Lewistown Carnegie Library
Introduction
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The Lewistown Public Library is a historic library built by Croatian stone masons in 1908.
Backstory and Context
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The first library in Lewistown was established in 1897 and was located in a hat shop and had a collection of 269 books. It operated there for two years before being moved to the county superintendent of school's office. In 1905, the town received a grant from steel magnate and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, who helped communities around the country (and around the world) build libraries in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Carnegie sent a $10,000 grant to Lewistown and residents matched that amount along with a $1,000 for maintenance. In 1959, an addition called the Busch Memorial Library was built on the library's northeast slope. It appears that another addition was built in 1990 along Main Street, giving the library its current appearance.
Sources
Hughes, John. "Lewistown Carnegie Library." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. August 11, 1980. https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/c07e4ce2-2a82-40f7-b20f-bd618096823d.
The Montana National Register Sign Program. "Carnegie Library." Montana Historical Society - Digital Vault. Accessed July 9, 2020. http://digitalvault.mhs.mt.gov/items/show/20081.
Lewistown Public Library