Carnegie Free Library (Eureka, California) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Carnegie Free Library
|
|
The front view of the Eureka Carnegie Library, now the Morris Graves Museum of Art.
|
|
 Location in California
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 636 F Street, Eureka, California |
|---|---|
| Area | 0.3 acres (0.12 ha) |
| Built | 1902 |
| Architect | Evans, Knowles & Trarver, B.C.; Foster, Ambrose |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 86000101 |
| Added to NRHP | January 23, 1986 |
The Carnegie Free Library in Eureka, California is a beautiful old building. It was built in 1902. This library was designed in a special style called Classical Revival. In 1986, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a very important historical building! Today, it's not a library anymore. It's home to the Morris Graves Museum of Art.
Contents
A Library for Everyone
Libraries in Eureka started around 1859. But they often closed down. In 1878, a new law in California changed things. It was called the Rogers Free Library Act. This law let towns and cities collect taxes. They could use this money to create free public libraries. Eureka was the very first city to use this law. They opened a public library in a rented building.
Building the Carnegie Library
In 1901, the library got a special gift. They received $20,000 from Andrew Carnegie. He was a very rich businessman. He helped build many libraries across the country.
The library leaders held a contest. They wanted to find the best design for the new building. Local architects Knowles Evans and B.C. Tarver won. They designed a grand building. It was made from red brick and Mad River granite. The front had tall, two-story redwood columns. Inside, a domed room called a rotunda had a colorful tile floor.
The builder, Ambrose Foster, spent more money than planned. The library tried to get more money from Andrew Carnegie. But they were not able to. So, they made a few small changes to the design. The original dome was removed. Now, only a skylight remains.
A Historic Landmark
The Carnegie Free Library was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. It was recognized for two main reasons. First, it's a great example of a Carnegie Library. Second, it shows the Classical Revival style of architecture. The building is still in nearly its original condition.
From Library to Museum
By 1996, the library building was in danger. Some people wanted to tear it down. But the City of Eureka and the Humboldt Arts Council stepped in. They worked hard to save it. They started a big fundraising effort. They raised $1.5 million from companies, foundations, and local people.
The work to fix up the building began in 1999. It was changed from a library into an art museum. The new museum opened on January 1, 2000. It was named the Morris Graves Museum of Art. This honored Morris Graves, a famous artist from the Northwest School. He was a big supporter of the arts in the area.
