Smiley Park Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Smiley Park Historic District
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The A.K. Smiley Public Library
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 Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly bounded by Brookside Ave., Cajon St., Cypress Ave. and Buena Vista St., Redlands, California |
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| Area | 109 acres (44 ha) |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Classical Revival, American Craftsman |
| NRHP reference No. | 94001487 |
| Added to NRHP | December 29, 1994 |
The Smiley Park Historic District is a special neighborhood in Redlands, California. It's known for its beautiful old homes and the lovely Smiley Park. This park was named after two brothers, Alfred and Albert Smiley, who were very generous to the community. The famous A. K. Smiley Public Library is also found here. This area is considered a "historic district" because it has many buildings that show how the community grew and changed over time.
Contents
Discovering Smiley Park
Smiley Park is at the heart of this historic neighborhood. It was named after Alfred and Albert Smiley. These brothers were important people in Redlands. They helped the community a lot. One of their big gifts was the A. K. Smiley Public Library. This library is a beautiful building and a key part of the district.
How the Neighborhood Grew
The Smiley Park area started to grow in 1887. This was a time when many parts of Southern California were growing fast. A big reason for this growth was the booming citrus industry. People moved to Redlands to work with oranges and other citrus fruits. They needed places to live, so new homes were built.
Popular Home Styles
As the neighborhood grew, different styles of homes became popular.
- Victorian Homes: Around the late 1800s, many homes were built in the Victorian style. Some were large Queen Anne houses. These often had towers, turrets, and decorative details. Others were smaller, cozy cottages.
- Classical Revival: Around 1900, the Classical Revival style became popular. These homes often looked like ancient Greek or Roman temples. They might have big columns and grand entrances.
- American Craftsman: After 1908, most new homes were built in the American Craftsman style. These houses focused on natural materials like wood and stone. They often had wide porches and simple, strong designs.
A Pause in Building
Growth in the Smiley Park area slowed down in 1913. A very cold winter caused a big freeze. This freeze badly damaged Redlands' orange industry. Because of this, fewer people moved to the city. Building new homes stopped for a while. The city's growth didn't fully start again until after World War I. Later, most new homes were built outside of this historic district.
Becoming a Historic Place
The Smiley Park Historic District was officially recognized on December 29, 1994. 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. Being on this list helps protect the district's unique character and its historic buildings for future generations.
