Chester Branch Library

A must see in Chester. A lot of local history and great information on lake Almanor and Butt Lake. Pictures from the towns and farms that are now at the bottom of the lake.

The library houses the Chester Museum which has lots of memorabilia about Chester, Drakesbad, Mount Lassen and Maidu Indians. My favorites were the inn keeper’s log with notes about the 1916 eruption of Mount Lassen, the Guinness Book of World Records smallest playable violin (but alas, no world’s smallest bow) and the 1800’s pictures of women in their long dresses and fancy hats. The library was built as a log cabin in the 1920’s and according to the librarian is the California’s only log cabin library. It was later expanded and the museum is in the addition. The librarian is a wonderfully patient woman who answered endless questions for my child.
The museum is open during the library’s operating hours. It is small, not surprisingly, but charming. Allow 30 to 60 minutes depending on your attention span.
Hours are Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. Thursdays they are open from 12 noon to 5 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m.
More about the library services here: