Arcola Carnegie Public Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Arcola Carnegie Public Library
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | 407 E. Main St., Arcola, Illinois |
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| Built | 1905 |
| Built by | Morehead, J.P. |
| Architect | Moratz, Paul A. |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| MPS | Illinois Carnegie Libraries MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 02000459 |
| Added to NRHP | May 9, 2002 |
The Arcola Carnegie Public Library is a historic building in Arcola, Illinois. It was built in 1905 to serve the community. This library is a special type called a Carnegie library. These libraries were built with money given by a famous businessman named Andrew Carnegie.
Contents
What is a Carnegie Library?
Carnegie libraries are public libraries built in the late 1800s and early 1900s. They were funded by Scottish-American businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. He believed that access to books and knowledge was very important.
How the Arcola Library Was Built
Andrew Carnegie's foundation gave $10,000 to Arcola for their library. This was a lot of money back then! The town used this grant to build the library we see today.
Design of the Library
The Arcola Carnegie Public Library was designed by an architect named Paul O. Moratz. He chose a style called Classical Revival. This style looks back to ancient Greek and Roman buildings.
Key Features of the Building
- Front Entrance: The main door is under a special roofed porch. This porch is called a portico. It has a triangular top, like a gable.
- Columns: The porch is supported by flat, decorative columns. These are called pilasters. They look like they are part of the wall.
- Roof: The building has a hipped roof. This means all sides slope down to the walls.
- Decorative Edge: Around the edge of the roof, there is a fancy border. This is known as a cornice.
- Small Tower: On top of the roof, there is a small, dome-shaped tower. This is called a cupola.
A Place for Learning
The Arcola Carnegie Public Library is still used today. It serves as Arcola's public library. Inside, you can find over 18,000 books. It is a great place for students and families to read and learn.
A Historic Landmark
The library is important because of its history and design. In 2002, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of buildings, sites, and objects that are important in American history.
Other Historic Sites Nearby
The Arcola Carnegie Public Library is one of two places in Douglas County on this special list. The other is the Streibich Blacksmith Shop in Newman.
