First Baptist Church (Bakersfield, California) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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First Baptist Church
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 Location in Bakersfield, California
Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1200 Truxtun Ave., Bakersfield, California |
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| Area | 0.8 acres (0.32 ha) |
| Built | 1931 |
| Architect | Charles H. Biggar |
| Architectural style | Mission/Spanish Revival, Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 79000478 |
| Added to NRHP | January 2, 1979 |
The First Baptist Church in Bakersfield, California, is a really old and important building. People also call it the Bell Towers because of its tall bell tower. It was built in 1931 as a church. Later, in 1977, the church moved to a new place. Now, this historic building is used as an office building. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) on January 2, 1979. This means it's officially recognized as a special historic site.
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Building Design and Features
This amazing building was constructed in 1931. It was made from reinforced concrete, which is super strong concrete with steel bars inside. The outside looks like brick, but it was actually made by pouring concrete into molds. The roof is covered with pretty red, Spanish-style tiles.
The Bell Tower and Main Entrance
A tall bell tower, about 70 feet (21 meters) high, stands right in the middle of the front (south side) of the building. This tower was once part of the church's entrance area. The south side also has big white oak doors with cool arched designs above them. The building shows off a style called Romanesque. This style uses decorative arches and vertical stone strips (called mullions) that go all the way up to the roof.
Connecting Wings and Courtyard
The different parts of the building are connected by a single-story walkway with arches (called an arcade). This walkway goes around a lovely landscaped courtyard.
The Old Fellowship Hall
On the southwest side of the complex, you'll find the original fellowship hall. This part of the building is built in a Mission Revival style. It has tall arched windows on its west side. On the south side, there's a large arched window that used to be a door, with smaller arched windows next to it. The old fellowship hall and the main church building are connected by a two-story section. This connecting part also matches the overall Mission Revival look.
Why This Building Is Important
The First Baptist Church building is in a very noticeable spot in downtown Bakersfield. It's known as one of the best examples of a building made with decorative concrete in the San Joaquin Valley. It's also a major landmark in Bakersfield.
Surviving the Earthquake
This building is special because it's the only religious building from its time that survived the big 1952 Kern County earthquake. That earthquake destroyed many other historic buildings in downtown Bakersfield.
Well-Preserved History
Another reason it's important is that it has stayed mostly the same over the years. Many buildings get changed a lot, but this one still looks much like it did when it was first built.
See also
