Pasadena Public Library--Main Branch (Pasadena, California)

USA / California / Pasadena / Pasadena, California / East Walnut Street, 285
 library, historic landmark
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285 East Walnut Street
Pasadena, CA 91101
(626) 744-4066

www.ci.pasadena.ca.us/library/central.asp

This library building was built in 1927 as the replacement for the original main branch Romanesque building constructed in 1890. The first library building was condemned as unsafe in 1933 and razed in 1954. The restored entry of the original library is located at the southeast corner of Raymond and Walnut.

The Pasadena Central Library was dedicated in 1927, when renowned Southern California architect, Myron Hunt, turned over library keys to the City of Pasadena. The 110,000 square foot Civic Center Landmark includes many special features such as extensive oak paneling, cork flooring, and oak and wrought iron furniture. These features have been heavily used and enjoyed for over seventy years. With the advent of new technologies, the Central Library was renovated to accommodate new advances. The renovation was accomplished without compromising the historic, aesthetic and architectural integrity of the building; the library is renowned for its functionality and beauty and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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Coordinates:   34°9'0"N   118°8'39"W

Comments

  • There are fireplaces here, not that they're used anymore to heat the building, but the main floor has some wonderful historic features and the basement filled floor to ceiling with periodicals is nice claustrophobic, for us bibliophiles.
  • The Pasadena public library was also a filming location for the 1996 film, Matilda. https://globalfilmlocations.net/2016/06/22/matilda-film-locations/
This article was last modified 12 years ago