Peavey Memorial Library
🏢 Eastport Public Library Association · Eastport, Maine
Peavey Memorial Library
The Peavey Memorial Library anchors the corner of Water and Key Streets in Eastport — the easternmost city in the United States — in a Richardsonian Romanesque building erected in 1891 by the grain magnate Frank Peavey as a tribute to his late father and a gift to the community he grew up in.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–5pm |
| Tuesday | 10am–5pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–5pm |
| Thursday | 10am–5pm |
| Friday | 10am–5pm |
| Saturday | 10am–3pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 26 Water Street, Eastport, ME 04631
Phone: (207) 853-4021
Website: peaveylibrary.org
Plus Code: 87PMW237+FW (Eastport, ME)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Peavey Memorial Library
The Peavey Memorial Library was founded in 1891 when Minneapolis grain executive Frank Hutchinson Peavey donated $10,000 to build a public library in Eastport in honor of his father, Albert Daniel Peavey, who had died there when Frank was only nine years old. The building was designed by the Boston firm Rotch & Tilden in the Richardsonian Romanesque style, featuring heavy masonry walls, a broad semi-circular entry arch, conical roof elements and deeply recessed windows — a design meant to convey, in the words of one architectural historian, 'durability, permanence, unfettered access, inclusion and fortress-like protection.' Eastport, on Moose Island in Washington County and the easternmost incorporated city in the United States, receives the first sunrise on the East Coast each morning, giving the library a singular sense of place. The library is operated by the Eastport Public Library Association, a community-supported non-profit, and hosts free summer concerts in the historic bandstand at Library Park — a tradition that traces its roots to President Taft's 1910 visit — as well as an active summer reading program. In 2018 a conditions assessment revealed urgent deterioration to the slate roof and brick facade, prompting a capital campaign and ongoing restoration work to preserve the 130-year-old landmark.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded 1891 with a $10,000 gift from grain magnate Frank Peavey in memory of his father Albert — among the oldest library buildings in Washington County
- Designed by Boston's Rotch & Tilden firm in the Richardsonian Romanesque style, with heavy masonry, a broad entry arch and conical roof elements
- Eastport is the easternmost incorporated city in the United States, so Peavey Library is the first public library in the country to greet each day's sunrise
- Free summer concert series at Library Park's historic bandstand, a community tradition dating to President Taft's 1910 visit
- Active ongoing restoration effort to preserve the 130-year-old landmark facade and slate roof
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Peavey cardholders can borrow eBooks and audiobooks free through the library's digital collection:
📚 Services
- Free public Wi-Fi throughout the building
- Video conferencing hub available to the public
- Interlibrary loan — access collections statewide and beyond
- CloudLibrary eBooks & audiobooks for cardholders
- Community meeting and event space
- Library Park bandstand (summer concerts)
🎸 Programs
- Annual Summer Reading Program for children and teens
- Music at Library Park — free live concerts in the historic bandstand (summer season)
- Community events and author programs throughout the year
- Friends of the Library fundraising activities
📍 Nearby Libraries in Downeast Maine
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who built the Peavey Memorial Library and why?
The library was built in 1891 with a $10,000 gift from Minneapolis grain executive Frank Hutchinson Peavey, who grew up in Eastport. He donated the funds to build a public library in honor of his father, Albert Daniel Peavey, who had died in Eastport when Frank was nine years old. The City of Eastport accepted the gift and provided the book collection.
What architectural style is the Peavey Memorial Library building?
The library is built in the Richardsonian Romanesque style, designed by the Boston firm Rotch & Tilden. Its hallmarks include heavy masonry walls, deeply recessed arched windows, conical roof elements and a broad semi-circular entry arch — features chosen to convey permanence and welcoming openness.
What is the summer concert series at Peavey Library?
Since 2018 the library has hosted 'Music at Library Park,' a series of free live concerts performed from the historic bandstand adjacent to the library. The bandstand itself has a longer history: President William Howard Taft visited the site in 1910. Today's series features singer-songwriters and local musicians every summer.
How do I borrow eBooks from Peavey Memorial Library?
Peavey cardholders can use CloudLibrary to borrow eBooks and audiobooks for free. Go to yourcloudlibrary.com or download the CloudLibrary app, select Maine, choose 'Eastport–Peavey Memorial Library,' and enter the last five digits of your library barcode. Note that standard Kindle and Paperwhite devices are not supported, but Kindle Fire tablets work fine.
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✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.