What Is the Burlington Carnegie Library?
This was Burlington, Washington’s Carnegie Library from 1916 until 1979!
What Makes It Historical?
Some National Register nominations are upward of 30 pages; this one caps out at two! Its entire Evaluation of Significance reads “The Burlington Carnegie library has played an important role in the intellectual life of the town for most of the twentieth century.” Well cheers to J.H. Vandermeer, the historian from the Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation who successfully got this library registered in 1981!
Anyway, as we know, Andrew Carnegie gave away 90% of his money in his final years, and a big chunk of that was in grants to start free libraries. Here in Burlington, the driving force in getting the town’s first library was a women’s group called the Alpha Club, who had opened a reading room in 1911 and spent five years working on getting a $5,000 grant for a bigger, better, more official library. Built by the firm of James E. Blackwell & Frank L. Baker, who’d also built Olympia’s Carnegie Library, the Burlington Carnegie Library opened in 1916, run by first paid librarian, Doris Bayly! This little library served the community for 63 years until a new municipal library opened across the street in 1979!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Volunteer with the Skagit County Historical Museum!
- Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
How Do I Get There?
901 E Fairhaven Ave
Burlington, WA 98233
(Take Me There!)
When Should I Visit?
This building is closed (2025), but you can enjoy the exterior any time you like!
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