1905 – The Carnegie Library in Jacksonville was officially opened to the public on this date. In May of 1901 a devastating fire destroyed most buildings in Jacksonville including the city’s library. In 1902 industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie agreed to donate $50,000 towards the construction of a new library provided the city designate a site and provide $5,000 annually for library support. When the library was opened, it was the largest and only tax-payer supported library in Florida. The original building still exists, but is now privately owned.