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 education, learning, 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.