It includes the Wapello County Courthouse, Ottumwa City Hall, and St. Mary of the Visitation Catholic Church.

Local newspaper editor H. R. Moore contacted Andrew Carnegie about providing a grant for a new library building.

The Des Moines architectural firm of Smith and Gutterson was chosen in a contest out of 14 entries to design the building.

The exterior walls are covered in grey Bedford stone that is cut into smooth ashlar blocks.

A local painter named Johannes Scheiwe painted a mural in the dome and allegorical figures in the spandrels below.

The hexagonal tiles feature a creamy white center area and blue and grey patterned border.