The building, originally named the Broadway Free Library, holds profound historical and architectural significance in Cleveland’s narrative. Serving as the city’s inaugural Carnegie Library, construction commenced in 1904. When approached for a donation, Andrew Carnegie responded with a letter asserting, ‘I am certain that if the good people of Cleveland want a library, they can certainly afford to build it.’ Notably, nearly half of America’s millionaires resided in Cleveland during that era.

The construction cost amounted to approximately $58,000, a sum that echoes the remarkable foresight of Carnegie’s investment. Today, the estimated replacement cost soars into the millions. Charles Morris, handpicked by Carnegie for his inaugural project, designed the building to stand out, opting for a classical revival style with ten sides. This unique architectural choice resulted in one of the few Decagon buildings in America, a testament to the library’s enduring legacy.