Capitol Hill Library

---

title: "Capitol Hill Library" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1972-establishments-in-oregon", "libraries-in-portland,-oregon", "library-buildings-completed-in-1972", "multnomah-county-library", "libraries-established-in-1972", "buildings-and-structures-in-southwest-portland,-oregon"] description: "Library in Portland, Oregon, U.S." topic_path: "general/1972-establishments-in-oregon" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitol_Hill_Library" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Library in Portland, Oregon, U.S. ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox building"]

Field	Value
name	Capitol Hill Library
image	Capitol Hill branch library.jpg
caption	Exterior view in 2013
map_type	Portland
owner	Multnomah County Library
location	West Portland Park
address	10723 S.W. Capitol Highway
location_town	Portland, Oregon
location_country	United States
coordinates
opened_date	December 6, 1972
renovation_date	February 16, 1999
floor_area	6060 ft2
architecture_firm	Allen, McMath and Hawkins
main_contractor	Hufford Construction Company
ren_architect	Thomas Hacker and Associates
ren_firm	Andersen Construction Company
website	Capitol Hill Library
::

| name = Capitol Hill Library | native_name = | native_name_lang = | former_names = | alternate_names = | status = | image = Capitol Hill branch library.jpg | image_alt = | image_size = | caption = Exterior view in 2013 | map_type = Portland | map_alt = | map_caption = | altitude = | building_type = | architectural_style = | structural_system = | cost = | ren_cost = | client = | owner = Multnomah County Library | current_tenants = | landlord = | location = West Portland Park | address = 10723 S.W. Capitol Highway | location_town = Portland, Oregon | location_country = United States | coordinates = | groundbreaking_date = | start_date = | completion_date = | opened_date = December 6, 1972 | inauguration_date = | renovation_date = February 16, 1999 | demolition_date = | destruction_date = | height = | architectural = | tip = | antenna_spire = | roof = | top_floor = | observatory = | other_dimensions = | floor_count = | floor_area = 6060 ft2 | seating_type = | seating_capacity = | elevator_count = | architect = | architecture_firm = Allen, McMath and Hawkins | structural_engineer = | services_engineer = | civil_engineer = | other_designers = | quantity_surveyor = | main_contractor = Hufford Construction Company | awards = | designations = | ren_architect = Thomas Hacker and Associates | ren_firm = Andersen Construction Company | ren_str_engineer = | ren_serv_engineer = | ren_civ_engineer = | ren_oth_designers = | ren_qty_surveyor = | ren_awards = | parking = | website = Capitol Hill Library | embedded = | references = The Capitol Hill Library is a branch of the Multnomah County Library, in the West Portland Park neighborhood of Portland in the U.S. state of Oregon. The branch offers the Multnomah County Library catalog of two million books, periodicals and other materials.

History

Until the 1960s, Portland's system of public libraries relied heavily on the downtown Central Library supplemented by small collections at many locations in outlying neighborhoods . As population densities changed, the library board responded by establishing larger collections in fewer locations and creating new branch libraries. From 1967 through 1969, the board worked to establish a new branch near Capitol Hill in the West Portland Park neighborhood. The architectural plan was the same as that of the Holgate Library.

Although the library opened part-time for a month in early 1972, it did not open officially until December 5, 1972, aided by federal revenue sharing funds. Budget crises affected the library through the 1970s and early 1980s, and Capitol Hill sometimes operated on reduced hours and book budgets through 1984. In that year, voters approved a three-year serial levy (tax) to help fund the library system.

In 1996, Multnomah County voters passed a bond measure to renovate some branches and to upgrade technology across the system. Closed for renovation in mid-1998, Capitol Hill reopened on February 16, 1999. The architect on the original building was Allen, McMath and Hawkins, and the renovation architect was Thomas Hacker and Associates. Capitol Hill has a floor area of 6060 ft2 with a capacity of 20,000 volumes.

A community garden was added in 2017, and interior removations took place in 2023–2024.

References

References

1. "Capitol Hill Library". [[Multnomah County Library]].
2. (29 August 2012). "Capitol Hill Library History". Multnomah County Library.
3. Staff. (October 4, 2000). "Multnomah County Library's Holgate Branch to reopen". Daily Journal of Commerce.
4. Tims, Dana. (November 6, 2012). "Multnomah County Library Financing District Passes Easily". [[The Oregonian]].
5. "Capitol Hill Library history {{!}} Multnomah County Library".

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