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Q. I am a teacher and an Anaheim resident who drives by City Hall every so often. I’ve often wondered about the history of the brick building across the street that is now home to a museum. Is that the original City Hall? (And while you’re at it, does that museum have any discounts for groups of students?)

– Geraldine Fenn, Anaheim

A. The museum you’re referring to Geraldine, as many locals have discovered in recent years, is the Muzeo, which has lived up to its billing as a “center for arts, knowledge, entertainment and culture.”

You’re right to assume that the building itself has historic significance, but no it’s not the original City Hall. It’s the city’s original library.

In all, the Muzeo complex is 25,000 square feet of exhibit space. It encompasses that brick building that you see from Anaheim Boulevard. That building is Anaheim’s Carnegie Library, built more than 100 years ago in 1908.

As the name suggests, the library was built using a grant funded by Scottish-American businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. The Anaheim library was one of almost 1,700 built in the United States with Carnegie’s money – a total of more than 2,500 were built worldwide.

Carnegie made most of his money in the steel industry in the Pennsylvania area, but spread his wealth across the nation. In fact, most of his libraries were built in Indiana (165) and California (142).

Other Carnegie libraries were built in Orange County, including in Fullerton, Huntington Beach and Orange. Unfortunately, those buildings were torn down long ago.

Anaheim’s library, built with a $10,000 grant, continued to serve as a city library until 1963. That’s the same year that the Anaheim Central library on Broadway and Harbor Boulevard was built.

While many of the historic buildings in downtown Anaheim fell to a wrecking ball in the 1970s and ‘80s, the Carnegie building was saved. It became home first to the Anaheim Museum in 1987 before becoming part of the Muzeo complex, run by a nonprofit foundation.

As to your second question, Geraldine, the Muzeo, at 241 S. Anaheim Blvd., does offer incentives for school groups. If your students are from Anaheim they can visit for free thanks to support from sponsors.

Group tours should be arranged in advance. For contact information, check out the museum website at muzeo.org.

Q. Do your readers know about the very talented Anaheim Ballet and their annual performance of the holiday classic “The Nutcracker?” They should!

– Lisa Claridge, Anaheim Hills

A. Well, Lisa, by including your email here, readers do now.

I’m embarrassed to say that I’ve still not seen the holiday performance, but many contacts have sung similar praises about all of the ballet company’s performances.

Anaheim Ballet is marking its 29th year of performing “The Nutcracker.” It recently wrapped up four days of performances in Laughlin, Nevada. Consider that a warm up for a premiere performance planned for the City National Grove of Anaheim on Saturday. Performances are scheduled for 2 and 7 p.m.

Tickets range from $22 to $45 and are available via ticketmaster.com or at the theater’s box office, 2200 E. Katella Ave. Information: anaheimballet.org.

Thanks for the reminder, Lisa.

Eric Carpenter, or Mr. Anaheim, was a longtime Register news reporter and is now an Orange County Transportation Authority spokesman.

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