Constructed in 1644 for the Reverend John Lothrop,
founder of Barnstable, the house which forms the original
part of the Library is the oldest Library building in the
United States. The building is also one of the oldest houses
remaining on Cape Cod. Since Reverend Lothrop used
the front room of the house for public worship, another
distinction of the Sturgis Library is that it is the oldest
structure still standing in America where religious services
were regularly held. This room, now called "The Lothrop
room," with its beamed ceiling and pumpkin-colored wide-board floors, retains the quintessential early character of authentic Cape Cod houses.

On February 25, 1782, William Sturgis, a direct descendant of Reverend Lothrop, was born in this house. To help support the family after the death of his father, William went to sea at the age of 15. In 1810, he founded Bryant and Sturgis, clipper ship owners engaged in the Northwest and China Trades. In
1863, after a successful career, Captain Sturgis willed his former home, plus $15,000 in bonds, for the establishment of a village Library in the village of Barnstable. The Library opened in 1867 with 1,300 volumes, many of which  came from Sturgis' private library.

Today, Sturgis Library is a national treasure. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Library is situated on the "Old King's Highway," recently named as "one of the ten most scenic byways in America." The Library Collections have grown to over 65,000 volumes, including the Special Collections. These include the Cape Cod History Collection of books, manuscripts, photographs and microfilm, the most important collection of its kind in the United States; the Kittredge Maritime Collection, one of the finest maritime
collections on the East Coast, notable for its concentration on Cape Cod sea captains and vessels; and the Lothrop Genealogy Collection, which is used by genealogists from all over the United States in examining their connections to Cape Cod History. 

Sturgis Library Mission Statement

Sturgis Library is an independent public library in the Town of Barnstable, whose professionally-trained staff provides all residents and visitors with access to general and specialized information, lends popular materials, supports lifelong learning beginning with preschoolers, offers electronic access to local, regional and remote networks, preserves and promotes the study of Barnstable County history, genealogy and maritime culture, and whose collections are housed in a unique, historically-significant building which acts as a community meeting place and a forum for civic and cultural events.

© 2003 Sturgis Library. All Rights Reserved.
 
 

by Virginia R. Foucault

My husband, my sister and her husband, and I were on our way from Evansville, IN to Montreal to visit family, and my sister and I decided we should drive out to Barnstable.  When sis and I presented the idea to our husbands, their reaction was, "You want to drive that far out of the way to look at a house?" Their attitudes changed the moment we pulled into the library parking lot and they saw this beautiful building over 350 years old! The staff at the library were so helpful and seemed delighted to have some of Rev. John's descendants visit them.  (Although the guest register soon proved that we were only a few among hundreds of Rev. John's descendants to visit there over the years.) 

Walking on the same plank floor as Rev. John, seeing his bible and how he had mended places in pages that were burned from his candle dripping, and marveling over all the information on him and his family in the library, was certainly worth the drive.  Our husbands agreed! Our only regret is that our time was limited.  Hopefully, one day we can visit again."