Opera House is the only opera house in the world that is split into two by an international border. Its front door is in the U.S., the library's circulation desk and all the books are in Canada, while the reading room is internationally divided. According to the Canadian Immigration and Visa Information, after the September of 2001 terrorist attacks in the U.S., Americans have become stricter regarding the border where the arts facility sits. One can park in Canada and walk across the border to the front door, but U.S. officials watch to ensure you go back the same way you came. This security has also curtailed the once more frequent movements across the border.

Modern Day Prominence

Being constructed on two countries' borders has made the Haskell Free Libraryand Opera House an object of fascination that attracts tourists from around the world. This arts facility has been covered by media such as Life Magazine, Canadian Geographic, New York Times, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, and others. According to ONE New England Arts magazine, its library has over 20,000 books, some in French and others in the English language, as well as computer workstations. Most of the Haskell library patrons come from Canada, as Northeastern Vermont has many more libraries as compared to the border region in Quebec.

In Popular Culture

Prominent speakers to have been hosted at the Haskell Free Library and Opera House include William Jennings Bryan, a U.S politician, Canadian Arctic explorer Vilhjalmur Stefansson, and Canadian poet E. Pauline Johnson. Musical genres that have been performed