List of Carnegie libraries in Minnesota

The following list of Carnegie libraries in Minnesota provides detailed information on Carnegie libraries in Minnesota, United States, where 65 public libraries were built from 57[1] grants (totaling $969,375) awarded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York from 1901 to 1918. In addition, Hamline University in Saint Paul was awarded a $30,000 grant on March 12, 1906, to construct an academic library. In Minnesota grants were given between 1899 and 1918.[2]

Of Minnesota's 66 original Carnegie libraries, 48 are still standing. 25 continue to house public libraries while others have been adapted into art centers or office space. Of the 18 lost libraries, one burned down and the rest were demolished, often because they were unworkably deficient in handicap accessibility. 38 of the surviving libraries are listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).[2]

  Building still operating as a library
  Building standing, but now serving another purpose
  Building no longer standing
  Building listed on the National Register of Historic Places
  Building contributes to a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places

Public libraries

edit
Library City or
town
Image Date
granted[3]
Grant
amount[3][4]
Location[2] Notes[2]
1 Aitkin Aitkin   Apr 23, 1908 $6,500 121 2nd St NW
46°31′59.31″N 93°42′33.55″W / 46.5331417°N 93.7093194°W / 46.5331417; -93.7093194 (Aitkin Carnegie Library)
1911 library, now an art center.[5]
2 Albert Lea Albert Lea   Apr 11, 1902 $13,000 146 College St W
43°38′49.58″N 93°22′11.02″W / 43.6471056°N 93.3697278°W / 43.6471056; -93.3697278 (Albert Lea Carnegie Library)
Built 1903, now offices.
3 Alexandria Alexandria   Feb 2, 1903 $12,000 7th Ave W & Filmore St
45°53′6.25″N 95°22′43.75″W / 45.8850694°N 95.3788194°W / 45.8850694; -95.3788194 (Alexandria Public Library)
Built 1903, now offices.
4 Anoka Anoka   Mar 27, 1903 $12,500 Demolished Built 1904, razed 1965.
5 Austin Austin   Oct 3, 1901 $15,000 Demolished Built 1904, razed 1996.
6 Bemidji Bemidji   Feb 10, 1908 $12,500 426 Bemidji Ave
47°28′21.63″N 94°52′46.13″W / 47.4726750°N 94.8794806°W / 47.4726750; -94.8794806 (Bemidji Carnegie Library)
Built 1909, now an art gallery.
7 Benson Benson   Apr 3, 1912 $7,500 Demolished Built 1913, razed 1994.
8 Brainerd Brainerd   Jan 6, 1903 $12,000 206 7th St N
46°21′30.16″N 94°11′55.91″W / 46.3583778°N 94.1988639°W / 46.3583778; -94.1988639 (Brainerd Public Library)
Built 1904, now offices.
9 Browns Valley Browns Valley   Jan 31, 1914 $5,500 Broadway Ave & 2nd St
45°35′42.13″N 96°49′51.03″W / 45.5950361°N 96.8308417°W / 45.5950361; -96.8308417 (Browns Valley Carnegie Public Library)
Built 1915.
10 Chatfield Chatfield   Jul 9, 1913 $6,000 314 Main St S
43°50′40.86″N 92°11′14.44″W / 43.8446833°N 92.1873444°W / 43.8446833; -92.1873444 (Chatfield Public Library)
Built 1915, still houses public library.
11 Coleraine Coleraine   Dec 16, 1908 $15,000 203 Cole Ave
47°17′14.03″N 93°25′27.45″W / 47.2872306°N 93.4242917°W / 47.2872306; -93.4242917 (Coleraine Carnegie Library)
Built 1910, still houses public library.
12 Crookston Crookston   Nov 25, 1903 $17,500 110 N. Ash St.
47°46′25.43″N 96°36′17.52″W / 47.7737306°N 96.6048667°W / 47.7737306; -96.6048667 (Crookstone Carnegie Public Library)
Built 1907.
13 Dawson Dawson   Mar 31, 1916 $9,000 677 Pine St
44°55′43.35″N 96°3′20.42″W / 44.9287083°N 96.0556722°W / 44.9287083; -96.0556722 (Dawson Carnegie Library)
Built 1918, now offices.
14 Detroit Lakes Detroit Lakes   Dec 23, 1911 $10,000 1000 Washington Ave
46°48′56.27″N 95°50′45.01″W / 46.8156306°N 95.8458361°W / 46.8156306; -95.8458361 (Detroit Lakes Carnegie Library)
Built 1913, still houses public library.
15 Duluth (Main) Duluth   Oct 7, 1899 $75,000 101 2nd St W
46°47′14.33″N 92°6′8.13″W / 46.7873139°N 92.1022583°W / 46.7873139; -92.1022583 (Duluth Public Library (Main))
Built 1902, closed 1980.
16 Duluth Lincoln Duluth   Oct 7, 1899 $30,000 2227 W 2nd St
46°46′0.12″N 92°7′44.45″W / 46.7667000°N 92.1290139°W / 46.7667000; -92.1290139 (Lincoln Branch Library)
Built 1917, now an art institute.
17 Duluth West Duluth Duluth Oct 7, 1899 $20,000 Demolished Built 1912, razed 1992.
18 Eveleth Eveleth   Feb 20, 1911 $15,000 614 Pierce St
47°27′44.69″N 92°32′8.4″W / 47.4624139°N 92.535667°W / 47.4624139; -92.535667 (Eveleth Carnegie Library)
Built 1914, still houses public library.
19 Fairmont Fairmont   Feb 12, 1903 $10,000 Demolished Built 1904, razed 1968.
20 Fergus Falls Fergus Falls   Feb 20, 1904 $21,475 121 Union St N
46°17′3.52″N 96°4′41.29″W / 46.2843111°N 96.0781361°W / 46.2843111; -96.0781361 (Fergus Falls Carnegie Library)
Built 1905, now offices.
21 Glenwood Glenwood   May 2, 1907 $10,000 108 1st Ave SE
45°38′56.78″N 95°23′17.29″W / 45.6491056°N 95.3881361°W / 45.6491056; -95.3881361 (Glenwood Public Library)
Built 1908, still houses public library.
22 Graceville Graceville May 21, 1913 $7,000 Demolished Built 1915, razed 1999.
23 Grand Rapids Grand Rapids   Jan 19, 1905 $10,000 21 5th St NE Built 1905, now offices.
24 Hibbing Hibbing   Apr 23, 1906 $25,000 Demolished Built 1908, razed in the 1950s.
25 Hutchinson Hutchinson   Apr 13, 1903 $12,500 50 Hassan St SE
44°53′30.06″N 94°22′5.5″W / 44.8916833°N 94.368194°W / 44.8916833; -94.368194 (Hutchinson Carnegie Library)
Built 1904, still houses public library.
26 Janesville Janesville   May 2, 1911 $5,000 102 2nd St W
44°7′3″N 93°42′28.34″W / 44.11750°N 93.7078722°W / 44.11750; -93.7078722 (Janesville Free Public Library)
Built 1912, still houses public library.
27 Lake City Lake City Nov 7, 1917 $13,000 Demolished Built 1917, razed 1967.
28 Litchfield Litchfield   Feb 12, 1903 $10,000 201 Sibley Ave S
45°7′29.12″N 94°31′40.13″W / 45.1247556°N 94.5278139°W / 45.1247556; -94.5278139 (Litchfield Carnegie Library)
Built 1904, now commercial space.
29 Little Falls Little Falls   Mar 14, 1902 $10,000 108 3rd St NE
45°58′36.08″N 94°21′31.32″W / 45.9766889°N 94.3587000°W / 45.9766889; -94.3587000 (Little Falls Carnegie Library)
Built 1904, still houses public library.
30 Luverne Luverne   Mar 27, 1903 $10,000 205 Freeman Ave N
43°39′19.86″N 96°12′35.69″W / 43.6555167°N 96.2099139°W / 43.6555167; -96.2099139 (Luverne Carnegie Library)
Built 1904, now an art center.
31 Madison Madison   Feb 1, 1905 $8,000 401 6th Ave
45°0′44.9″N 96°11′36.58″W / 45.012472°N 96.1934944°W / 45.012472; -96.1934944 (Madison Carnegie Library)
Built 1905, still houses public library.
32 Mankato Mankato   Feb 6, 1901 $40,000 120 Broad Rd S
44°9′56.86″N 94°0′3.56″W / 44.1657944°N 94.0009889°W / 44.1657944; -94.0009889 (Mankato Public Library and Reading Room)
Built 1902, now an art center.
33 Mapleton Mapleton   Mar 25, 1905 $5,000 104 1st Ave NE
43°55′42.78″N 93°57′28.03″W / 43.9285500°N 93.9577861°W / 43.9285500; -93.9577861 (Mapleton Public Library)
Built 1910, still houses public library.
34 Marshall Marshall   Feb 12, 1903 $10,000 Demolished Built 1904, razed 1966.
35 Minneapolis Central Avenue Minneapolis   Apr 3, 1912 $125,000 Demolished Built 1915, razed 1971.
36 Minneapolis Franklin Minneapolis   Apr 3, 1912 1314 Franklin Ave E
44°57′46.74″N 93°15′21.06″W / 44.9629833°N 93.2558500°W / 44.9629833; -93.2558500 (Franklin Community Library)
Built 1914, still houses public library.
37 Minneapolis Hosmer Minneapolis   Apr 3, 1912 347 36th St E
44°56′15.05″N 93°16′13.97″W / 44.9375139°N 93.2705472°W / 44.9375139; -93.2705472 (Hosmer Community Library)
Built 1916, still houses public library.
38 Minneapolis Sumner Minneapolis   Apr 3, 1912 611 VanWhite Memorial Blvd
44°59′5.18″N 93°17′40.43″W / 44.9847722°N 93.2945639°W / 44.9847722; -93.2945639 (Sumner Community Library)
Built 1915, still houses public library.
39 Montevideo Montevideo   Dec 16, 1905 $10,000 125 3rd St N
44°56′47.3″N 95°43′24.44″W / 44.946472°N 95.7234556°W / 44.946472; -95.7234556 (Montevideo Carnegie Library)
Built 1906, now community space.
40 Moorhead Moorhead   Feb 29, 1904 $12,000 Demolished Built 1906, razed 1963.
41 Morris Morris   Dec 4, 1903 $10,000 Nevada Ave & 6th St
45°35′8.66″N 95°55′4.11″W / 45.5857389°N 95.9178083°W / 45.5857389; -95.9178083 (Morris Carnegie Library)
Built 1905, now the Stevens County Historical Society.
42 Mountain Iron Mountain Iron   Jan 14, 1914 $8,000 5742 Mountain Ave
47°31′58.21″N 92°37′18.67″W / 47.5328361°N 92.6218528°W / 47.5328361; -92.6218528 (Mountain Iron Carnegie Library)
Built 1915, still houses public library.
43 Northfield Northfield   Jan 8, 1908 $10,000 210 Washington St
44°27′27.57″N 93°9′32.48″W / 44.4576583°N 93.1590222°W / 44.4576583; -93.1590222 (Northfield Public Library)
Built 1910, still houses public library.
44 Ortonville Ortonville   Aug 11, 1913 $10,000 412 2nd St NW
45°18′30.5″N 96°26′53.62″W / 45.308472°N 96.4482278°W / 45.308472; -96.4482278 (Ortonville Free Library)
Built 1915, still houses public library.
45 Park Rapids Park Rapids   May 8, 1908 $5,000 101 2nd St W
46°55′16.9″N 95°3′32.01″W / 46.921361°N 95.0588917°W / 46.921361; -95.0588917 (Park Rapids Carnegie Library)
Open 1910–1994, now houses a museum.[6]
46 Pipestone Pipestone   Mar 22, 1903 $10,000 217 Hiawatha Ave S
43°59′54.81″N 96°19′2.47″W / 43.9985583°N 96.3173528°W / 43.9985583; -96.3173528 (Pipestone Public Library)
Built 1904. Closed as unsafe. Needs $450K to $500K of repairs.[7]
47 Preston Preston Dec 2, 1909 $8,000 101 Saint Paul St NW
43°40′12.4″N 92°5′1.17″W / 43.670111°N 92.0836583°W / 43.670111; -92.0836583 (Preston Public Library)
Built 1909, still houses public library.
48 Red Wing Red Wing   Dec 14, 1901 $17,000 Demolished Built 1903, razed 1968.
49 Redwood Falls Redwood Falls   Nov 25, 1903 $10,000 334 Jefferson St S
44°32′20.24″N 95°6′59.78″W / 44.5389556°N 95.1166056°W / 44.5389556; -95.1166056 (Redwood Falls Carnegie Library)
Housed library 1904–1995, now private business offices.[8]
50 St. Cloud St. Cloud   Feb 16, 1901 $25,000 Demolished Built 1902, razed 1981.
51 St. Paul Arlington Hills St. Paul   May 8, 1914 $75,000 1105 Greenbrier St
44°58′28.23″N 93°4′16.89″W / 44.9745083°N 93.0713583°W / 44.9745083; -93.0713583 (Arlington Hills Library)
Housed public library 1917–2014.
52 St. Paul Riverview St. Paul   May 8, 1914 1 E George St
44°55′47.69″N 93°5′5.01″W / 44.9299139°N 93.0847250°W / 44.9299139; -93.0847250 (Riverview Branch Library)
Built 1917, still houses public library.
53 St. Paul St. Anthony Park St. Paul   May 8, 1914 2245 Como Ave W
44°58′51.56″N 93°11′36.88″W / 44.9809889°N 93.1935778°W / 44.9809889; -93.1935778 (St. Anthony Park Branch Library)
Built 1917, still houses public library.
54 St. Peter St. Peter   Jan 6, 1903 $10,000 429 Minnesota Ave S
44°19′20.94″N 93°57′29.35″W / 44.3224833°N 93.9581528°W / 44.3224833; -93.9581528 (St. Peter Carnegie Library)
Built 1904, now offices and retail, including a halal market.
55 Sauk Centre Sauk Centre   Feb 12, 1903 $11,000 430 Main St S
45°44′5.72″N 94°57′8.31″W / 45.7349222°N 94.9523083°W / 45.7349222; -94.9523083 (Sauk Centre Carnegie Library)
Built 1904, now a public library and art center.
56 Spring Valley Spring Valley   Mar 27, 1903 $8,000 201 Broadway Ave S
43°41′12.19″N 92°23′26.5″W / 43.6867194°N 92.390694°W / 43.6867194; -92.390694 (Spring Valley Carnegie Library)
Built 1904, now city offices.
57 Stillwater Stillwater   Jul 3, 1901 $27,500 224 3rd St N
45°3′27.12″N 92°48′37.12″W / 45.0575333°N 92.8103111°W / 45.0575333; -92.8103111 (Stillwater Carnegie Library)
Built 1902, still houses public library.
58 Thief River Falls Thief River Falls   Jan 31, 1914 $12,500 102 Main Ave S
48°7′2.18″N 96°10′52.08″W / 48.1172722°N 96.1811333°W / 48.1172722; -96.1811333 (Thief River Falls Public Library)
Built 1914, now county offices.
59 Two Harbors Two Harbors   Feb 10, 1908 $15,000 320 Waterfront Dr
47°1′21.19″N 91°40′14.32″W / 47.0225528°N 91.6706444°W / 47.0225528; -91.6706444 (Two Harbors Carnegie Library)
Built 1909, still houses public library.
60 Virginia Virginia Dec 20, 1904 $10,000 Demolished Built 1907, razed 1953.
61 Walker Walker Apr 8, 1910 $6,500 Demolished Built 1910, burned down 1976.
62 White Bear White Bear Jul 13, 1912 $5,000 Demolished Built 1914, razed 1973.
63 Willmar Willmar Jan 13, 1903 $11,000 Demolished Built 1904, razed 1967.
64 Worthington Worthington   Jun 1, 1903 $10,000 Demolished Built 1905, razed 1966.
65 Zumbrota Zumbrota   Nov 27, 1906 $6,500 320 East Avenue
44°17′38.19″N 92°40′5.49″W / 44.2939417°N 92.6681917°W / 44.2939417; -92.6681917 (Zumbrota Carnegie Library)
Built 1908, now an art center.

Academic libraries

edit
Library City or
town
Image Date
granted[3]
Grant
amount[3][4]
Location[2] Notes[2]
1 Hamline University Saint Paul   Mar 12, 1906 $30,000 1536 Hewitt Ave
44°57′56.73″N 93°9′58.41″W / 44.9657583°N 93.1662250°W / 44.9657583; -93.1662250 (Hamline University Carnegie Library)
Built in 1907, now incorporated into the Giddens/Alumni Learning Center.[9]

Notes

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  1. ^ Jones erroneously reports this number as 64, while Bobinski reports the number of grants at 58. However, Jones lists 65 public libraries in his gazetteer, and Anderson lists 57 grants.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Clemens, Kevin (2011). Carnegie Libraries of Minnesota. Lake Elmo, Minn.: Demontreville Press, Inc. ISBN 978-0-9789563-7-0.
  3. ^ a b c d At various times, Bobinski and Jones disagree on these numbers. In these cases, Jones' numbers have been used due to both a more recent publication date and a more detailed gazetteer of branch libraries, which are often where the discrepancies occur.
  4. ^ a b Grants for multiple libraries (Minneapolis and St. Paul) are listed only by their total amount, not broken down for each branch (excepting Duluth, for which individuals amounts are known).
  5. ^ "Jacques Art Center". Jacques Art Center. Retrieved 2020-03-03.
  6. ^ "Giiwedinong Treaty Rights & Culture Museum". Retrieved 2024-01-24.
  7. ^ "City council discusses options for historic Carnegie Library building - Pipestone County Star". 12 November 2020.
  8. ^ "About the Library". Redwood County Public Library. 2009. Retrieved 2012-09-05.
  9. ^ "Giddens Learning Center". Hamline University. 2014. Retrieved 2014-07-25.

References

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  • Anderson, Florence (1963). Carnegie Corporation Library Program 1911–1961. New York: Carnegie Corporation. OCLC 1282382.
  • Bobinski, George S. (1969). Carnegie Libraries: Their History and Impact on American Public Library Development. Chicago: American Library Association. ISBN 0-8389-0022-4.
  • Clemens, Kevin (2011). Carnegie Libraries of Minnesota. Lake Elmo, Minn.: Demontreville Press, Inc. ISBN 978-0-9789563-7-0.
  • Jones, Theodore (1997). Carnegie Libraries Across America. New York: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 0-471-14422-3.
  • Miller, Durand R. (1943). Carnegie Grants for Library Buildings, 1890-1917. New York: Carnegie Corporation of New York. OCLC 2603611.

Note: The above references, while all authoritative, are not entirely mutually consistent. Some details of this list may have been drawn from one of the references without support from the others. Reader discretion is advised.

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