Alameda Carnegie Building

Carnegie libraries in California were funded through grants offered by the Carnegie Corporation around the turn of the 20th Century. Carnegie wished to share his passion for reading and books throughout the world by creating matching grants to build libraries in the U.S. 142 public libraries were built from Carnegie 121 grants in California.

Alameda Free Library
Opened: October 3, 1899
Cost: $35,000

2264 Santa Clara Ave.
Alameda, California

Opened in 1903, this Wilcox and Curtis Neoclassical building (also described as Classical Revival) served as a public library until 1998.

It has been vacant since, with hopes to put the Pacific Pinball Museum into the building if a $3 million campaign succeeds in raising the needed capital to refurbish the graceful, yet aged structure. Brick columns, stained glass windows, a barrel vault atrium ceiling and arched skylight grace this handsome testament to a time when extra care was put into libraries built for the decades. Prominent San Francisco architects William Wilcox and John Curtis designed the facility; builders were C.H. Foster and Son of Alameda.

History: One of three initial library buildings in California funded by Andrew Carnegie in 1899, the first year grants were provided in the Golden State, construction delays were caused by eager locals who sought to enhance the structure with a proper edifice. In 1901 the grant was increased to $35,000.