Overview

The Linden Hills Library is one of the first libraries in the city, built to serve the Linden Hills neighborhood. 

• Location: 2900 43rd Street West 
• Neighborhood: Linden Hills 

Historic photo (1931)

Current photo (2006)

Architecture

• Architectural Style: Tudor Revival
• Architect: Vanderbilt and Bard

Use

• Historic use: Institutional
• Current use: Institutional

Construction

• Construction date: 1931
• Contractor: Pike and Cook

Significance

• Area(s) of significance: Social History; Education; Significant Individual 
• Period of significance: 1931-1996 
• Date of local designation: 1997
• Date of National Register designation: 2000
• Designation: Exterior

Historic profile

The Linden Hills Library is one of the first libraries in the city, built to serve the Linden Hills neighborhood. 

The Linden Hills Library first opened in 1911 on the first floor of the Lake Harriet Commercial Club. Then, the library moved into its own building in 1931. It was designed by local architecture firm Vanderbilt and Bard. Vanderbilt lived in the neighborhood at the time the library was built. The library is a one-story Tudor Revival style building. It has a symmetrical façade made out of red and brown bricks with colorful slate tiles on the steep gable roof. The primary entrance reads "Minneapolis Public Library" above the arched doorway. The building is largely the same as it was in 1931. The building was repointed and the roof and windows were restored in 1980-1981. 

Gratia Alta Countryman was head librarian when the Linden Hills Library was built. She developed 13 neighborhood branch libraries during her tenure from 1904 to 1936. Her ability to secure funding more than quadrupled the budget. Countryman was a founding member of the American Library Association. The Linden Hills Library is one of many small library branches that furthered educational and cultural services in the city.  

The Linden Hills Library is still open in southwest Minneapolis today. 

Photo credit

• 1931 photo: Norton and Peel, courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society 
• 2006 photo: Minneapolis Department of Community Planning and Economic Development

Work cited

• Garneth O. Peterson, "City of Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission Registration Form: Linden Hills Branch Library," December 1997
• Susan Granger and Kay Grossman, “National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Linden Hills Branch Library,” December 1998