The Columbia Tusculum Carnegie Center

History

The Carnegie Center was built in 1905, funded by Andrew Carnegie to be a public library building.  The land for the building was donated by the City of Cincinnati and the building itself was designed by the same architect that did Cincinnati's Music Hall and City Hall (Samuel Hannaford & Sons).  In 1959, the Carnegie Center was sold into private use, first to the Fraternal Order of Police, then later to the Veterans of Foreign Wars.  The Columbia Tusculum Community Council formed and began having meetings in the building in the 1970s.  The VFW offered the building for sale in 1993 and it was purchased in 1994 by the precursor to today's Community Development Corporation.

Postcard depicting the Carnegie Center

Renovation

Carnegie Center of Columbia Tusculum, Inc. was formed with 501(c)(3) status in 1997 and began renovations on the building using Community Development Block Grant monies from the City of Cincinnati. 

Carnegie Center before Renovation

Today

The Carngie Center is currently being used for community meetings by groups such as the  Community Council and Community Development Corporation, instructional classes like those taught by the Anneliese von Oetingen School of Ballet, and the occasional art exhibition.

The Carnegie Center Today