🏢 Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Mount Washington Branch

Perched on Grandview Avenue beside Mount Washington's famous overlooks, this 1900 Carnegie branch may have the most spectacular reading-room view of any library in Pittsburgh — a $4 million renovation reopened it in 2021.

📖 About Mount Washington Branch

The Mt. Washington branch opened in 1900 and was designed by Alden & Harlow, the firm responsible for many of Pittsburgh's original Carnegie libraries. Its address, 315 Grandview Avenue, places it directly among the Mount Washington overlooks that draw visitors for their sweeping panoramas of downtown Pittsburgh and the confluence of the three rivers. The branch's patio famously shares that skyline view, a feature no other Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh location can match. The building was added to the City of Pittsburgh's historic designations in 2004 and to the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation's landmark list in 1989. In 2021 the branch reopened after a roughly $4 million renovation and expansion that modernized the interior while preserving its historic character. It is open Monday through Saturday and closed on Sundays.

⭐ What makes this branch special

• Built in 1900 by Alden & Harlow, one of the oldest branches in the Carnegie system
• Sits on Grandview Avenue among the Mount Washington overlooks, with a patio overlooking the downtown skyline
• Reopened in 2021 after an approximately $4 million renovation and expansion
• Holds City of Pittsburgh historic designation (2004) and Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation landmark status (1989)

📱 Free with a Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Card

Any Pennsylvania resident can get a CLP card free and unlock:

📍 More Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh branches

← All Pittsburgh libraries  ·  All Pennsylvania →

❓ Frequently Asked Questions