The Alliance for Historic Wyoming Watch List brings statewide attention to historic properties in
Wyoming that are currently threatened with demolition or neglect. Properties listed on the
Watch List are significant to Wyoming at the local or state level and have local support for their preservation.

Significance and Threat

The Alliance for Historic Wyoming is monitoring the status of the Green River Carnegie Building due to neglect and lack of maintenance, as well as previously stated intentions for the building to be demolished. No current plans are in motion, but there are also no plans for the building to be reused or renovated for future use.

History

Sixteen public libraries were built in Wyoming between 1899 and 1919 with funding from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. Carnegie’s program provided funding for the construction of 1,679 free public libraries all across the US, as well as in other countries. Carnegie believed that a library should be a visible and distinguished addition to a town’s architectural presence, and in return for funding building construction he required that communities provide the land, and commit to ongoing funding for library furnishings, books, and staff.

Wyoming ranks first in the nation for Carnegie grant appropriations per capita because of the state’s low population and the number of libraries constructed. Six of our Carnegie libraries have been demolished, and nine are still in use as libraries, museums, and other public buildings. Only one, the Green River Carnegie, is vacant and in danger of being lost to disuse and neglect.

The building was designed by renowned Wyoming architect William Dubois, who also designed the Cheyenne library, and was dedicated in 1907. It certainly meets Carnegie’s guidelines for a substantial and distinguished center of learning with its grand staircase and elegant interior, including decorative woodwork, several fireplaces, and a stained glass window. It was used until a new library was built in 1980, and then was repurposed as a district court, but has been empty now for many years. Water damage from a leaky roof and poor drainage around the foundation have led to structural instability, and Sweetwater County, which owns the building, has been unwilling to fund repairs to bring it back into use. At least two architectural and engineering studies have been completed, in 2012 and 2019, to evaluate the building’s structural soundness and points of weakness and make recommendations for renovation work that would make it safe and usable once again.

Surprisingly, the Green River Carnegie is not included in the Downtown Historic District listed in the National Register of Historic Places, although it should certainly be eligible as an architecturally distinguished and civically important landmark for the town and the county.
There has recently been renewed interest in the community for preserving this important architectural gem, but it will be a major undertaking to rehabilitate and repurpose the structure. It would be a tragedy to lose yet another of these historic libraries that have added so much to the character and community spirit of our small towns.

UPDATE: During our visit celebrating the ribbon cutting, AHW staff had the opportunity to visit the historic Carnegie Library in Green River. Though showing obvious signs of disrepair, the building appears to be in a similar condition to the reports and assessments completed over the past two decades, indicating that the deterioration has been steady, yet slow-moving. Inside, the iconic stained glass window, original fireplaces, and authentic wood paneling remain as though paused in time. The library maintains its unique architectural features that have stood as a landmark in the city for 117 years.

Situated between Sweetwater County, and Green River’s administrative buildings, a new use for the building has been difficult to identify. Issues, such as parking, water drainage, and accessibility have been major concerns for determining how to put the structure back into service for the community. Finding a solution that balances preservation with practicality will be crucial in saving this treasured space.

Contact Information and Call to Action

• Wyoming State Historic Preservation Board
• The Green River Historic Preservation Commission
• Keep up to date with the Alliance for Historic Wyoming

Support the Alliance

You can help the Alliance for Historic Wyoming in our efforts to preserve historic places and spaces across the state of Wyoming with advocacy, awareness, and action. The Watch List is meant to bring attention to historic locations in danger, and work is necessary to attempt to save them.

Subscribe to our Newsletter to keep track of advocacy alerts and other ways you can help in our mission, and please consider donating so we can continue this work. You can also become a member or volunteer to get involved in historic preservation of Wyoming’s buildings and sites that connect us to the past.