Paducah in McCracken County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

A Century of Library Service 1904-2004

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, September 14, 2011

1. A Century of Library Service 1904-2004 Marker

Inscription. This Carnegie Public Library opened at 826 Broadway in October 1904 with a grant of $35,000 from Andrew Carnegie. The book collection contained 1,800 volumes. The Library served at this location until a fire in 1964 forced it to move into temporary quarters at 707 Broadway. The Library was reorganized as the Paducah Area Public Library in 1966 and in 1970 opened in new facilities at 555 Washington St. as the Paducah Public Library. The Fiscal Court formed a Library District in 2000 changing the name to McCracken County Library.

Funded by the people of the community who responded to the call: "Remember the Carnegie"

Erected by Sponsored by the Friends of McCracken County Public Library,.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Charity & Public Work. In addition, it is included in the Carnegie Libraries series list. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1904.

Location. 37° 5.185′ N, 88° 35.579′ W. Marker is in Paducah, Kentucky, in McCracken County. It is on South Water Street south of Kentucky Avenue, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 200 S Water Street, Paducah KY 42003, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Kentucky’s Jackson Purchase.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the South,

in the Upper South,

and in the Ohio River Valley.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

of this marker: Riverside Hospital at Fort Anderson (here, next to this marker); Union Labor (here, next to this marker); U.S. Marine Hospital Service (a few steps from this marker); Western Baptist Hospital (a few steps from this marker); "Evening Roll Call" (a few steps from this marker); Paducah Coca-Cola Bottling Company (a few steps from this marker); Paducah's Railroad Heritage (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Welcome to the Atomic City (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Paducah.

Also see . . . The Paducah Wall to Wall Floodwall Mural Project. Renowned artist Robert Dafford and his team of muralists capture Paducah’s rich history in paintings on the city’s floodwall overlooking the confluence of the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers. (Submitted on October 22, 2011.)

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, September 14, 2011

2. A Century of Library Service 1904-2004 Marker

Carnegie Library

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, September 14, 2011

3. A Century of Library Service 1904-2004 Marker

Between Union Labor and Riverside Hospital Murals.

McCracken County Public Library image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, September 14, 2011

4. McCracken County Public Library

555 Washington St.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 18, 2011, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 1,247 times since then and 54 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 18, 2011, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.