Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Washington Seattle Suzzallo Library Reading Room

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.

Seattle, Washington

Added By
Maya
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Suzzallo Library Reading Room   Carl T. Bergstrom / CC BY 2.0
A winding staircase leads up to the Reading Room.   Sundae2Sundae
  Nicholas Boos / CC BY-SA 2.0
Feel free to grab a book from the shelves, but don’t take it with you!   "Suzzallo Reading Room Bookshelves" by whitenk is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
  mocchiatto / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Suzzallo Library is a University of Washington fixture that is full of collegiate charm, but it's the reading room on the west wing that makes it feel more suited to a European castle than a modern American library. The massive hall blows away visitors with its magical atmosphere that seems to be directly out of a movie. It's one of the most majestic views in all of Seattle, and while fully open to the public, is only really used by matriculates.  

Entering Suzzallo Reading Room, you feel instantly transported to another place and time. The hall is filled with light pouring in from stained glass windows that stretch 35 feet (10.7 meters) tall. Ornate oak bookcases house countless books, and long wooden tables shelter busy co-eds who write their papers under the light of Gothic chandeliers. 

If you're half-expecting to run into Harry Potter here, you're not alone. The room is commonly called the "Harry Potter Reading Room" by students and tourists alike because of its similarity to Hogwarts' Great Hall in the films. University lore has it that J.K. Rowling was inspired by the library when dreaming up Hogwarts, though there has not been evidence for this.  

It is no surprise that the library's namesake, Henry Suzzallo, believed that universities should be "cathedrals of learning." The library was built in 1926 in the collegiate gothic style, and it conjures up images of European palaces, old churches, and the halls of Oxford and Cambridge.  

When you enter the library, walk past the front desk and climb up the curving grand staircase to the second floor. While certain parts of the year see the library fill up with students, you are typically treated to an uncrowded and quiet environment. The massive hall tends to be eerily silent because of its no-talking rule. 

The rest of the library is worth checking out too, as it houses around 1.6 million books and a rare book collection. You can find plenty of other beautiful places to study by wandering around Suzzallo and Allen Libraries.

Related Tags

Repositories Of Knowledge Stained Glass Windows Universities Books Libraries

Know Before You Go

This is a silent reading room used by University of Washington students, and while visitors can come freely, signs posted outside the room dictate silence. Take photos, drink coffee, and read the books if you like, but keep talking to a minimum!

Public hours vary based on day and season. Hours tend to be 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Check the website for updated information based on the school schedule: Suzzallo and Allen Libraries

Parking is available in paid lots on campus or street parking near campus. 

Community Contributors

Added By

mleshikar2017

Edited By

mocchiatto, Michelle Cassidy, stephanielaitala

  • mocchiatto
  • Michelle Cassidy
  • stephanielaitala

Published

August 26, 2022

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Suzzallo Library Reading Room
4000 15th Ave NE
Seattle, Washington, 98195
United States
47.660815, -122.306575
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Harry Partch's Musical Instruments

Seattle, Washington

miles away

Off the Rez Cafe

Seattle, Washington

miles away

Burke Museum Ichthyology Collection

Seattle, Washington

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Seattle

Seattle

Washington

Places 131
Stories 18

Nearby Places

Harry Partch's Musical Instruments

Seattle, Washington

miles away

Off the Rez Cafe

Seattle, Washington

miles away

Burke Museum Ichthyology Collection

Seattle, Washington

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Seattle

Seattle

Washington

Places 131
Stories 18

Related Places

  • View into the reading room.

    Austin, Texas

    The Harry Ransom Center

    The upstairs reading room is packed with millions of rare books, literary manuscripts, and historical treasures.

  • Jane Austen’s name is emblazoned at the top of the telephone box.

    Steventon, England

    Jane Austen's Telephone Box

    The world's smallest Austen museum is inside an unassuming phone booth.

  • Herndon Fortnightly Club

    Herndon, Virginia

    Herndon Fortnightly Club

    In 1889, a small group of women began meeting to discuss literature, art, and other topics. Their every-other-week salon grew into a lending library that still exists today.

  • The buzz on Broughton

    Savannah, Georgia

    Jen Library Bee

    You’ve heard of bookworms, but this small sculpture at a university library may be the world’s first bookbee.

  • Some of the buildings which form the Palace Green Library

    Durham, England

    Palace Green Library

    This library dates back to the late 17th century and was one of the first public lending libraries in England.

  • Inside the Biblioteca Palafoxiana.

    Puebla, Mexico

    Biblioteca Palafoxiana

    The first public library in the Americas has more than 45,000 books dating back to the 15th century.

  • The photography library

    Yerevan, Armenia

    Mirzoyan Library

    One man’s collection of photography books has transformed into a charming exhibition space.

  • The Matenadaran and statue of Mesrop Mashtots.

    Yerevan, Armenia

    The Matenadaran

    This medieval manuscript collection has some of the most obscure and ancient texts in the world.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.