Welcome to the Veteran’s Memorial Public Library. The library you see before you opened on July 8th, 1963, and replaced the Carnegie Library, which was demolished in 1980, however, the efforts to create Bismarck’s first free public library began much earlier. The industrious pioneer women of Bismarck first established a reading room in the school with 200 donated books soon after the city was established in 1873. The books were made available to the public after school hours. The first movement for a Carnegie Library began in 1893 by Marshall Jewell and C.M. Dahl. While the idea was initially well received by both the citizens and the Carnegie Foundation, the Panic of 1893 hit the country and the idea of a public library was shelved.

Other library campaigns were launched in 1901 by former Governor Hanna and others, but did not succeed. In 1908, the Civic Improvement League formed and named a library committee as did the city Federation of Women’s Clubs and the Bismarck Commercial Club. Bismarck was the only city with a population of over 3,000 that didn’t have a public library, and many of Bismarck’s community members weren’t happy. By 1915 community members and groups worked together to lay out plans for a reading room. Folks donated materials and labor for the shelves and bookcases. One year later, in 1916, the devoted groups received a letter from the Carnegie Foundation, which had agreed to give $25,000.00 to erect a free public library building for Bismarck. Construction was completed at the end of 1917.

After the old Carnegie Library was torn down in the 1980’s, and was later replaced by a parking garage, which can be found on 6th Street and Thayer. The architectural style of the parking structure pays respect to the original Carnegie library, and each level is named for famous authors. There is also a plaque inside the first floor, at the northeast corner that mentions the Carnegie Library.

The current library, the Veteran’s Memorial Library was originally constructed for $375,000. Its largest expansion and renovation concluded in 1989 at a cost of roughly $3.9 million. Once completed, the project added 50,000 square feet and renovated the original 18,000 square foot building. Several minor renovations have followed, including the Children’s Library in 2009, and an exterior renovation in 2022.

The library has continued to be one of the most visited public spaces in the city, and the industrious women of Bismarck/Mandan have continued to strengthen our community. In fact, much of the history in this Talking Point was documented by the Bismarck Library’s own Kathy Waldera, of whom we are grateful.