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Site of Nevada’s First Public Library

Site of Nevada’s First Public Library

Site of Nevada’s First Public Library Overview

In 1895, Frank H. Norcross began persuading the Nevada Legislature to enact a law to establish public libraries.

The state’s first public library building was erected on this site in 1904, with donations from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie and pioneer Myron C. Lake.

It remained in service until 1930 and was demolished in 1931.

Category

  • Event
  • Person

Marker Type

Concrete

Nevada Historical Marker Number

The site of Nevada’s First Public Library is Nevada Historical Marker #247.

Click here to view the full list of Nevada State Historical Markers.

County

Washoe County, Nevada

GPS Coordinates

39.524939 -119.812356

Nevada Historical Marker Transcription

In 1895, Washoe County District Attorney, Frank H. Norcross, later a Chief Justice of the Nevada Supreme Court and a Federal Judge, began a drive to establish Nevada’s first free public library in Reno.  That year, he persuaded the Nevada Legislature to enact a law establishing Nevada’s public libraries.

The state’s first public library building was erected on this site in 1904, with $15,000 donated by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie on land originally donated to the City of Reno by pioneer Myron C. Lake.  It remained in service until 1930, when growth forced its relocation to the site where the Pioneer Theater Auditorium now stands.  The library was sold for $1 and demolished in 1931.

In 1966, the library was relocated to a new building at Center and Liberty Streets, three blocks south of this site.

STATE HISTORICAL MARKER No. 247

DIVISION OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION & ARCHEOLOGY

WASHOE COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM

References Used

Site of Nevada’s First Public Library