Cadillac Public Library facts for kids
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Wexford County Historical Society Museum
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 127 Beech St., Cadillac, Michigan |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1906 |
| Built by | Freuchtel Construction Company |
| Architect | Scheurmann & Merriam Architects |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 07001020 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | September 28, 2007 |
The Cadillac Carnegie Public Library, now known as the Wexford County Historical Society Museum, is a special building in Cadillac, Michigan. It was originally built as a Carnegie Library at 127 Beech Street. This historic building was recognized as a Michigan State Historic Site in 1980. Later, in 2007, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important landmark for the whole country!
Building a Community Library
In 1903, a very rich man named Andrew Carnegie offered to help communities build libraries. His foundation agreed to give $15,000 for a new library in Cadillac. But there was a catch! The community had to raise the same amount of money themselves.
The Cadillac Literary Society stepped up and successfully raised the matching funds. In 1904, two architects, Scheurmann & Merriam from Saginaw, Michigan, were chosen to design the building. The Freuchtel Construction Company was hired to build it.
The library was finished in 1906. The total cost was $30,000. It served as the public library for Cadillac for many years, until 1969.
From Library to Museum
After 1969, the building had a few different uses. For a while, it was used by the Cadillac Police Department until 1977. After that, there was talk of tearing the building down.
But the city had another idea! The Wexford County Historical Society suggested using the building as a museum. The city agreed, and the old library found a new purpose. It became the Wexford County Historical Society Museum, preserving local history for everyone to learn from.
What the Building Looks Like
The Cadillac Public Library building is a single-story structure made of brick. It sits on a raised stone foundation. The building is designed in a style called Classical Revival. This means it looks a bit like ancient Greek or Roman buildings.
The roof is gently sloped, and there's a small, rounded dome on top. The main entrance has a simple door. On either side of the door, there are tall, decorative columns called Ionic columns. Above the door, there's a semi-circular window that lets in light.
