TYLER, Texas — The Smith County Historical Society is looking for a new home after spending almost 40 years in the Carnegie Library.
The nonprofit received a notice from the city manager that their lease will expire September 2025 at the Carnegie Library.
This is all part of a plan to renovate the building as the City of Tyler looks to revitalize downtown.
According to the city of Tyler, the historic artifacts cannot be in the Carnegie Library, located at 125 S College Ave. in downtown, while renovations are ongoing.
The Smith County Historical Society has been housed in the library, leasing the building at no cost since 1999.
Smith County Historical Society President Larry Wade said moving would be a challenge to transport these delicate materials.
"We have delicate things here. Sometimes when you move old, historical memorabilia, you damage it permanently," Wade said. "We do not want things that people have donated and that have been purchased over the years, to be damaged in the move."
Wade said the next move for the organization is to strengthen the relationship with the city in hopes they will reconsider their initial plan of terminating their lease.