National Register Listing

Palestine Carnegie Library

a.k.a. Carnegie Library

502 N. Queen St., Palestine, TX

The Palestine Carnegie Library is one of the most architecturally distinctive historic libraries in Texas, and it fulfilled its original purpose for almost three-quarters of a century. It is one of 12 remaining Carnegie Library buildings in Texas out of the 32 or so once standing. Most other early 20th century libraries in Texas were designed in Beaux Arts-influenced styles, but the Palestine library design manipulated those influences into in a notable Prairie School mode. The building now houses Chamber of Commerce, Main Street and Economic Development offices, but it nonetheless retains its integrity to an unusual degree.

Local significance of the building:
Architecture

Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.