Ritzville Carnegie Library
302 W. Main St., Ritzville, WAThe history of the Ritzville library began in 1902 with the donation to the city of 364 volumes by Daniel Buchanan. The library was incorporated under the auspices of the city in 1903 and a ballot proposition seeking voter approval for the expenditure of funds appeared in the 1904 general election. These activities were undertaken in anticipation of the city's application for a Carnegie grant. The grant was approved in 1906, first for $10,000, and, after the city promised $50 more per year in operating appropriations, later for $10,500. A downtown site was obtained for $2,500 and the new library was constructed in 1907. It has served ever since as the city's library. The building has stood up well, although the brickwork has been repointed. In 1980 the flat roof withstood the strain of tons of Mt. St. Helens volcanic ash. Although space is limited, the library is able to offer its patrons a variety of services by co-operation with the Spokane system.
This building, like other Carnegie libraries, has been the central focus of Ritzville's intellectual and cultural life for most of this century.
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
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.