Wisconsin's Carnegie Libraries

Arcadia received its Carnegie grant in 1905.

Baraboo received its Carnegie grant in 1902.The building is still used as a public library. The centennial of the building was celebrated in 2003.  It has been expanded to the rear but the original building and facade are preserved.

Barron received its Carnegie grant in 1912.

Bayfield received its Carnegie grant in 1903. The building is still used as a public library.

** Beloit received its Carnegie grant in 1901.

Berlin received its Carnegie grant in 1903.

* Black River Falls received its Carnegie grant in 1914.

** Chippewa Falls received its Carnegie grant in 1902.

* Clintonville received its Carnegie grant in 1915.

Columbus received its Carnegie grant in 1903.

Cumberland received its Carnegie grant in 1905; the building opened in 1906; more info.

* Darlington received its Carnegie grant in 1904 and the building opened in 1905. It now houses the Lafayette County Historical Society.

* Durand received its Carnegie grant in 1905.

* Eau Claire received its Carnegie grant in 1902. The Carnegie building now houses city government offices.  Blog post.

Edgerton received its Carnegie grant in 1905. A significant expansion of the building was completed in March 2006 in a way that maintains the architectural integrity of the original Carnegie building.

Elroy received its Carnegie grant in 1905. The library building was dedicated on March 4, 1908.  It was remodeled in 2000. The Elroy Public Library celebrated its centennial in 2008.

** Fond du Lac received its Carnegie grant in 1902.

* Green Bay received its Carnegie grant in 1901.

* Hayward received its Carnegie grant in 1903.  The Hayward Carnegie library building is being used as a retail store.  The interior has undergone a very nice rennovation/restoration.  The original circulation desk is still there.

* Hudson received its Carnegie grant in 1903.

* Janesville received its Carnegie grant in 1901. The Carnegie building has been remodeled as a center for senior citizens. Blog post.

* Jefferson received its Carnegie grant in 1911.

Kaukauna received its Carnegie grant in 1902. The building has a major addition and is still being used as a public library. It was listed on the National Register of Historical Places in March, 1984.

Kilbourn (See Wisconsin Dells)

* Ladysmith received its Carnegie grant in 1907. It was converted into a bed and breakfast. Blog post.

** Madison (Main) received its Carnegie grant in 1907.

* Madison (Sixth Ward Branch) was constructed in 1912.  Located on Williamson Street next to the Willy Street Co-op, it now houses the offices of a construction company.

** Manitowoc received its Carnegie grant in 1902.

* Medford received its Carnegie grant in 1913.  The Medford Carnegie library building is now used as a community chamber of commerce facility.

Merrill received approval for  Carnegie grant in 1907, but it was not until October, 1909 that the City Council accepted the grant. The building has been significantly expanded and remodeled. Blog post.

** Neenah received its Carnegie grant in 1901. Blog post.

Neillsville received its Carnegie grant in 1913.

New London received its Carnegie grant in 1903.

* Platteville received its Carnegie grant in 1914.

Plymouth. The Carnegie library building in Plymouth, Wisconsin has been incorporated into an expanded Plymouth Public Library building. The Carnegie building is preserved in its entirety with a major 1988 addition at the rear of the building. The City of Plymouth received its $10,000 Carnegie grant in 1908, but the building was not completed until 1915. The addition was added to the building in 1988. The main entrance to the expanded building is located at 130 Division Street but the Carnegie building faces E. North Main Street. The Wisconsin Historical Society has determined that the building is eligible to be added to the National Register of Historic Places.

* Racine (Main) received its Carnegie grant in 1901. The building currently serves as the home of the Racine Historical Society.

*Racine (Uptown Branch) was constructed in 1913.

* Reedsburg received its Carnegie grant in 1911.  The building serves as an archives annex to the public library which is contained in a separate newer building. 

Rhinelander received its Carnegie grant in 1903. The building has been remodeled to the point that it is no longer considered eligible for the National Register of Historical Places.

** Rice Lake received Carnegie grant in 1903.

** Richland Center received its Carnegie grant in 1903.

* Ripon received its Carnegie grant in 1902. The building houses offices for Ripon College. For postcard image and other memorabilia click here.

Shawano received its Carnegie grant in 1914.

** Sheboygan received its Carnegie grant in 1901. The building was razed to make way for an expanded art museum. A small part of the former building is incorporated into the grounds of the art museum. Blog post.

** South Milwaukee received its Carnegie grant in 1915. Blog post.

Sparta received its Carnegie grant in 1902.

** Stevens Point received its Carnegie grant in 1902.

Stoughton received its Carnegie grant in 1905. The Carnegie building was incorporated into a major expansion in a way that it maintains its status on the National Register of Historical Places. The main floor of the original Carnegie building has been substantially restored to its original condition and is well worth a visit.

* Sturgeon Bay received its Carnegie grant in 1911. The Carnegie building is now being used for offices. Blog post.

* Superior (Main) received its Carnegie grant in 1901. The building was completed in 1902 and has the distinction of being the first Carnegie library in Wisconsin. The building has been vacant since 1991 and is in danger of being demolished. A group called the Friends of the Carnegie has purchased the building with the intent to preserve it.

* Superior (East End Branch).  The building was constructed in 1917 and has the distinction of being the last Carnegie library built in Wisconsin.  The building currently serves as a private residence.

Tomah received its Carnegie grant in 1915.

* Two Rivers (the building no longer serves as a public library) received its Carnegie grant in 1913.

Viroqua received its Carnegie grant in 1904. Postcard image #1. Postcard image #2.  In a remodeling and expansion of the building its facade was replaced in such a way that it is not eligible for the National Register of Historical Places.

Washburn received its Carnegie grant in 1903.

Watertown received its Carnegie grant in 1905.

Waukesha  received its Carnegie grant in 1902. The Carnegie building was incorporated into a much larger new building.  It's a nice space but it lost its eligibility for the National Register of Historical Places.

* Waupaca (the building no longer serves as a public library) received its Carnegie grant in 1913.

* Waupun [Waupun Public Library] received its Carnegie grant in 1904. The new library opened on October 21, 1905. It now houses the Waupun Heritage Museum) Postcard image front. Postcard image back.

** Wausau received a Carnegie grant in 1903.

** Wauwatosa received its Carnegie grant in 1905.

* West Allis received its Carnegie grant in 1913.

* Wisconsin Dells (originally listed as Kilbourn) received its Carnegie grant in 1912. The building has been relocated to park across from new library and houses offices.

Wisconsin Carnegie College Library Buildings

* Beloit College's Carnegie Library now houses the Pettibone Center for World Affairs.

** Lawrence University's Carnegie Library building was demolished in 1974.

* Communities marked with a single asterisk still have their Carnegie building but the building is no longer used as a library.

** Communities marked with a double asterisk have demolished their Carnegie buildings.