National Register of Historic Places

Owatonna Free Public Library

Owatonna, Steele County, Minnesota
Listed
June 6, 1976
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
76001075

About this property

The Owatonna Public Library is a public library in Owatonna, Minnesota, United States. It was established in 1896 and is housed in a building completed in 1900. It is a member of Southeastern Libraries Cooperating (SELCO), the regional public library system for Southeast Minnesota. Owatonna's public library was established in 1896 by a legacy donation of $5,000 (equivalent to $193,500 in 2025) from an Owatonna citizen. Votes passed in 1898 and 1899 to provide public funds for the construction of a dedicated library building. Frank A. Gutterson of Smith and Gutterson—an architectural firm based in Des Moines, Iowa—designed a two-story, cruciform facility in Neoclassical style. Construction began in 1899 and the library building was officially dedicated on February 22, 1900. The Owatonna Public Library building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 as the Owatonna Free Public Library for having local significance in the themes of architecture and education. It was nominated for its Neoclassical architecture and contributions to Owatonna's intellectual and cultural development. National Register of Historic Places listings in Steele County, Minnesota

Location

105 N. Elm St.
Owatonna, Steele County, Minnesota
44.08549, -93.22304

Categories

EDUCATIONARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Native Heritage
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Settlement
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Nearby Historic Sites

National Farmers' Bank
Industrial
0.1 mi
Steele County Courthouse
Industrial
0.1 mi
Adair, Dr. John H., House
Industrial
0.2 mi
Abbott, Ezra, House
Industrial
0.2 mi
Owatonna City and Firemen's Hall
Industrial
0.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Owatonna Free Public Library listed on the National Register?

Owatonna Free Public Library was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 6, 1976.

What type of historic resource is Owatonna Free Public Library?

Owatonna Free Public Library is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Owatonna Free Public Library?

The period of significance for Owatonna Free Public Library is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Owatonna Free Public Library?

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