Tomah Public Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Tomah Public Library
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Tomah Public Library
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| Location | 716 Superior Ave. Tomah, Wisconsin |
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| Built | 1915 |
| Architect | Claude and Starck |
| Architectural style | Prairie School |
| NRHP reference No. | 76000068 |
| Added to NRHP | May 28, 1976 |
The Tomah Public Library is a special building in Tomah, Wisconsin. It was built a long time ago, in 1915, to be a place where everyone in the city and nearby could read and learn. Because of its history and unique design, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. This means it's an important landmark that should be protected.
A Gift for Learning
The Tomah Public Library is known as a Carnegie library. This means it was built with money given by a very rich man named Andrew Carnegie. He believed that everyone should have access to books and knowledge, so he helped fund thousands of libraries across the world.
How the Library Started
The idea for the library in Tomah began with a generous gift. In 1911, a successful geologist named Ernest Buckley left $12,000 to the city of Tomah. He wanted the money to be used for either a park or a library. The city leaders decided to use $7,000 of this money specifically for a library.
To get more funds, they asked the Carnegie Foundation for a grant. In 1915, they received $10,000 from the Foundation. With this money, they could finally build the library.
Building Design and Growth
The library was designed by a famous architectural team called Claude and Starck. They were known for their unique style, which helped make the Tomah Public Library a beautiful and special place.
Years later, in 1980, the library needed more space. The original building was expanded, almost doubling its size, so it could serve even more people in the community.
