Richfield Carnegie Library

Of Utah's Carnegie libraries, this one stands apart for how it looks. Andrew Carnegie's money built twenty-three libraries across the state in the early century, most of them in the formal classical styles of the day — but when Richfield built its own in 1913, the local architect Archibald Young drew it in the Craftsman style instead, all low lines and honest woodwork. It is the only Carnegie library in Utah done that way, and one of very few Craftsman public buildings anywhere in the state. Young built much of old Richfield; this is his most distinctive survivor.

What the plaque says

Built in 1913-14, the Richfield Carnegie Library is one of 23 Carnegie Libraries in Utah and one of over 1650 library buildings in the United States that were built by millionaire/philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. Carnegie donated the entire cost of the building on the condition that the town provide the land, books, librarian and an annual maintenance budget. The Richfield Carnegie Library is the only Carnegie Library designed in the Craftsman Style and is one of the very few examples of the Craftsmen Style on a non-residential building in the state. The Richfield Carnegie Library was designed and built by Archibald G. Young, a local architect/builder, who is credited with constructing numerous buildings in the Richfield area.

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Big Rock Candy Mountain — 15 mi
  The real mountain that inspired the famous hobo folk song
• Fremont Indian State Park — 19 mi
  The largest known Fremont Indian village ever discovered
• Fishlake National Forest — 25 mi
  Home to Pando — the largest living organism on Earth
• Mayfield — 32 mi
  Gateway to Twelve Mile Canyon and the Skyline Drive high country

More markers nearby

• Richfield Pioneers — 0.3 mi
• Old Lime Kiln — 1.7 mi
• Elsinore Pioneers — 6.7 mi
• Fort Alma — 9.4 mi