New Orleans Public Library — Main Branch on Loyola

The main branch of the New Orleans Public Library opened on Loyola Avenue in 1958, a crisp mid-century modern box by Curtis & Davis that stood in contrast to every other civic building in the city. The reading rooms are double-height, the windows are massive, and the collection is strong on Louisiana history and genealogy. It's the rare downtown New Orleans building that feels like it's from the century it was built in.