Marin History Museum Events
If your organization has an event you'd like us to post,
please sent us a note through the contact page
San Rafael library hits 130 years of service, looks to expand
Story in the Marin IJ, June 3rd
Story in the Marin IJ, June 3rd
![Picture](/uploads/5/8/3/8/58382861/editor/san-rafael-public-library.jpg?1496961487)
Most of us assume that our library started out in its present Classical Revival Carnegie-endowed building. But library roots go back to 1887, when the Women’s Christian Temperance Union started a coffee and reading room with a free library in downtown San Rafael. By 1890, this library had been turned over to the City of San Rafael. In 1904, the Good Government Club and a local judge who was a personal friend of Andrew Carnegie asked Carnegie for funds for a proper library building. A grant of $25,000 brought the structure into existence in 1909. It was designed by the same architects who designed San Francisco’s Fairmont Hotel.
The Carnegie endowment gave San Rafael a gracious, lovely, building of civic importance that our citizens have viewed with great pride for 108 years!
The Carnegie endowment gave San Rafael a gracious, lovely, building of civic importance that our citizens have viewed with great pride for 108 years!
Civic Center Tours
One-hour docent-led tours of the Civic Center are offered every Wednesday at 10:30 am