Cleburne Carnegie Library
Also known as: Cleburne Public Library
Why it's listed
Built in 1905 at 201 North Caddo Street, this two-story brick library in downtown Cleburne, Texas, was the first building in the town designed by a professional architect. The Texas firm Smith and Moore drew the plans, and the local firm Zimmerman and McCoy built it. Its monumental Classic Revival front features paired two-story columns, a pressed copper cornice, a pediment and decorative stucco wreaths. Inside, cast metal columns and ornate plaster work enrich the main reading space, while the upstairs auditorium retains its stage, pressed metal ceiling and original pine floor. The library grew from a women's club campaign begun in 1901 and a $20,000 Carnegie grant. It occupies the former site of Camp Henderson, an early military outpost near which settlers founded Cleburne. The auditorium once hosted local theatre and Shakespearean performances and now holds a museum. The city took over ownership in 1952, and the building still serves as the public library with its original furnishings.
Significance in brief: It was the first professionally designed building in Cleburne and stands on the former site of Camp Henderson, the military outpost around which the town was named. It has served the community continuously as a library since 1905, and its original furnishings remain in daily use. The upstairs auditorium hosted local theatrical productions and now houses a museum.
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 76002042, listed December 12, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 201 N. Caddo St., Cleburne |
|---|---|
| County | Johnson County |
| Listed | December 12, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76002042 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1905 |
| Architect / builder | Smith and Moore (architects); Zimmerman and McCoy (builders) |
| Architectural style | Classic Revival (Neo-Classical Revival) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in good condition; operated by the City of Cleburne as a public library, with a museum on the second floor. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Within district | Cleburne Downtown Historic District |
| Coordinates | 32.34856, -97.38643 (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 76002042.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q63056298
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.