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Building History

Palo Alto Women's Club incorporated in 1894, and began immediately campaigning for the provision of a public library in town. The club's first location opened in 1896 and moved several times between then and 1903, when a new, purpose-built library was completed using funds granted by the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The City of Palo Alto applied for funds in 1902, and received $10,000 from Carnegie on 02/20/1903. Funds ran out before basement meeting rooms could be finished, and the city unsuccessfully sought $2,000 in additional money to complete it. Unable to get additional money from Carnegie, city officials levied a library tax to finish the basement by 1908. (See Carnegie Libraries.org, "Palo Alto, Santa Clara County," accessed 04/01/2019.)

Officials laid the cornerstone of the Palo Alto Carnegie Library 11/17/1903; it served Palo Alto from its opening, on 11/01/1904 until 10/16/1967, when the downtown branch was temporarily moved to a vacant shop at 420 Ramona Street.

Building Notes

Architect Dodge and Dolliver designed the building in a hybrid style incorporating elements of the Richardsonian Romanesque, Mission Revival and English Arts and Crafts architecture. The designed resembled buildings on the nearby Stanford University Campus, and was actually a more up-to-date and lively combination of elements than most typical Mission Revival buildings of the period.

Alterations

Enlargements were made to the library in 1922-1923 and in 1940; the latter expansion added space to the rear of the building;

Demolished 10/16/1967; it was torn down to make way for the Palo Alto City Hall, designed by Edward Durell Stone;

PCAD id: 2957