Rosenberg's Department Store facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Rosenberg's Department Store
|
|
Rosenberg's, now a Barnes & Noble bookstore
|
|
 Location in California
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 700 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, California |
|---|---|
| Area | 1.6 acres (0.65 ha) |
| Built | 1937 |
| Built by | Moore & Roberts |
| Architect | William Howard Knowles; Wayne S. Hertzka |
| Architectural style | Moderne |
| NRHP reference No. | 94001497 |
| Added to NRHP | December 29, 1994 |
Rosenberg's Department Store is a famous building in downtown Santa Rosa, California. You can find it at Fourth and D Streets. For a long time, it was the tallest building in the city. It's also a great example of a cool building style called Streamline Moderne.
Contents
History of Rosenberg's
The First Store and Rebuilding
The original Rosenberg's store was built in 1907. It was owned by brothers Max and Fred Rosenberg. Sadly, this first store burned down in 1936. After the fire, plans were made for a brand new store.
The design for the new building was created in 1936. Architects Hertzka and Knowles from San Francisco drew up the plans. Construction began on January 19, 1937. The building was put together by contractors Moore and Roberts.
Grand Opening and World's Fair
The new Rosenberg's Department Store opened its doors on October 27, 1937. A grocery store called Purity also opened in a smaller part of the building.
The building was so modern and cool that a model of it was shown. This happened at the 1939 San Francisco World's Fair. It was presented as an example of amazing future architecture.
New Owners and Changes
In 1951, Joseph Edward McNeany bought Rosenberg's. He paid $1.5 million for the store. The building got a big makeover and was made larger in 1964.
In 1966, Rosenberg's joined with Aldens Inc. This was a company from Chicago that sold things by mail and in stores. Mr. McNeany stayed on as an advisor. His son, William, became a manager at Rosenberg's.
Saving the Building
Rosenberg's Department Store closed in 1988. The building was empty for several years. In 1988, a group called the Art Deco Society of California gave the building an award. They wanted to encourage the owners to save the building.
In 1994, the city government thought about tearing the store down. But the building was saved! A popular bookstore chain, Barnes & Noble, decided to rent the space. Because of its special history and design, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 29, 1994. This list helps protect important historical places.
What Rosenberg's Looks Like
Building Size and Shape
Rosenberg's is a two-story building. It measures about 140 feet (43 meters) by 120 feet (37 meters). There's also a one-story section attached to it. This part is about 126 feet (38 meters) by 108 feet (33 meters).
Front Features
The front of the building has a very cool Art Moderne style sign. This sign, called a marquee, sticks out past the roof. The main entrance is right under this marquee.
The building is made with a steel frame. The outside is covered with stucco over concrete. On the first floor, there are large glass display windows. The corner of the building is curved. Above the windows, there are special "speed lines" and glass block windows. These are called clerestory windows and let light in from above.
Unique Details
The second floor has large openings with vertical stripes that look like keystones. The marquee area has tall, wavy glass block windows. A tall fin, or "blade sign," rises from the top of this window. It used to have neon letters advertising the store.
Even taller, another fin rises about 50 feet (15 meters) above the roof. This fin is see-through and used to glow with green neon lights inside. The one-story part of the building is simpler. It has a continuous cover over the front. Its entrance has two arches in this cover.
Inside the Store
Inside, the main area has a very high ceiling. There's also a mezzanine, which is like a half-floor or balcony overlooking the main space. The columns inside look a bit like ancient Egyptian designs. The railings on the mezzanine and stairs are thin metal bars with smooth birch wood handrails.
