Pierre Bottineau Library
🏢 Hennepin County Library · Minneapolis, Minnesota
Pierre Bottineau Library
Pierre Bottineau Library occupies two historic industrial buildings on the former Grain Belt brewery campus in Minneapolis's Northeast neighborhood — the 1893 Wagon Shed and 1913 Millwright Shop, joined in 2003 by a contemporary 12,000-square-foot addition that transformed a working brewery site into a vibrant community library. It is named for Pierre Bottineau (1817–1895), a celebrated Métis trapper and guide who settled in the area and helped shape early Minnesota.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 12pm–8pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–5pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–5pm |
| Thursday | 12pm–8pm |
| Friday | 9am–5pm |
| Saturday | 9am–5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 55 Broadway Street NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413
Phone: (612) 543-6850
Website: hclib.org
Plus Code: 86P8XPXJ+F2 (Minneapolis, MN)
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📖 About Pierre Bottineau Library
Pierre Bottineau Library is a Hennepin County Library branch serving the Northeast Minneapolis arts and immigrant communities from 55 Broadway Street NE. Its home is a pair of historic masonry buildings on the former Grain Belt brewery campus: the 1893 Wagon Shed and the 1913 Millwright Shop, which architects connected in 2003 with a state-of-the-art addition to create a 12,000-square-foot public library. The library is named for Pierre Bottineau (1817–1895), a prominent Métis trapper, trader, and frontiersman who settled in what is now Minneapolis and guided early settlers across the northern plains. Today the branch serves one of the most ethnically diverse neighborhoods in Minneapolis, offering multilingual collections and art exhibitions alongside standard Hennepin County Library programs and digital access.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Set in the 1893 Grain Belt Wagon Shed and 1913 Millwright Shop, unified in 2003 — one of Minneapolis's most distinctive library buildings
- Named for Pierre Bottineau (1817–1895), a noted Métis guide who settled in the area and helped open the Minnesota frontier
- 12,000-square-foot facility serving the diverse Northeast Minneapolis arts and immigrant community
- Multilingual collections reflecting the neighborhood's cultural diversity
- Extended evening hours Monday and Thursday until 8 p.m.
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Pierre Bottineau cardholders can access Minnesota's statewide databases and Hennepin County's digital collections at no cost:
📚 Services
- Art exhibitions in the historic Grain Belt building spaces
- Multilingual print and digital collections
- Public computers, printing, and free Wi-Fi
- Meeting room available for community and Friends group events
- Interlibrary loan through Hennepin County Library
🎸 Programs
- Community events and free library programming
- Children's and youth activities
- Summer learning programs
- Friends of Pierre Bottineau Library membership
📍 Nearby Libraries in Minneapolis
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Minneapolis · Browse all Minnesota libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Pierre Bottineau and why is this library named after him?
Pierre Bottineau (1817–1895) was a Métis (French-Ojibwe) trapper, trader, and frontiersman who settled in the Minneapolis area and became one of the most respected guides on the northern plains, leading settlers, soldiers, and survey parties across the Dakota and Minnesota territories. The Northeast Minneapolis library bears his name in recognition of his deep ties to the region and the community that grew around his settlement.
What makes the Pierre Bottineau Library building so distinctive?
The library occupies two historic industrial structures on the former Grain Belt brewery campus: the 1893 Wagon Shed and the 1913 Millwright Shop. In 2003 architects combined the two masonry buildings with a modern addition to create a 12,000-square-foot library, preserving the brewery-era character while meeting contemporary library needs. It is one of the few public libraries in Minneapolis set on a former brewery site.
Does Pierre Bottineau Library have meeting room space?
Yes. The branch has a meeting room available for community programs and Friends of the Library events. Contact the branch at (612) 543-6850 or visit hclib.org for room-booking information.
Which evenings does Pierre Bottineau Library stay open late?
The library is open until 8 p.m. on Monday and Thursday. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday hours run 9 a.m.–5 p.m., and the library is closed Sunday.
🖨 This library offers printing, copying & fax. See how library printing, copying, scanning and fax services work — costs and mobile printing — and find other libraries that offer them printing & fax by state.
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