OpenStreetMap (new tab)

Google Map (new tab)

Google Streetview (new tab)

Overview

Perched on a steep hill in Downtown Bellingham, this Carnegie Library functioned for 43 years before it was superceded by a new central library. Patrons had to climb 57 steps to reach the facility, a huge deterrant to disabled and elderly users.

Building History

Philanthropist Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919) donated $20,000 to the City of Bellingham for the construction of a new public library contingent on the city's agreement that it would purchase a lot and provide for annual subsidies to support its maintenance.

The City of Bellingham received a $20,000 grant to erect a new public library from the Carnegie Corporation of New York in 1906. As per the grant's requirements, the city had to purchase a proper site and commit to the maintenance of the facility for its useful life. Construction occurred during 1907-1908, with its opening happening on 02/03/1908. (The date of the opening has been given as 02/21/1908 by the Bellingham Public Library itself. An article in the Tacoma Daily News, however, stated that the date of opening was actually on 02/03/1908.) Of the opening the Tacoma Daily News reported: “The handsome new Carnegie library was opened to the public yesterday. One of the relics removed from the old library to the new is a bookcase that was used in the first public library established in this city. The case is only about three feet wide with four shelves, but at that time it was large enough to hold the entire collection of books.” (See “Bellingham Library Opened,” Tacoma Daily News, 02/04/1908, p. 10.)

Demolition

The building was closed as a library in 09/1951, and it remained empty for two years until it was razed. City officials regarded the hill on which it was sited at this time. the flattened land became used as a parking lot for the Bellingham Federal Building.

PCAD id: 22114