The historic Carnegie Library in Thief River Falls grew out of early local efforts to create a public book collection beginning around 1900, when residents organized a small community library in a storefront. As the collection expanded, the city sought a permanent facility and received a $12,500 grant from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, matched by local funds. The resulting Carnegie Library building was constructed in 1914 and dedicated in 1915, providing much-needed space, including a dedicated children’s area. Over time, the library outgrew the building and moved to a new location in 1966, but the original Carnegie structure remains an important historic landmark, later listed on the National Register of Historic Places and preserved as a symbol of the community’s long commitment to public education and access to knowledge.