Woodland Public Library facts for kids
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Woodland Public Library
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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The Woodland Public Library building
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 Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | 250 1st St. Woodland, California |
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| Built | 1905 |
| Architect | Dodge & Dolliver, W.H. Weeks |
| Architectural style | Mission Revival |
| Part of | Downtown Woodland Historic District (ID99000471) |
| NRHP reference No. | 81000183 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | September 28, 1981 |
| Designated CP | June 22, 1999 |
The Woodland Public Library is a very special building in Woodland, California. It is one of the oldest libraries in California that was built with money from a famous businessman named Andrew Carnegie. He helped build many libraries across the United States.
This library is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important historical building. It is also a key part of the Downtown Woodland Historic District, which is an area with many old and important buildings.
Contents
How the Library Started
The idea for a library in Woodland began way back in 1874. Women in the community worked hard to collect books. They even held fun events like ice-cream socials to raise money!
In 1891, their efforts got a big boost with a $500 donation. This helped them create a free public library. It was a small space inside the City Hall building.
Carnegie's Gift for a New Building
In 1903, something amazing happened. The community received a grant of $10,000 from Andrew Carnegie. Carnegie was a very rich man who believed in the power of education. He donated money to build thousands of libraries around the world.
This money was used to construct a brand new, dedicated public library building. The architects, Dodge & Dolliver from San Francisco, designed the building. They chose a style called Mission Revival. This style looks like old Spanish missions in California, with features like red tile roofs and arched windows. Even though Carnegie's secretary wasn't sure about the style, the design went ahead. William Henry Curson, who also built the Woodland Opera House, was the contractor for the library.
Library Expansions Over Time
The Woodland Public Library grew bigger over the years to serve more people.
Sharing Space with Yolo County
From 1915 to 1979, the Woodland City Library shared its building with the Yolo County Library System. They worked together, but each had its own services. Because of this, Andrew Carnegie donated another $12,000 in 1915.
This money helped add a new west wing to the building. This addition was designed by W.H. Weeks. The original entrance on First Street said "City Library." The new entrance on Court Street had a sign that said "County Library."
More Space for Books and People
The library continued to grow! There was another expansion between 1927 and 1929.
Then, in 1985, voters in Woodland approved a large project. They agreed to spend $2.5 million to expand the library even more. This big expansion included building the Leake Room and an indoor courtyard. When these additions were finished in 1988, the library building was twice as large as it was before!
