The Detroit Public Library (DPL) has something that other buildings lack, it has a soul. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the DPL at Cass and Woodward Avenues. Cass Gilbert, its renowned architect, was a champion that led fellow artists and master craftsmen to Detroit to create this Italian Renaissance Temple to Arts and Letters. Since opening in 1921, people have marveled at its beauty, artistry, character and workmanship. The Library goes beyond its 100 years of service; it tells the story of civic pride and bestows a feeling of elegance.
My first encounter with the DPL was on Thursday, January 3, 2013 and it left a monumental impression. I walked inside and stood in wonderment in the Entrance Hall thinking, “Am I in Detroit"? I thought I was in a palace in Europe. The expansive walls, massive pink Tennessee marble columns and an ornate ceiling adorned with richly colored rosettes, caissons, and ornamentation was overwhelmingly beautiful.
One of my favorite works is the original Pewabic fireplace located in what was the original Children's Library. Designed by Mary Chase Perry Stratton and Horace Caulkins in 1919, the fireplace depicts fairy tales and children's fables upon tiles painted with Pewabic Pottery's signature iridescent glaze.
The elegant painted windows in Adam Strohm Hall remind the viewer of pages from medieval manuscripts. Roman mythology, muses, classical iconography and quotes from scholars of the past are seen throughout the windows; they take your breath away.
The architecture is part of the art in its simplicity and its classical distinction. Climbing up the Double-Grand marble staircase one's vision is brought upward to gaze at the barrel vaulted painted ceiling. Historic murals cover the walls and frame the doorways each showcasing the fine arts. Each wall, niche, floor or ceiling in this grand edifice offers something special to explore.
The DPL is a place for everyone. It has been a faithful resource to the people of Detroit and its legacy of public service continues to this day. There is joy exploring the Library and understanding the many opportunities it has provided for building communities, building lives, and to inspire. Celebrate this Temple that was built with love and pride. This was the plan for the Detroit Public Library, a place for you.
Barbara Madgy Cohn created the art and architecture tour of the DPL in 2013. She is the co-author (with Patrice Merritt) of the book “The Detroit Public Library: An American Classic”. Cohn is on the Board of Directors of the Albert Kahn Legacy Foundation, Vice-President of the Jewish Historical Society of Michigan, and active docent at the Detroit Institute of Arts. She is currently finishing a Masters in Museum Studies at John Hopkins University.