Overview

The Old Walker Library is one of the first libraries in the city, built to serve the Uptown neighborhood. 

• Location: 2901 Hennepin Avenue 
• Neighborhood: Lowry Hill East

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Historic profile

The Old Walker Library is one of the first libraries in the city, built to serve the Lowry Hill East neighborhood. It was built in 1910 in the Beaux Arts style by local architect Jerome Paul Jackson. Jackson also designed the East Lake and Seven Corners branch libraries in Minneapolis.  

This neighborhood was already busy with commercial and residential uses at the time. The prominent corner lot at Hennepin and Lake was donated by Thomas Barlow Walker. He was president of the Library Board from 1885-1928. The building has a light brown brick façade with smooth limestone trim. The main entrance looks like a temple and is framed by two Ionic columns. The original staircase was altered into three separate staircases in 1984. Two staircases lead up to the main entrance, and one staircase descends to the lower level. It is one of many library branches that furthered educational and cultural services in the city. 

Gratia Alta Countryman was head librarian when the Old Walker Library was built. She developed 13 neighborhood branch libraries during her tenure from 1904 to 1936. She was the first female librarian in the country for a city this large. Her ability to secure funding more than quadrupled the library's budget. Countryman was a founding member of the American Library Association. 

The library closed in 1981 when a new, larger library was built across the street. It was converted into commercial space that still operates today.