Little Falls Carnegie Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Little Falls Carnegie Library
|
|
The library's exterior
|
|
 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 108 3rd St. NE, Little Falls, Minnesota |
|---|---|
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1905 |
| Architect | Fremont D. Orff |
| Architectural style | American Craftsman |
| NRHP reference No. | 80002091 |
| Added to NRHP | November 3, 1980 |
The Little Falls Carnegie Library is a special historic building in Little Falls, Minnesota. It's a type of library called a Carnegie library. These libraries were built with money given by a famous businessman named Andrew Carnegie.
This library was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This means it's an important building because of its unique design. Unlike many Carnegie libraries that look like old Greek or Roman buildings, the Little Falls library has a different style. It's built in the American Craftsman style. This makes it stand out! The library first opened its doors in 1905. It is still a busy library today, helping people read and learn. It's part of the Great River Regional Library system.
Contents
What Makes the Library Special?
The Little Falls Carnegie Library is built in the American Craftsman style. This style uses natural materials and simple designs. The building is made of brick and stone and has two main levels.
Outside the Building
The bottom part of the library, called the basement, is made of local fieldstone. These are natural rocks arranged in a cool, random pattern. Above the basement, the main part of the building uses light brown bricks. A gray granite band separates the brick from the stone. The roof has a unique shape with small windows sticking out, called dormered gables. The outside of the building doesn't have many fancy decorations. You can see some simple designs on the roof edges and around the front door.
Inside the Building
The library's design is shaped like a cross. This shape helps organize the rooms inside. On the main floor, there's a central area where you can check out books. Reading rooms are on the left and right sides. Bookshelves filled with books are at the back. The lower floor used to be a big meeting hall. Now, it's a fun area just for kids! The very top part, the attic, is a large space used for storage.
How the Library Started
Little Falls had a small library before this one. It opened in 1892 in two rooms of another building. It had about 800 books. As more people wanted to borrow books, the city needed a bigger space and more books.
Getting Help from Andrew Carnegie
The city decided to ask Andrew Carnegie for money. He was famous for helping communities build libraries. To get his money, the town had to own the land for the library. They also had to promise to keep the library running.
Choosing the Location
There was a lot of talk about where to build the new library. A very important person, Charles Lindbergh, Sr. (the father of the famous pilot), strongly supported the chosen spot. He believed the library should have a big lawn and trees for shade. The city bought the land. In 1902, they received a $10,000 grant from Andrew Carnegie. Other families, like the Weyerhauser and Musser families, also gave money. They made their money from a company called Pine Tree Lumber Company.
Opening Day and Growth
Construction on the library began in 1904. The Little Falls Carnegie Library officially opened on February 7, 1905. In its first year, 1,415 people signed up to borrow books. The library had 2,015 books. Many years later, in 2007, the library had grown a lot! It had 8,335 registered borrowers and almost 37,000 items.
The library has continued to grow and change. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. In 1989, it became part of the Great River Regional Library system. An addition was built in 1999 to make more space. In 2008, the library even got wireless internet, so people could connect online!
