch for African Americans. This branch was built in 1905. It was located in the western part of Central High School. Central High was the high school for African American students in Galveston.
Growing Bigger
The Rosenberg Library has grown over the years. In 1971, a new part was added called the Moody Memorial Wing. This addition made the library twice as big! It also changed the main entrance to the Sealy Avenue side. This new wing is home to the Galveston and Texas History Center. Later, in 1995, the Rosenberg Fountains were added outside the library.
Exploring History at the Center
The Galveston and Texas History Center is a special part of the library. It collects important items about Galveston and early Texas history. You can find many interesting things here.
They have old letters and documents from important people. These include papers from Samuel May Williams and Gail Borden. There are also records from old businesses and churches. These documents help us understand what life was like long ago.
The center also has a large collection of maps. Some maps are from the 16th century, which is over 400 years ago! They show Texas, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea. The museum part has historical objects from Galveston and early Texas. There are also paintings by local artists. Plus, they have a collection of rare books. Some of these books are very old, printed soon after printing was invented.
More to Explore
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Galveston County, Texas
- Education in Galveston, Texas
- History of the Jews in Galveston, Texas
Images for kids
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Central High School, which housed the separate branch of the Rosenberg Library.
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