Step Inside a 90-Year-Old Time Capsule in Nairobi's City Centre
Welcome to McMillan Memorial Library, Nairobi's oldest library, built in 1931. Nairobi has changed so much since - but this library hasn't.
The McMillan Memorial Library building (2023-05-07) by Bill MugandaBook Bunk
Welcome to McMillan Memorial Library
In 1931, Lady Lucy McMillan built McMillan Memorial Library in Nairobi's central business district in memory of her late husband, Sir William Northrup McMillan. Kenya was under British colonial rule at its establishment, and the library's access was limited to European settlers.
The library's foundation stone was laid on June 3rd 1929 and the library was officially opened on June 15th 1931, making it Kenya's second oldest library and Nairobi's oldest library.
Lion sculptures at the McMillan Memorial Library entrance (2015-09-09) by Paul MuneneBook Bunk
The Library's "Watchmen"
Two stone lions flank the library's entry and are its most striking feature. There are myths about these lions; some feature liquor and a former US president. These cats have been renamed severally over the past 90 years: Ju & Ja; Halal & Haram. Listen to their story here.
Original fixtures and skylight at McMillan Memorial Library (2023-05-07) by Bill MugandaBook Bunk
Frozen in Time
The McMillan Memorial Library features fifty-foot high ceilings, a skylight and vintage light fixtures, vintage furniture, statues and paintings, many of which are the original fittings from the library's opening in 1931.
View from inside McMillan Memorial Library (2015-09-09) by Paul MuneneBook Bunk
92 Years of Service and Counting
The McMillan Memorial Library has remained open to the public for the last 92 years. It has only been closed down once during the COVID-19 pandemic. The library, however, has seen better days.
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Virtual Tour: McMillan Memorial Library
Step inside the main hall of this neoclassical building, the only building in Kenya protected by its own Act of Parliament - the McMillan Memorial Library Act of 1938.
Inside McMillan Memorial Library's main hall (2015-09-09) by Paul MuneneBook Bunk
Still, the Library Persists
Despite porous ceilings, broken furniture, outdated electrical, and leaky plumbing, many Nairobi residents use the McMillan Library building daily. Some come for the vast newspaper collection or the space to study, while others escape Nairobi's bedlam.
Artefacts and sculptures inside the McMillan Memorial Library.
The Children's Section of the McMillan Memorial Library (2023-05-07) by Bill MugandaBook Bunk
Children's Section
While the intended use of this space is to act as a children's library, the damaged ceiling and outdated book collection make this problematic. The space is a venue for the various events at the library.
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Virtual Tour: The Children's Section
Take a virtual walk around the children’s section of the library. It is named after Mabel Rushford, a dear friend of Lady Lucy McMillan, who founded the McMillan Memorial Library.
Along the spiral staircase that takes users to the library's first floor, are striking portraits of soldiers from the King's African Rifles. This was a British batallion made up of East African natives.
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Virtual Tour: Explore the Library's First Floor
Take a closer look at King's African Rifles portraits on your way to the reference and Africana sections of the library.
McMillan Memorial Library Reference Room (2023-05-07) by Bill MugandaBook Bunk
The Reference Room
The Reference Room is on the first floor at the end of a grand spiral staircase. This room houses the library's rare collection and some of its most impressive furniture. On the walls are portraits from the past, including one of McMillan himself.
Art pieces hang in the reference room of the McMillan Memorial Library.
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Explore: The Reference Room
Take a virtual walk around the McMillan Memorial Library's reference section.
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One of a Kind View of Nairobi
Explore: The McMillan Memorial Library sits at the intersections of Banda and Wabera streets. This walkway on the first floor provides a unique view of Kenya's supreme court on the opposite end of Wabera St. It's pretty special.
View of Kenya's Supreme Court from McMillan's Memorial Library first floor balcony (2023-05-07) by Bill MugandaBook Bunk
Nairobi Scenery
Kenya's Supreme Court as seen from McMillan Memorial Library balcony.
McMillan Memorial Library Africana Room (2023-05-07) by Bill MugandaBook Bunk
Africana Room
The earliest work by African authors on these shelves are from the 1950s.
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Explore: The Africana Collection
Take a virtual walk around this room that houses the library's Africana collection, which was the most extensive Africana collection on the continent at one point in history.
Basement section of the McMillan Memorial Library (2023-05-07) by Bill MugandaBook Bunk
Basement
The library’s basement houses the administration offices. It also holds an impressive newspaper collection, dating back to 1906, and photographs from as early as the late 1800s.
Audio from the podcast 'A Palace for the People' by Book Bunk.
