The Carnegie Library

The Lincoln Clay Arts Center’s new home will be Lincoln's historic Carnegie Library, a landmark building located at 590 Fifth Street in the heart of downtown. For more than a century, the Carnegie Library served as a vibrant hub for learning, experimenting and community life.

Backed by a 1907 grant from Andrew Carnegie, the original construction was a true community effort: the site was purchased and donated by the citizens of Lincoln, while Gladding, McBean donated the core building materials, including the brick, terra-cotta trim and clay roof tiles. Opened in 1909, the building served as Lincoln's community library until the new Lincoln Twelve Bridges Library opened in 2011.

Designed by architect Allen D. Fellows and built by the Hoyt Brothers of Santa Rosa, the two-story structure is a beautiful example of Classical Revival style. Massive arched windows on all sides flood the interior with generous natural light.

While the building has been closed to the public for fifteen years, it remains one of the city's most cherished historic landmarks, earning a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990 (National Register #90001814). Reactivating this beloved space has long been a community priority, seamlessly aligning with ongoing downtown Lincoln revitalization efforts.

Carnegie Library Timeline

• • 1907–1909
    Andrew Carnegie provides funding and Gladding, McBean building materials for the construction of the Carnegie Library, which opens in 1909.

  • 1990
    The Carnegie Library is added to the National Register of Historic Places in recognition of its architectural and historical significance.

  • 2000

The building undergoes its first major renovation with the addition of a central heating and cooling system, new book shelves, overhead lighting, an ADA compliant restroom and new flooring on the main level. 

• • 2011
    The building ceases operation as a public library but remains a cherished civic landmark.

  • 2024
    The Lincoln Clay Arts Center (LCAC) is established as a nonprofit organization. The City of Lincoln funds a feasibility study to evaluate the adaptive reuse potential of the Carnegie Library.

  • 2025–2026
    AMS Planning & Research completes feasibility study commissioned by LCAC for the adaptive reuse of the Carnegie Library as a community clay arts center.  

  • 2027 Opening
    LCAC anticipates opening its doors in early 2027, with programming and exhibitions launching in phases as funding becomes available.