Carnegie Public Library (Shelbyville, Kentucky)

The Carnegie Public Library, at 8th and Washington Streets in Shelbyville, Kentucky, is a Carnegie library which was built in 1903. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.[1]

Carnegie Public Library
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location in Kentucky Show map of Kentucky Location in United States Show map of the United States
Location	8th and Washington Sts., Shelbyville, Kentucky
Coordinates	38°12′44″N 85°13′11″W
Area	1.1 acres (0.45 ha)
Built	1903
Architectural style	Romanesque Revival
MPS	Shelbyville MRA
NRHP reference No.	85001253[1]
Added to NRHP	June 12, 1985

The first public library in Shelbyville was created by the local women's club in 1899. A board member corresponded with Andrew Carnegie leading to a grant of $10,000 for the construction of this building.[2]

It has an octagonal dome, and it has been deemed the best local example of Romanesque Revival architecture.[2]

As of 2020, the building is still in use as the Shelby County Public Library.[3]

References

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
2. Helen Powell (1983). "Kentucky Historic Resources Inventory: Carnegie Public Library". National Park Service. Retrieved March 8, 2019. With accompanying six photos from 1983
3. "About Us, Shelby County Public Library". Retrieved June 17, 2020.