Carnegie Library
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Why it's listed
Built in 1908 at 241 S. Anaheim Boulevard, this brick and gunite building served as Anaheim's public library for fifty-five years. Funding came from a $10,000 Andrew Carnegie grant, supported by residents who raised money to buy the site. Architect John Austin of Los Angeles gave it a neo-classical facade with Corinthian columns and a raised entrance, a response to the town's early flooding problems. A semi-circular rear addition followed in 1910. Early holdings included many German-language books, reflecting the community's heritage. It is the only Carnegie library still standing in Orange County, and one of few historic structures surviving in Anaheim's redeveloped downtown core. The exterior is largely unchanged, though some ornament has been removed and fire exits added. The interior kept its original paneling and woodwork, now painted. After the library closed in 1964, the building housed a senior center and then the city Personnel Department, with a museum proposed as a future use.
Significance in brief: It is the only surviving Carnegie Library in Orange County and one of few historic structures left in Anaheim's old commercial core. It is also the only Anaheim building by Los Angeles architect John C. Austin, and its neo-classical design combines gunite and glazed brick in a way unique to the city. It served Anaheim as its public library for fifty-five years.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 79000511, listed October 22, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 241 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim |
|---|---|
| County | Orange County |
| Listed | October 22, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79000511 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | John Austin, Los Angeles (Austin, Field and Fry) |
| Architectural style | Neo-classical (reviewers noted elements of Second Renaissance Revival and Mission style) |
| Areas of significance | Education |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the city and maintained by it; used by the city Personnel Department, with a museum use proposed after the department moves. Condition listed as excellent to good. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 33.83338, -117.91345 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 79000511.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5043915
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.