Few People Know America Got Its First Carnegie Library West Of The Mississippi Right Here In Iowa In 1892

Here's a neat bit of trivia that not many Iowans realize: the first Carnegie Library west of the Mississippi River is right here in Iowa. You can still visit it today - it's now the Carnegie Historical Museum, and it's located in Fairfield, Iowa.

Fairfield, Iowa’s former library is a stately old red brick building erected in 1892. It once housed the first library to be built west of the Mississippi with funding from Andrew Carnegie.

Carnegie, one of America’s richest industrialists who led the expansion of America’s steel industry, was also a generous philanthropist. Part of his legacy is a system of nearly 1,700 public libraries, made possible by his $60 million of donations.

Fairfield’s old library building now houses the Carnegie Historical Museum. The museum explores local history, with volunteers continually researching and adding new displays.

Walk through the old drugstore as well as several rooms set up like an old settler’s cabin. One display you don’t want to miss is the 9.5-foot trolly spinning wheel.

The museum has also sponsored wool carding and spinning classes in past summers, so keep an eye out for future opportunities!

Check out the Civil War exhibit, information on women’s suffrage, and the beautiful pottery displays. Stop to read old newspaper clippings to see what life was like in Iowa’s early days.

If you’re interested in Iowa’s native animals, you’ll want to explore the Smithsonian taxidermy section of the Museum. The buffalo head has been carefully restored, and the extensive collection of birds is as fascinating as it is beautiful.

Don’t forget to check out the sculptures and memorials outside the building as well. Did you play leapfrog as a child?

To learn more about this historic structure, and the museum it houses, head over to the Jefferson County Heritage website. And if you love obscure bits of Iowa trivia, you'll also want to know all about the oldest musical band west of the Mississippi. That happened right here in Iowa as well!