A. K. Smiley Public Library facts for kids
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A. K. Smiley Public Library
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 Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | 125 W. Vine St., Redlands, California |
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| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Built | 1898 |
| Architect | Griffith, T.R. |
| Architectural style | Mission Revival, Moorish Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 76000513 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 12, 1976 |
The A. K. Smiley Public Library is a public library found in Redlands, California. It was built in 1898. A kind person named Albert K. Smiley gave the library to the city of Redlands. The building has a very special design. It mixes different styles, making it unique. Today, it still serves as the main library for Redlands. It also holds amazing collections of old books and historical items.
Contents
Discover the A. K. Smiley Public Library
A Gift to the Community
The A. K. Smiley Public Library opened its doors in 1898. It was a generous gift from Albert K. Smiley. He was a philanthropist, which means he was a wealthy person who used his money to help others. He wanted to create a beautiful and useful place for the people of Redlands to learn and grow.
Unique Building Design
The library building was designed by an architect named T.R. Griffith. He created a truly special look for the library. People describe its style as a mix of Mission Revival and Moorish Revival architecture.
A Mix of Styles
The library's design includes many interesting features:
- It has a roof made of tiles.
- The sides of the building have parapets, which are low walls along the edge of the roof. These parapets top arcades, which are rows of arches. These parts remind people of the Mission Revival style. This style was popular in California and was inspired by old Spanish missions.
- However, the building also has a battlement, which looks like the top of a castle wall. The curves in the parapet also show Moorish Revival influences. This style comes from the architecture of North Africa and Spain.
- You can also see elements from other styles. These include classical (like ancient Greek and Roman buildings), Gothic (like medieval cathedrals), Spanish Romanesque (another old European style), and even Oriental (Asian) themes. These different ideas are seen in the arches, windows, and the shape of the roof.
What You Can Find Inside
Besides being a busy public library, the A. K. Smiley Public Library holds some very important collections:
- It has materials about native tribes in California. These were donated by another famous philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie.
- The library also keeps a collection of rare books and items. These are all about the history of Southern California and the local Redlands area.
A Historic Treasure
The A. K. Smiley Public Library is recognized as an important historical building:
- On December 12, 1976, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of places in the United States that are important to history.
- Later, on August 17, 1990, it was named a California Historical Landmark. This means it's a very important historical site in California.
See also
In Spanish: Biblioteca Pública A. K. Smiley para niños
