National Register of Historic Places

Chidsey Library

Sarasota, Sarasota County, Florida
Listed
May 3, 2011
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
11000241

About this property

The Chidsey Library or Chidsey Building is a historic building located in Sarasota, Florida, at 701 North Tamiami Trail. The building was home to the city's first public library from 1941 to 1976. The library's Mediterranean Revival design was done by Martin Studio of Architecture consisting of Thomas Reed Martin and Frank C. Martin. The Chidsey Library opened in May 1941 as the Sarasota's first public library building. The building was dedicated to John and Ida Chidsey in November 1941 as they made the building possible by helping pay for the majority of the cost for the project, which was approximately $25,000, equivalent to $410,000 in 2024. The library held approximately 18,000 books in 1946. In 1974, Sarasota County assumed responsibility for maintaining all public county libraries. The building was used as a library until 1976, when library operations moved to Selby Library at the former GWIZ building located at 1001 Boulevard of the Arts. Sarasota County Historical Resources moved into a portion of the Chidsey Library. The county's Historical Resources fully occupied the Chidsey Building in 1998, when library operations moved to its current location at Selby Public Library. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) on May 4, 2011. Media related to Chidsey Library at Wikimedia Commons

Location

701 N. Tamiami Trail
Sarasota, Sarasota County, Florida
27.34407, -82.54692

Categories

EDUCATIONARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Chidsey Library

This page lists Chidsey Library. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Chidsey Library report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Municipal Auditorium-Recreation Club
Industrial
0.1 mi
Sarasota County Chamber of Commerce Building
Industrial
0.2 mi
Sarasota Garden Center
Industrial
0.2 mi
Rosemary Cemetery
Listed
0.2 mi
El Vernona Apartments-Broadway Apartments
Industrial
0.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Chidsey Library listed on the National Register?

Chidsey Library was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 3, 2011.

What type of historic resource is Chidsey Library?

Chidsey Library is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Chidsey Library?

The period of significance for Chidsey Library is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Chidsey Library?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Chidsey Library will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Sarasota County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Sarasota County.

Explore SarasotaCounty ›

More historic places in Florida

Browse all historic places in Florida.

View Floridahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Florida history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Floridahistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Chidsey Library will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report