a great day spent in detroit
exploring the main library
built by andrew carnegie
in the last year of the civil war
to bring knowledge to the people
1 of 21 remaining in detroit
not forgetting the children
where stories were told in front of the fire
and careful attention
was paid to every detail
a beautiful oasis created and restored
beating in the heart of the city.
—
“a city isn’t so unlike a person.
they both have the marks to show
they have many stories to tell.
they see many faces.
they tear things down and make new again.”
― rasmenia massoud
I didn't have my glasses on.... 
What an experience that is. Libraries are meditation chambers too.
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they absolutely are.
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Beautiful building!
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it is stunning to see up close
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…and many a wonderful back story as well.
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ah, so many –
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Yes a wonderful building, but I often wonder over Carnegie’s motivation. Prompted by existential guilt perhaps over his somewhat schizophrenic or at best myopic views of how little to pay people to work six days a week ten hours a day next to a furnace. He wrote: “Under the law of competition the employer of thousands is forced into the strictest economies, among which the rates paid to labour figure prominently and often there is friction between the employer and the employed, between capital and labour, between rich and poor. Human society loses homogeneity.” No sh**, Sherlock. And you could argue that his paternalistic authoritarianism contributed much to the Homestead Riots IMHO. I could go on about the hypocrisy of St Andrew, but at least we got a few libraries — though no books.
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This is an important piece of Detroit history, Beth, living and breathing so vibrantly still. Hooray for the library. ❤
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here’s to the books –
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I hope they can restore more of the city’s structures. Detroit was once so vibrant.
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It’s currently in a huge cycle of rebirth-so good
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This is an extraordinary library and such a wonderful gift from Andrew Carnegie. It is like a “mansion,” (my grandies favorite description) but really is a national treasure!
This was one of my very favorite examples of his architecture and creative forces! Thank you, Beth.
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It is wonderful
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Gosh, it seems so many places to see and yet here I “be!!” Busy day ahead, as usual! xo
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Enjoy your busy day )
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Love!
>
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💚
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❤
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Ah, the good old days when even wealthy robber barons knew to give back to the people.
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))
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I love, and appreciated, the old library we came across in Detroit. It was from another era (though I don’t think this one). And it was obvious people valued books and learning.
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yes, it’s obvious from the moment you step inside –
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Among other odd facts about me is that I am a qualified librarian who never worked in a library after he finished the course for one reason and another but they are always magical places to me. I am sure I would love to visit this one
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i could see you there –
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I’m always amazed at the detailed construction of libraries. To think at one time in this world people thought that the home for books & knowledge should be grand enough to weather centuries
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people understand the value and importance of them in a community
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