Mary Willis Library – Washington, Georgia - Atlas Obscura
Places near me Random place

Mary Willis Library

Washington, Georgia

The first free library in Georgia features an original Tiffany stained glass window of Mary Willis. 

View all photos
There is an abundance of addition stained glass in the room heatherslutzky (Atlas Obscura User)
There is an abundance of addition stained glass in the room heatherslutzky (Atlas Obscura User)
Mary Willis Library. misslelia22 (Atlas Obscura User)
Tiffany memorial window of Mary Willis. misslelia22 (Atlas Obscura User)
97
238
Top Places in Georgia
(Stephens & Stephens)
Elvis Carden's Guitar House
Fayetteville, Georgia
Big Chicken
Marietta, Georgia
The Eerie Earthworms of Hawkinsville, Georgia
Hawkinsville, Georgia
 See All
This entry is a stub
Help improve Atlas Obscura by expanding Mary Willis Library with additional information or photos.

Constructed around 1888 out of red brick in the popular Victorian Queen Anne style, the Mary Willis Library was a gift given to the city of Washington, Georgia in memory of Dr. Francis T. Willis’s daughter Mary.

The library features ornate brickwork and a stately dome-capped tower. However, it’s the breathtaking Tiffany stained glass windows inside the library that set this otherwise humble building apart from others. 

The Tiffany windows were designed to commemorate Mary Willis and were crafted at the Tiffany Factory in New Haven, Connecticut. Also available to view inside is the personal collection of Dr. Willis, which includes rare books covering local history, lost authors, genealogy, and archives of various Washington city newspapers.

Among the array of historical artifacts and information, there is also a chest that is said to have held the famed “Confederate Gold.”

Know Before You Go

This is still an active library, and library manners should be utilized.

stained-glass windows libraries
Nearby
The Old Rock House
20.34 miles
Elberton Granite Museum
27.68 miles
9/11 Memorial Trail
32.58 miles
Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member.
Near This Place
The Rock House
Thomson, Georgia

The Old Rock House

Built in 1785, this residence is the oldest stone house in Georgia.
Elberton Granite Museum
Elberton, Georgia

Elberton Granite Museum

Home of Dutchy, an exhumed Confederate statue that was once torn down by an angry mob for looking stupid.
Athens, Georgia

9/11 Memorial Trail

Though it is far from the site of the attacks on September 11, 2001, this memorial trail commemorates the lives that were lost on that day.
Athens, Georgia

Carter-Coile Country Doctors Museum

This tiny museum honors the rural country doctor experience.
Related Places
Suzzallo Library Reading Room
Seattle, Washington

Suzzallo Library Reading Room

With its vaulted ceiling and gilded details, this University of Washington library would feel right at home inside an old palace.
'House of Aldus'
Troy, New York

'House of Aldus'

This stained glass window designed by Tiffany Studios is hidden behind the circulation desk of a public library.
Shetland Library
Lerwick, Scotland

Shetland Library

This public library still showcases its former life as a 19th-century church.
Québec City, Québec

Maison de la Littérature

A former church transformed into a public library.
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

From Around the Web