Is it a mansion? Is it a castle? No, not anymore! These days, this castle-like former mansion is actually a library… a library straight out of a book lover’s dream. It’s the Louis Bennett Public Library in Weston, West Virginia.

Jonathan M. Bennett. Lewis County representative in the Virginia General Assembly before the Civil War. State auditor of Virginia before the Civil War. Prominent lawyer. Businessman. Father of Louis Bennett, Speaker of the House of Delegates. Grandfather of Louis Bennett, Jr., West Virginia's only WWI ace pilot. That's a lot to be known for!
Louis Bennett Public Library / Facebook
Do you know what else Johnathan M. Bennett did? He built a 17-room Victorian mansion in Weston, West Virginia in 1875, which he passed down to his son Louis. Upon the death of both Louis Bennett and Louis Bennett, Jr., wife and mother Sallie Maxwell Bennett donated this mansion to Lewis County in their honor.
Carol M. Highsmith / Library of Congress
Now, it houses the most beautiful library in West Virginia, a library that's straight out of a book lover's dream.
Randy Wilfong / Google Maps

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The High Victorian Italianate style. The 4.5-story entrance tower with a mansard roof. The balustraded tower balcony. The sunny, comfortable alcoves and window seats. The magnificent spiral stairs. The friendly library cat. The shelves and shelves of books upon books upon books, for all ages.
Louis Bennett Public Library / Facebook
Can you imagine calling all this grandeur your local library? The folks in Weston, West Virginia can!
Louis Bennett Public Library / Facebook
Noted on the National Register of Historic Places, the Jonathan M. Bennett House (a.k.a. the Louis Bennett Public Library) is also the location of a war memorial.
Louis Bennett Public Library / Facebook
And all you need to access this grand old mansion for yourself is your library card.
Louis Bennett Public Library / Facebook

Hurry by for a visit soon, and in the meantime, follow this uniquely beautiful West Virginia library on Facebook. Only in West Virginia can a library be mistaken for a castle! And it’s not the only massive castle in town, either.

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Louis Bennett Public Library, 148 Court Ave, Weston, WV 26452, USA