Mark in Texas History: 110-year-old Palestine Carnegie Library continues to serve community

PALESTINE, Texas (KLTV) - This historic East Texas building has quite the story, and it’s also home to quite a collection of stories.

Judge John Graham Gooch used his own books to get the Palestine library off the ground in 1853. The original city library was replaced in 1914 by the structure you see here, with assistance from the Carnegie Foundation.

Andrew Carnegie donated more than $40 million to construct nearly 1,700 libraries nationwide. This is one of only 13 standing today that serves as a library. The Carnegie Foundation donated $15,000 to the City of Palestine for this beautiful building.

It’s remained mostly unchanged ever since. The library outgrew its space and relocated in 1986, but it resumed its original purpose in 2023.

The Palestine Carnegie Library became a recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1970.

Next time you’re in Anderson County, you can check out the Palestine Library. You’ll find it right at the intersection of North Queen and West Crawford Streets.