Carnegie Library

Carnegie Library in Perry is a public library featuring classical architecture with brick walls, large windows, and detailed stonework on its exterior. The structure serves both as a library offering digital resources and technology access, and as a home for local history exhibits and community collections.

The library opened in 1903 following a grant from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, marking a significant step forward in public education access. The building is part of a larger movement of Carnegie-funded construction that brought libraries to hundreds of communities across America.

The building houses a local history museum where exhibits and artifacts show how Perry developed over time. Visitors can explore the town's past through original objects and displays that tell the community's story.

The building is open to the public year-round and offers digital resources, technology stations, and regular educational programs for visitors of all ages. Planning your visit to match program schedules can help you make the most of what is available.

The building is one of approximately 48 original Carnegie structures in Iowa still operating as public libraries in their intended purpose. This makes it a rare example of how these institutions have maintained their original mission over more than a century.