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IOWA'S CARNEGIE LIBRARIES
An Indepth Look at the Libraries Andrew Carnegie Built Across Iowa
Carnegie-funded libraries dot state
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A Guide For Newbies and Out-Of-Staters.
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Ask questions, leave a comment, talk about Iowa food and travel, at our new message boards.
A Guide For Newbies and Out-Of-Staters.
INDEPTHIowa
Few states were impacted more by Andrew Carnegie’s largess during the 40 years he funded 1,689 library buildings across the United States. Carnegie, a steel tycoon, financed more libraries per capita in Iowa than anywhere in the United States.

The impact of Carnegie's philanthropy was maximized in Iowa by its perfect timing. It occurred between 1883 and 1929, a period of time when the pioneer hamlets that dotted the state were blossoming into real towns with a growing populous. In addition, public interest in organizing libraries had grown nationwide.

Carnegie was America’s richest man when he decided on a trip to him native Scotland -- - with the encouragement of his wife – to begin funding libraries in cities and towns without them.

At first, the libraries were built in Scotland and in Pennsylvania, where Carnegie’s business was located. But as word of his benevolence spread, community leaders around the United States began wondering if Carnegie would practice his philanthropy outside of the area in which he had a personal interest. The first person to test the question was James Falconer Wilson of Fairfield, a U.S. Senator who was acquainted with Carnegie.

Wilson approached Carnegie in 1891 and asked for help in building a permanent library. Carnegies’s donation of $30,000 was used to build a grand red brick building on Fairfield’s town square,  the first Carnegie west of the Mississippi and the first financed in a town where Carnegie had no official connection. In the next four decades, Carnegie would provide funds for 100 additional libraries in the state, from Hamburg to Dubuque.
Andrew Carnegie financed the construction of 102 libraries across Iowa, including this one in Fairfield, the first one built in the state by the steel magnate.


CARNEGIE LIBRARIES STILL IN USE (56):
Albia, Alden, Ames, Atlantic, Audubon, Bedford, Bloomfield, Chariton, Cherokee, Clarinda, Clear Lake, Clinton, Colfax, Cresco, Denison, Dubuque, Dunlap, Eldon, Estherville, Glenwood, Hamburg, Hampton, Hawarden, Humboldt, Jefferson, Knoxville, Leon, Logan, Malvern, Manchester, Maquoketa, Marengo, Marshalltown, Missouri Valley, Monticello, Mount Ayr, Nashua, Odebolt, Onawa, Osceola, Oskaloosa, Ottumwa, Red Oak, Reinbeck, Rockwell City, Sanborn (being moved and renovated), Shenandoah, Sibley, Stuart, Tipton, Traer, Villisca, Vinton, West Liberty, Woodbine.

LIBRARIES CONVERTED TO MUSEUMS (15): Carroll, Cedar Rapids, Charles City, Council Bluffs, Eagle Grove, Emmetsburg, Fairfield, Indianola, Iowa Falls, Laurens, Le Mars, Mount Vernon, New Hampton, Perry, Sheldon

LIBRARIES RAZED OR STATUS UNKNOWN (10): Britt, Cedar Falls, Davenport, Garner, Grundy Center, Montezuma, Newton, Sigourney, Sioux City (Branch), Spencer.

PRIVATE OFFICES (9): Corydon, Eldora, Iowa City, Marion, Mason City, Sac City, Spirit Lake, Waterloo (West Side), Waverly

CITY OFFICES (5): DeWitt, Osage, Pella, Waterloo (East Side Branch), Winterset.

MISCELLANEOUS (7): Algona (Gift shop), Fort Dodge (Privately owned), Greenfield (Gift Shop), Lake City (Artist's studio), Mount Pleasant (Education Center), Sioux City Main (Apartments), Storm Lake (Santa’s Castle), Tama (Woodworking Shop).
CARNEGIE IN IOWA