Peabody Historical Library Museum

Peabody Historical Library Museum, also known under the older name of Old Peabody Library, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1973. It is located in the Downtown Historic District of Peabody, Kansas. The building has state significance because it was the first free tax-supported library in Kansas.[2]

Old Peabody Library
Library in 1908
Location within the state of Kansas
Location106 E Division Ave
Peabody, Kansas, 66866
Coordinates38°10′2″N 97°6′22″W
Built1875
Architectural styleVernacular
Restored1927 and 1960
Part ofPeabody Downtown Historic District (ID98000590)
NRHP reference No.73000765 [1]
Added to NRHPJuly 2, 1973

History

Library

The city of Peabody was named in 1871 after F.H. Peabody, of Boston, formerly vice-president of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway company.[book 1] [book 2] In May 1874, Mr. Peabody visited the new city, at which time he announced he would donate money for a library building, furniture, books, periodicals and landscaping if the Peabody township would secure four lots for the site. The contract for construction was awarded in early 1875, and the library was opened to the public in June; in February 1876 the state legislature authorized the township to levy a tax to support the library. The structure housed the library facilities until 1914.[book 3][2]

Moved

In 1914, the library was moved, and the Peabody Township Carnegie Library was constructed on the original location.[book 3] The building was initially moved to the Peabody City Park, then later it was moved to south of the old Peabody Grade School near the railroad tracks. It was restored in 1927. The building was used for club meetings and stood idle for a number of years.[2]

Museum

In 1960, while planning for the 1961 Kansas centennial celebration, local citizens organized to move the structure to a lot near its original location (east of the Carnegie library). The old library building was converted and dedicated as a museum on July 3, 1961.[2]

Hours

As of 2011, it is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month and each federal holiday (Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day). The hours are 2 pm to 4 pm on each of these days.

  • Fountain next to W.H. Morgan House (immediate right), W.H. Morgan Barn (back right with red roof), Carnegie Library (left with brown brick), Museum (back middle with green roof). Looking north-east in 2010.

See also

References
Books
  1. Kansas : A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc; 3 Volumes; Frank W. Blackmar; Standard Publishing Co; 944 pages; 1912. (54MB PDF) (Volume2, 955 pages, 53MB PDF), (Volume3, 824 pages, 33MB PDF)
  2. Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway : Annual Meetings, and Directors and Officers : Volumes 7; AT&SF Railway; 1902. (12MB PDF)
  3. History of the State of Kansas; William G. Cutler; A.T. Andreas Publisher; 1883.
Other
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. National Register of Historic Places - Peabody Historical Library Museum

Further reading
See also: List of books about Peabody, Kansas
Peabody Historical Library Museum (old library)
Peabody Township Carnegie Library (new library)
Peabody Downtown Historic District (museum is located in this district)
Maps
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