The Haskell Free Library and Opera House, a historic building straddling the U.S.-Canada border, has opened a new entrance on the Canadian side. This change follows the closure of the building's original main door on the U.S. side in October 2025 due to tightened US security regulations.
Background
For over a century, the building uniquely allowed visitors to move freely across the international boundary inside, with the border marked only by a strip of black tape on the floor.
"The international boundary was marked by a strip of black tape on the floor."
Changes to Access
The original main entrance, located in Derby Line, Vermont, USA, was closed in October 2025.
To maintain access for visitors from Canada, the library and opera house converted a former emergency exit into a new, dedicated entrance on the Canadian side. The construction of this new entrance was funded in part by community fundraising efforts.