In addition to shopping venues, Victorian architecture, Thorncrown Chapel, The Great Passion Play, music shows, unique lodging, tons of events, and other tourist attractions, the town of Eureka Springs, Arkansas, is rich in history.Part of that history will be celebrated this year with the centennial of its Carnegie Public Library.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Andrew Carnegie founded 2,509 libraries in several countries. He spent more than $55 million of his wealth on libraries alone.
In 1910 a group of residents from Eureka Springs petitioned Andrew Carnegie for funds to build a public library in the town. Carnegie agreed to donate $12,500 for a library, contingent upon the city providing funds for a librarian, books and utilities.
For a full century, citizens of Eureka Springs have shown their appreciation of Carnegie’s generous gift to the town by patronizing, maintaining, upgrading, and enhancing the Carnegie Library.
To ensure the long-term existence of the library and to celebrate the centennial, events such as book fairs, teas, garden parties, and lectures are being held every month throughout 2010.
Some of the main events include the library foundation’s annual book festival, Books in Bloom, scheduled for noon to 5 p.m. on May 10 at The Crescent Hotel. Local area authors will serve as guest speakers and sign copies of their books.
The big centennial birthday party set for 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on June 13 at the library will include balloons, food, music, games, cake and party favors.
For more information about top events in Arkansas, take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Arkansas at http://www.topeventsusa.com/state-events-arkansas.html
For more information visit the Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism at http://www.arkansas.com/