Exploring LA’s 100 Year Old Central Library

June 3, 2026, Leave a Comment on Exploring LA’s 100 Year Old Central Library

Located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles is a true beacon for Angelenos, the Los Angeles Central Library. This year, the iconic Art Deco buildings turns 100. Filled with not just books, but galleries, murals, and unique artifacts, one can learn about its history through free docent led tours, which Patrick and I did recently.

While the building is 100 years old, LA’s library history begins in 1872, when the Los Angeles Library Association, an entirely volunteer run organization, was founded. Just a few years later, in 1879, it became the official city library, however without a real central location, instead there were five different locations around the downtown area.

In 1921, a bond measure was passed, securing the location the city has today. Various styles were discussed, including classic looks with Greek columns. Ultimately, the task of designing a library was assigned to Bertram Goodhue. Goodhue did not study architecture through school, but rather as an apprentice, and gained fame after his work on the Panama-California Exposition of 1915 in San Diego, later becoming Balboa Park. But instead of designing something similar to San Diego, Goodhue chose to combine a variety of styles, including Byzantine, Egyptian, Islamic, and Spanish.

While the architectural style features many different influences, it does have a guiding theme “the Light of Learning” which was created by Hartley Burr Alexander. Alexander sought to incorporate various icons of knowledge, including fire and acorns.

Both inside and outside, visitors can gaze upon statues by Lee Lawrie, a German immigrant. Atop the pyramid is a massive hand holding a torch, later, the original was replaced with a replica, and the original put on display near the rotunda. Also in the rotunda visitors can gaze upon one of the many murals found inside the library, which features a romanticized history of California.

Originally, the library featured a garden entrance, with a water feature called the “Well of Scribes.” Sadly this area would be demolished to become a parking lot in the 1960s, with the Well of Scribes going missing for several decades. A magazine wrote about it in 2019, and an Arizona antique dealer realized he had a piece of the Well! That portion was returned to the library and now sits on display.

Sadly, Goodhue died in 1924, before construction began, but the library was in the good hands of Carleton Winslow, who brought Goodhue’s vision to life. The library opened on July 15, 1926 with about 500 people in attendance. From its opening, the library wasn’t just a place for locals, tourists visited as well, and the library’s image was emblazoned on souvenirs and postcards.

By the 1960s, Los Angeles was a very different place. The movie industry, World War II related jobs, and the aerospace industry all caused LA and the surrounding areas to boom. With more people, came more books, and soon the library was unable to handle its growing collection. Meanwhile the building was showing its age, with bad ventilation and electrical, as well as leaks. It also lacked a sprinkler system, and was in need of a seismic retrofit. Thus began a search for a new location, or demolishing the library altogether. But thankfully preservationists persevered and placed the library on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.

Throughout the 1970s and 80s the future of the library was debated, and in April of 1986 the library fell victim to what is considered to be the worst library fire in US history. Over 40 firefighters were injured, an estimated 375,000 books were destroyed, and 750,000 suffered water damage. Not six months later a second, smaller fire occurred. Both were deemed arson.

Ultimately it was decided that the library would expand with an addition tacked onto the original building, under the guidance of Norman Pfieffer. While much of downtown had grown upwards, Pfieffer did not want to overshadow the original building, and instead chose to build downwards. With money from selling the building’s air rights, the original building was given a revamp, with various book collections relocated, while the new addition brought in skylights and works by artists. Reopening in 1993, the Library revitalized the courtyard, and the original building was dubbed the Goodhue Building, after its architect, and the addition the Bradley Building, after LA’s first Black mayor.

Fans of the library can shop at the gift shop, where they will find all sorts of art and books relating to Los Angeles, and for the most unique souvenir, travel to the bottom floor of the Bradley Building and you’ll find a Mold-O-Rama machine that produces miniatures of the sphinx statues!

Explore Los Angeles’ Central Library at 630 W 5th Street in downtown Los Angeles. To take a free docent led tour, check out their event page for days and times.