Carnegie Library (Muncie, Indiana) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Muncie Public Library
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Front and side of the library
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 Location in Indiana
Location in the United States
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| Location | 301 E. Jackson St., Muncie, Indiana |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1903 |
| Architect | Marshall S. Mahurin |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical |
| NRHP reference No. | 76000019 |
| Added to NRHP | June 17, 1976 |
The Carnegie Library in Muncie, Indiana is a very old and important building. It is a special type of library called a Carnegie library. This means it was built with money donated by a famous businessman, Andrew Carnegie. The library is located in downtown Muncie.
Today, this historic building is part of the Muncie Public Library System. It holds a special collection about local history and family research. You can also find an open computer lab here. The library offers free wireless internet access. It also has a meeting room for local groups to use. The building has been a library since it first opened in 1904.
History of the Carnegie Library
The Carnegie Library officially opened its doors on January 1, 1904. Its construction was made possible by a generous gift from Andrew Carnegie. He donated $55,000 to the City of Muncie. His goal was to help Muncie expand its library services.
Andrew Carnegie was a major philanthropist. This means he was a person who gave away a lot of money to help others. He supported library systems all over the world. The Muncie Carnegie Library was one of the first libraries in Indiana built with his funding. The land for the library was also a gift. It was donated by a local businessman named George Spilker.
As of As of 2015[update], the library still serves an important role. It continues to house the local history and genealogy department. This department is a key part of the Muncie Library System.
Building Design and Style
The design and construction of the library were handled by a company called Wing and Mahurin. This architectural firm was based in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The outside of the building is made from Indiana Limestone. This stone is famous for its beauty and strength.
The library's design is based on ancient Greek and classical styles. This type of design is known as Neoclassical architecture. The outside of the building looks much the same as it did when it was first built. A cool feature of the Neoclassical style is the Romanesque dome. This dome is located on the roof, right in the center of the library.
Discovering Local History and Your Family Tree
The Carnegie Library offers many helpful tools. These tools can help people research local history. They can also help you discover your family's past, which is called genealogy.
Here are some of the resources you can find:
- Records from cemeteries
- Census records, which list people living in an area
- Histories and records of Delaware County
- Old court documents
- City directories, like old phone books
- Books about different family histories
- Records from funeral homes
- Microfilm copies of Muncie and Delaware County newspapers from 1837 to today
- Obituaries, which are notices about people who have passed away
- Special maps called Sanborn fire insurance maps from 1883 to 1950
- Important records like marriage, birth, and death certificates from the 1800s and 1900s
