If you ever find yourself in the southwestern reaches of the great state of Illinois, make a point to visit the small town of Anna. At first glance, this tiny community seems like many others in this part of the country, but it has the pride that comes with having an architectural gem in its midst. Situated near the center of town can be found its Walter Burley Griffin designed Stinson Memorial Library.
Built in 1914 of concrete and rough cut limestone, this monolithic structure was commissioned in honor of town war hero, Robert Burns Stinson, and is seen as a pivotal work in the history of modern architecture. You can read in depth about the history of the building and its significance at the library's website.
The PraireMod team had a chance to visit the library and take a few snapshots of the interior and exterior. The librarian was cheerful and charming, glowing with pride in showing us around the building. We highly recommend experiencing this important, yet relatively unknown building in person. It will move you to want to learn more about Mr. Griffin and his other contributions to the world of architecture.
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