McMinnville Public Library

McMinnville Public Library  |  Carnegie Library

225 NW Adams Street  |  Built 1912

In the early 20th Century, McMinnville's leaders decided that the growing city needed a permanent home for its library, which up to that point had been a nomadic collection of books stored in rental spaces around town.

To accomplish that goal, a library board was created in 1911 with the purpose of founding a permanent library. In 1911 they secured the dedication of a Carnegie Library from the Carnegie Foundation. Designed by Ernst Kroner, a Portland architect, the new library was completed and dedicated in the spring of 1913. 

The building sits on the edge of the City Park facing north. Though the original Carnegie Library building has been somewhat overshadowed by the modern library addition and breezeway, it is still easy to distinguish the two buildings even though they are conjoined. If you look closely you can find the stained-glass lunette above the original doors displaying the design of fir trees, a lamp and the words, “Carnegie Library 1912”.

City Park has grown up around the library and the building is surrounded by many beautiful and large trees, including Douglas Firs, a Monkey Puzzle tree, and a Giant Sequoia which serves as the city Christmas tree and stands proudly over the library and park. This gathering place continues to be a hub for all of McMinnville's community members. 

                                                                 For images of the the property, and further details, check out the link below:

                                                                 Historic Resources Inventory Documentation