Photo: Dpalma01, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Housed in a beautiful library donated by Andrew Carnegie. There are three separate exhibit areas (two medium-sized rooms and a set of two much smaller rooms). There is a friendly attendant, and there is a good chance that you will find the exhibits interesting and worth looking at. For example, in October 2014, there were exhibits of impressive baskets by Native American tribes from the region and historic photographs of people and buildings in San Luis in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The San Luis Obispo Carnegie Library is a Carnegie library located at 696 Monterey St. in San Luis Obispo, California. The library building was funded by the Carnegie foundation in 1903 and built in 1905; it housed the city's subscription library program, which had operated since 1894. William H. Weeks, who designed 21 Carnegie libraries in California, designed the San Luis Obispo library in the Richardsonian Romanesque style. The library's design includes a tall hipped roof with two gabled wings, decorations including gargoyles in the gable ends, and an entrance portico with multiple round arches. The building is mainly faced in red brick with yellow sandstone trim, but the basement is faced in dark gray granite.
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Really just a relatively large art gallery (or a couple of galleries), with art for sale. You might or might not find it interesting, but admission is free.
Founded in 1772 by Junipero Serra, Mission San Luis Obispo was the fifth Catholic mission in California. Still an active parish, it is in the middle of downtown on Chorro St and Monterey St, with its main courtyard interrupting Monterey St for a full city block. In addition to the church, there is a small museum; both are definitely worth visiting. The Mission is part of the Mission Plaza development, which incorporates San Luis Creek and a number of stores and restaurants. Walk from the Mission to the creek and up to one of the restaurants for a bite to eat.
Take a look and leave some of your own chewed gum behind. Located on the south side of Higuera Street between Broad St. and Garden St.
On Thursday evenings head downtown on Higuera St. for the weekly farmers' market where bands, college students, and local farmers pack the streets for several blocks to create one of the best known farmers' markets in California. On the first Thursday of every month, hundreds of spirited bicycle enthusiasts congregate near the intersection of Chorro Street and Monterey Street to celebrate a themed, downtown bicycle parade, which starts promptly at 9:30PM.
Nipomo and Monterey. The Children's Museum is an interactive, family experience, inspiring learning through play. Great for families with young children.