Our History

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For weather-related changes to our hours, please see our Facebook or Instagram pages for the most up-to-date information.

SEARCH THE CATALOG

Exclamation Mark (150 × 150 px) (1)

For weather-related changes to our hours, please see our Facebook or Instagram pages for the most up-to-date information.

SEARCH THE CATALOG

We Forge Our Own History

Welcome to the home of the first Carnegie library in the United States! Established in 1889 in Braddock, Pennsylvania, the library stands as a testament to Andrew Carnegie's vision of providing access to knowledge and resources for all.

Braddock Carnegie Library Timeline

Where Our Story Begins…

Situated in the very town where Carnegie's inaugural steel mill operated, the Braddock Carnegie Library embodies the opulence of the nineteenth-century industrial boom. Its architectural style and intricate details reflect the prosperity of the era. Over time, the building has not only retained its beauty but has also borne witness to the challenges faced by economically disadvantaged neighborhoods and public institutions. As the community endured industrial decline and population loss, the library, too, bore the scars of neglect.

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What’s coming up...

18th Annual Chili Cook-Off
Saturday, March 21 1pm-4pm
419 Library Street | Braddock, PA 15104

Our annual fundraiser is back and back home in our building. Please join us for an afternoon of delicious chili, with music and fun for all!

We will have special guest judges from local restaurants Asti's Steakhouse, Aunt Cheryl's Cafe and Braddock Public House. While at the event, you can peruse and purchase Carnegie One merchandise, including artisan-made bowls handcrafted in our Bathhouse Ceramics Studio! Come support our mission and programs!

Buy your Chili Cook-Off tickets here!

We're still accepting competitors until March 13th. Sign up to cook here and compete for one of two cash prizes of $250 each. The entry fee is $10.

“This building was built to last…for generations to come…a center of light & learning, a never-failing spring of all good influences.”

— Andrew Carnegie, March 30, 1889 Dedication of Braddock Carnegie Library