The Carnegie Library

The museum is housed in the red brick Carnegie Library, a gift of $10,000 from Andrew Carnegie. With monumental columns framing the entrance, the building was designed by renowned architect W. H. Weeks of Santa Cruz. Construction began in 1907, the cornerstone was laid on January 29, 1908, and it was officially dedicated on June 19 of that year. Originally 30 by 50 feet, the building saw several additions over time, including a 14 by 36-foot expansion in 1939–40. The children’s section was moved to the lower floor in 1928, and various alterations were made over the years, including a new front door and the removal of its two entrance lampposts. After the public library outgrew the space and moved in 1995, the building was leased to the Historical Society and rededicated on June 19, 1998, as a historic landmark on the National Register. Recent renovations, including a new 11th Street entrance and the installation of an elevator, have helped preserve the building while enhancing its accessibility for future generations.

A place where found treasures are seen and local secrets revealed, the Paso Robles History Museum invites visitors into a world of mystery and memory. Inside the historic Carnegie Library, a rusted spice box sits encased in glass alongside a spread of old coins once hidden within it. The box, discovered buried under an oak tree in Paso Robles, tells a silent story—one of saving, of dreams paused, and perhaps never fulfilled. Was it a child planning for something special, or a grandmother carefully saving for a meaningful gift? Each coin added with purpose, each burial of the box an act of hope. What became of the person who never came back for it?

This sense of wonder and discovery is at the heart of the museum's exhibits, curated by the El Paso de Robles Area Historical Society. Their dedication to preserving local heritage allows visitors to engage deeply with the area’s past. “Treasures and Secrets Hidden in the North County,” a permanent display curated by the Hiner Group, includes the found spice box and coins and rotates periodically as new artifacts are uncovered. The museum also features extensive collections of historical newspapers, photographs, patents, and rare books, alongside rotating exhibits that reflect on local people and events. Downstairs, the Virginia Peterson Research Room provides access to the society’s archives, welcoming the public for research and exploration each Thursday or by appointment.

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