Free Library of Philadelphia (Parkway Central)

The Free Library of Philadelphia's Parkway Central Library opened in 1927 and anchors the Benjamin Franklin Parkway cultural corridor. The building was designed by the firm of Horace Trumbauer with Julian Abele serving as chief designer; Abele is recognized as a pioneering African-American architect. The Beaux-Arts structure houses large research collections, public exhibition spaces, and a theater.