Carved into the Tyndall stone above the arched entrance to Winnipeg's first public library are the words "Free to All," but for the past 11 years, it's been closed to everyone.
Now, as the former Carnegie Library on William Street turns 120, it's about to begin a new chapter.
"It absolutely does feel like a new beginning, and it's a testament to the building's resilience," said Cindy Tugwell, executive director of Heritage Winnipeg.
The 37,350-square-foot building at 380 William Ave. is set to undergo a $22.8-million renovation to make it a state-of-the-art archives facility, with a climate-controlled vault, to preserve and display Winnipeg's historical records.
Construction is slated to begin sometime this fall, with a reopening in 2027.
The arched entrance doors to the Carnegie Library building have the words 'Free to All' engraved in the stone above. (Darren Bernhardt/CBC)
"This building is grand," Tugwell said, and putting the archives in "an appropriate landmark heritage building" shows the city cares about its history and its heritage.
"Education is key to the success of society. We look to history — to learn who we are, where we've come from, what things have been done, what mistakes may have been made — in order to look to the future to do it right," she said.
"Our history is our soul, and we really
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