Carnegie Library, Public library in Guthrie, Oklahoma, United States.
The Carnegie Library in Guthrie, Oklahoma, is a two-story brick and stone building at 406 East Oklahoma Avenue, designed by local architect J. H. Bennett in Second Renaissance Revival style. It measures 60 by 20 feet and has a full attic. A central rotunda, 20 feet in diameter and rising 50 feet, is surrounded by five rooms for reading, book storage and club meetings.
The building was erected in 1901 through funding from Andrew Carnegie and served as Guthrie's principal library for many decades. After 1972 it transitioned to become part of a larger museum complex while maintaining its original character.
The library's 1906 and 1907 inauguration ceremonies for territorial governor Frank Frantz and first state governor Charles N. Haskell took place in this building. A statue on the grounds commemorates the symbolic wedding of Mr. Oklahoma and Miss Indian Territory held during Haskell's inauguration.
The building is easily accessible and located in downtown Guthrie as part of a museum complex. Visitors can explore the interior spaces and learn about the history of public libraries in the region.
This is one of the earliest Carnegie libraries built in Oklahoma and among the few that has maintained its original architecture to this day. Its preservation makes it a rare example of the early library movement in the region.
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