Kanab in Kane County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Kanab Library
Utah Historic Site
Photographed by Bill Kirchner, May 17, 2016
1. Kanab Library Marker
The Kanab Library was built between 1939 and 1940 as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project. The library is one of 226 buildings constructed in Utah under the WPA and is important in documenting the impact of New Deal programs in the state. Utah was one of the most severely affected states during the Depression, having a 25 percent average unemployment rate during the era. For this reason, the state was ninth among the 48 states for per-capita federal spending.
Although the Kanab Library was founded in 1915, it was not at first housed in a permanent structure but was rather moved around to various temporary accommodations. In 1938, an $8,000 bond election was approved to build a permanent library, and plans drawn by the architect Carson F. Wells were acquired from the city of Salina, which had just constructed a library, The Kanab Library is basically identical to the Salina building and combines features of both the Prairie School and Art Deco styles. Wells's design combines a symmetrical facade with abstract geometrical embellishments which tones down the rigidly formal appearance of the building.
Erected 2002
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Charity & Public Work • Education. In addition, it is included in the Art Deco, and the Works Progress Administration (WPA) projects series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1939.
Location. 37° 2.878′ N, 112° 31.554′ W. Marker is in Kanab, Utah, in Kane County. It is on 100 East, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 13 South 100 East, Kanab UT 84741, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Utah’s Color Country. It is also in the American Southwest, in the Mountain West, on the Colorado Plateau, and at the Four Corners. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexico’s Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Votes for Women (here, next to this marker); Kanab School (within shouting distance
Photographed by Bill Kirchner, May 17, 2016
2. Kanab Library Marker
Photographed by Bill Kirchner, May 17, 2016
3. Kanab Library
Credits. This page was last revised on August 26, 2020. It was originally submitted on May 29, 2016, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 557 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 29, 2016, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona.
