History Open Book Monograph: This is the story of Open Book's origins as told from the perspective of those most closely involved. It was written by Dr. Marg Walker in 2004 using her special skills in narrative research and organizational evaluation.

Open Book, which opened in May 2000, is the first facility in the nation devoted to the literary arts. A nonprofit organization founded by the Loft Literary Center, Milkweed Editions and the Minnesota Center for Book Arts, Open Book is a focal point for the flourishing creative writing, publishing, and printing arts activity in the Twin Cities, which is home to more such organizations than anywhere but New York City.

Open Book also is a pivotal link in the redevelopment of the St. Anthony Falls Historic District corridor between downtown Minneapolis and the University of Minnesota's West Bank.

The 52,000-square-foot center, designed by Meyer, Scherer, & Rockcastle, is a renovation of three contiguous turn-of-the-century brick buildings. Elements of the building's history have been retained, including patches of original wallpaper, fragments of now derelict stairs, and vintage windows and doors that have been reused throughout the building. Complementing the center's architectural setting are many original works by Minnesota artists celebrating the book.

A unique central staircase forms a vertical spine connecting Open Book organizations. Chief architect Garth Rockcastle calls the staircase ña metaphor joining the craft of bookmaking with literary contentƒdesigned like a book being taken apart, with letters falling from unfurled pages and a center binding with its stitches pulled apart.î