Goodman Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Goodman Library
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 Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1219 1st St., Napa, California |
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| Area | 0.1 acres (0.040 ha) |
| Built | 1901 |
| Architect | Turton, Luther M. |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts, Romanesque, Richardson Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000539 |
| Added to NRHP | January 21, 1974 |
The Goodman Library is a very old and special building in Napa, California. It was built in 1901 thanks to George E. Goodman, who paid for it and gave the land. A talented architect named Luther M. Turton designed the library. He used a style called Richardson Romanesque. You can see this style in the building's rough stone, big round windows, and strong, solid look. Before this library, most buildings in Napa looked different, often in the Victorian style. The Goodman Library helped bring a new look to the city!
Contents
A Long History of Learning
The Goodman Library has been a library for a very long time. It's actually the longest-running library in California! This is because of a special rule George E. Goodman put in place when he donated the building. He said the city could keep the building only if it was always used as a library. If it stopped being a library, it would go back to his family.
A New Chapter for the Library
In the 1970s, the main city library in Napa moved to a different building. To make sure the Goodman Library stayed a library, the Napa County Historical Society took over the building. They use it as a research library, which means it's still helping people learn and discover. This way, the building kept its original purpose, just as Mr. Goodman wanted!
For a while, the library was home to both the historical society and another group called Napa County Landmarks.
A National Treasure
Because of its important history and unique design, the Goodman Library was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 21, 1974. This means it's recognized as a special historical site in the United States.
Repairs After the Earthquake
In 2014, the building was damaged by an earthquake that happened in South Napa. It needed some important repairs to make it strong again.
Work began in April 2017 to fix the damage. This included making the building stronger and putting on a new roof. The repairs cost about $1.75 million. The work was finished in early 2018. The Napa County Historical Society was able to open its doors again by the summer of 2018. They still offer library services and have a special exhibit area for visitors today!
- Photos from the NRHP nomination
