Multnomah County Central Library

The Multnomah County Central Library stands out with its heavy, rusticated stonework and the long rows of arched windows stretching across the downtown block. Opened in nineteen thirteen, the building was designed by A. E. Doyle, who insisted on placing the main entrance at the corner rather than the center. During the construction, librarians worried that his layout would cause massive bottlenecks in the book stacks, but the design held, creating a quiet, light-filled space that still serves thousands of readers every day.