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ART AND HISTORY DON’T JUST LIVE ON MUSEUM WALLS, THEY LIVE IN YOU.

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THE CARNEGIE CENTER FOR ART AND HISTORY

The Carnegie Center for Art and History, a branch of the Floyd County Public Library, serves as a cultural resource for the education and enjoyment of the citizens of Floyd County and the surrounding metro area. To fulfill that mission we collect, preserve, and interpret the history and heritage of Floyd County; promote an appreciation of and participation in the visual arts; and preserve the historic Carnegie Library building in which the museum is housed.

Andrew Carnegie, the Scottish-American industrialist, used his vast wealth to fund his passion for free access to education and literacy. In his lifetime he funded thousands of libraries, schools and universities around the world, donating the modern equivalent of more than 76 billion dollars of his fortune.

Indiana is home to more Carnegie libraries than any other state and New Albany is just one town that benefited from Andrew Carnegie’s generosity. Our stunning home was designed by famed Louisville architectural firm of Clark and Loomis, which would later go on to design the Speed Art Museum. Construction on the library began in 1902 and was completed in 1904.

The building served as the town’s library for 65 years. In 1969, New Albany-Floyd County Public Library moved into much larger premises at 180 West Spring Street, where it remains today.

After the newly vacated former library building was threatened with demolition, a group of citizens formed the Floyd County Museum in 1971 as a local history museum and art gallery. The Floyd County Museum was incorporated into the New Albany-Floyd County Public Library in 1988.

After a major renovation in 1998, the museum was renamed the Carnegie Center for Art and History. The name better reflects our library heritage and mission to protect the historic building, to collect, preserve and interpret local history and to promote an appreciation of and participation in the visual arts.

The Carnegie Center for Art and History stands as testament to the dedication of New Albany’s residents – to preserve our town and our region’s past, to educate our children, and to celebrate the arts.

As a public entity the Carnegie Center has designated entrances, restrooms, and elevator services that are compliant for accessibility following State and Federal ADA requirements.

The Carnegie Center for Art and History is pleased to be a member of the United States National Park Service’s Network to Freedom. The Network to Freedom was implemented with the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act of 1998 as an effort to connect and preserve local historical places and museums associated with the Underground Railroad. More information on the Network to Freedom can be found here. The Carnegie Center’s membership in the Network to Freedom strengthens our mission to preserve the history of New Albany and provide that history to a national network.

 

The Carnegie Center for Art and History is supported by the Indiana Arts Commission

Governance

The Carnegie Center for Art and History is a branch of the Floyd County Library, governed by the library Board of Trustees.

2023 Library Board of Trustees

Roger Whaley, President

Erica Lawrence, Vice President

Kate Ziady, Secretary

Amy Niemeier, Treasurer

Steve Burks, Board Member

Ann Carruthers, Board Member

Pam Poe, Board Member

 

Carnegie Center for Art and History, Inc.

The Carnegie Center for Art and History, Inc. is a separate non-profit organization that supports the Carnegie Center through fundraising, volunteering, and advocacy.

President

Courtney Lewis

Vice President

Janie Whaley

Treasurer

Buz Lorch

Secretary

Barb Bitzegaio

Members

Todd Antz

Sarah Carney

David Duggins

Stefanie Griffith

Victoria Harper

Jamie Holley

Claire Johnson

Ben Newkirk

Ron C. Stiller

Marietta Willman

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