Bemidji in Beltrami County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Carnegie Library

1910

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 7, 2023

1. Carnegie Library Marker

Inscription. This property has been placed on the
National Register
of Historic Places
by the United States
Department of the Interior

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Charity & Public Work • Education • Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the Carnegie Libraries, and the National Register of Historic Places series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1910.

Location. 47° 28.359′ N, 94° 52.769′ W. Marker is in Bemidji, Minnesota, in Beltrami County. Marker is at the intersection of Bemidji Avenue North (State Highway 197) and 5th Street Northwest, on the right when traveling north on Bemidji Avenue North. The marker is mounted at eye-level, directly on the subject building, just to the right of the west/front entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 426 Bemidji Avenue North, Bemidji MN 56601, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 12 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. First Reserve Unit in the United States Called into Active Service in World War I (within shouting distance of this marker); Beltrami County History (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Paul Bunyan and Babe (approx. 0.2 miles away); Great Northern Depot

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(approx. 0.4 miles away); Bemidji's Great Northern Depot (approx. 0.4 miles away); Historic Beltrami Camp (approx. 5.1 miles away); Native American Fishing on the Turtle River (approx. 11½ miles away); Pottery Types of the Turtle River and Three Island Lake (approx. 11½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bemidji.

Regarding Carnegie Library. National Register of Historic Places #80001936.

From the National Register Nomination:
The former Bemidji Public Library is locally significant as a well-preserved component part of the group of 65 libraries in Minnesota financed by Andrew Carnegie. The building was constructed in 1909 with a $12,500 grant from Carnegie. When the library opened in 1910, both 5th Street and Highway 197 were narrow, and the building had a front lawn with trees between it and the street. Years of successive road widening/improvement projects have eliminated the lawn and left the building directly on State Hwy 197. The Carnegie Library is an important symbol of the commitment of early Minnesota settlers to provide culture and learning to the entire community, and their value for knowledge
via NPS, unknown

2. Bemidji Public Library
National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form
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and education available to all. This is a landmark building in Bemidji. Many of our earliest town structures have been demolished or changed. The Carnegie Library is thus one of the few remaining historic structures in Bemidji connecting the community with the city's founding.

Also see . . . Bemidji Carnegie Library. Wikipedia entry:
Excerpt:

The Bemidji Carnegie Library was built as a Carnegie library in 1909 and housed the city's public library until 1961. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 for its local significance in the themes of architecture and education. It was nominated for being a well-preserved example of a Carnegie library and of public Neoclassical architecture. The aging and deficient structure was threatened with demolition in the early 21st century, but received a $2.2 million restoration in 2019. The city of Bemidji now rents out the main floor as an event venue while leasing space in the basement as offices.

(Submitted on October 30, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 7, 2023

3. Carnegie Library Marker

(marker is mounted on right side of front entrance)

Carnegie Library (<i>west/front elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 7, 2023

4. Carnegie Library (west/front elevation)

Credits. This page was last revised on November 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 28, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 61 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on October 30, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 2. submitted on November 1, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 3, 4. submitted on October 30, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.