Watercolour of Jefferson Market Library
 
A New York Public Library is renown for its striking Venetian Gothic architecture, and its past use as a 19th-century courthouse.  It not only a community hub but also an architectural and historical treasure. Its unique features include a dramatic clock tower, stained glass, original courtroom spaces now repurposed for reading.
 
Interesting facts....
This branch of the New York Public Library stands out for its striking Venetian Gothic architecture, storied past as a 19th-century courthouse, and its acclaimed adaptive restoration, making it not only a community hub but also an architectural and historical treasure. Its unique features include a dramatic clock tower, stained glass, original courtroom spaces now repurposed for reading.
In the 1950s, the building was nearly torn down to make way for a police station. Community activism helped preserve it, turning it into the beloved library it is today.