Redwood Library and Athenaeum

Redwood Library
Redwood Library
	The building's façade
Location	Newport, Rhode Island
Type	Subscription library
Established	1747
Access and use
Circulation	15,204 (2018)
Other information
Director	Benedict Leca, Ph.D. FRSA
Website	www.redwoodlibrary.org
	Redwood Library
	U.S. National Register of Historic Places
	U.S. National Historic Landmark
	U.S. National Historic Landmark District; Contributing Property
Location	50 Bellevue Avenue, Newport, Rhode Island
Coordinates	41°29′12″N 71°18′30″W / 41.486544°N 71.308296°W
Built	1748-1750
Architect	Peter Harrison
Architectural style	Georgian-Palladian
Part of	Newport Historic District (ID68000001)
NRHP reference No.	66000015
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	October 15, 1966
Designated NHL	October 9, 1960
Designated NHLDCP	November 24, 1968

The Redwood Library and Athenaeum is a subscription library, museum, rare book repository and research center founded in 1747, and located at 50 Bellevue Avenue in Newport, Rhode Island. The building, designed by Peter Harrison and completed in March 1750, was the first purposely built library in the United States, and the oldest neo-Classical building in the country. It has been in continuous use since its opening.^[5]^[6]

The building is part of the Kay Street–Catherine Street–Old Beach Road Historic District, and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1960.

^ "Redwood Library and Athenaeum Annual Report 2017-2018 Annual Report". Redwood Library and Athenaeum. 2018. p. 6. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
^ "Redwood Library and Athenaeum Annual Report 2017-2018 Annual Report". Redwood Library and Athenaeum. 2018. p. 16. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
^ "Redwood Library". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on October 11, 2012. Retrieved June 29, 2008.
^ Interpretive sign on site
^ Davis, Paul (March 12, 2006). "Unrighteous Traffick-Rhode Island and the Slave Trade-First of Six Parts-Abraham Redwood, Antigua and the West Indies Trade". Providence Journal. p. A.11.

[AnnualReport2018pg6-1] "Redwood Library and Athenaeum Annual Report 2017-2018 Annual Report". Redwood Library and Athenaeum. 2018. p. 6. Retrieved June 25, 2020.

[AnnualReport2018pg16-2] "Redwood Library and Athenaeum Annual Report 2017-2018 Annual Report". Redwood Library and Athenaeum. 2018. p. 16. Retrieved June 25, 2020.

[nris-3] "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.

[nhlsum-4] "Redwood Library". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on October 11, 2012. Retrieved June 29, 2008.

[5] Interpretive sign on site

[6] Davis, Paul (March 12, 2006). "Unrighteous Traffick-Rhode Island and the Slave Trade-First of Six Parts-Abraham Redwood, Antigua and the West Indies Trade". Providence Journal. p. A.11.

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