Carnegie Library
The Leavenworth Public Library building was built between 1901 and 1902 with a grant of $25,000 from Andrew Carnegie who funded approximately 2500 libraries across the nation. His connection with Leavenworth was through the shipyard here in town which purchased Carnegie steel. The two-story gray brick and limestone structure is now on the National and State Historic Buildings lists due to its historic and architectural significance. Originally the building had a hipped roof that was redesigned within a few years of completion to the roof now seen on the building. The original building had a stacks area that was only one story high and this, too, was altered within the first few years by adding several feet to the height of the stacks room roofline to accommodate a second level, glass floored stacks area.
In 1987 the Leavenworth Public Library moved into a remodeled building on Spruce Street which could better accommodate the public and the building was donated by the Library board of directors and the City of Leavenworth to the newly organized Leavenworth Area Arts Council. The Arts Council was funded only by local donations and much volunteer labor. Volunteers worked to “dig up” the original mosaic tiled floor in the entry hall. Both the current office area and the Main reception room of the building were reading rooms.