Mary Willis Library

The Mary Willis Library ended up being a quiet Sunday‑morning stop for us, and even though the doors were locked, the exterior alone made it worth pausing. The red brick, the steep Queen Anne roofline, and those tall stained‑glass windows give the building the presence of a small civic cathedral, and the central Tiffany memorial window still manages to glow even when you're viewing it from outside. It's one of those places where the architecture does the talking, and you can feel the pride that went into building it. The historical marker fills in the story and makes the building even more meaningful. "This library was Georgia's first free (without a subscription fee) public library. Founded in 1888 by Dr. Francis T. Willis in memory of his daughter, it opened in 1889. Willis also created

They had a free concert last night at 7 pm ..Javonne Jones, an electric violinist.. It was great!! She was great musically, as well as interactive w the audience!! Thank you to the library!

Wonderful library especially in the older brick building section with the stained glass. Staff is helpful any there a books for all interests. Facility is managing the pandemic well with sensible requirements. Well worth a stop if you are doing a walking tour.

The Tiffany windows are a must see. And they also have a beautiful 100 year old Seth Thomas clock in the big room.

The Mary Willis Library in Washington, GA is an absolutely charming place staffed by such friendly people. I recently spent several days in Washington being sheltered by friends after having to evacuate the Georgia coast due to Hurricane Matthew. Having access to this library and books to read helped fill the anxious hours until I was able to return home. It was also delightful to tour the Mary Willis Library, which is the first free public library in the state of Georgia, built in the Queen Anne style in 1889. It even has stained glass windows. I enjoyed my visit very much.