Yolo Branch Library
Also known as: Yolo Carnegie Library
Why it's listed
Yolo's Carnegie library is a small L-shaped wood bungalow with Craftsman detailing, clad in narrow shiplap and set back from the street in downtown Yolo. Built in 1918 for $3,400 using a $3,000 Carnegie grant, it opened on December 1, 1918 and was dedicated the following January. Architect William H. Weeks, better known for his Greek-temple Carnegie libraries, drew the plans, as confirmed by signed blueprints in county archives. Yolo was chosen for the county's single Carnegie-funded branch because its earlier quarters were in poor repair and it served a large rural population. Local citizens raised the money for the lot, and the county supervisors guaranteed tax support. The library grew out of Yolo County's early rural library service, begun in 1910 through Woodland. The building is one of only four wood Carnegie libraries in California with Craftsman elements, and it remains essentially unchanged and in library use today.
Significance in brief: It is one of the last Carnegie libraries funded and one of only four California Carnegies built of wood with Craftsman elements, three of which survive. It reflects the pioneering Yolo County rural library service and the community effort that brought a permanent branch to the town. It is also an architecturally intact work by noted Carnegie architect William H. Weeks.
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 90001810, listed December 10, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 200 Sacramento St., Yolo |
|---|---|
| County | Yolo County |
| Listed | December 10, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90001810 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1918-1921 |
| Architect / builder | Weeks, William H. |
| Architectural style | Bungalow/Craftsman |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a library; essentially unaltered since 1918 apart from an air conditioner, and in need of painting but otherwise well cared for. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.73311, -121.80710 (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 90001810.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14684278
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.