{"nrhp_refnum":"07001467","name":"Martinez City Library","other_names":[],"category":"building","location":{"address":"740 Court St.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Martinez","county":"Contra Costa County","state":"CA","lat":38.01772487100004,"lon":-122.13321626899994,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"2008-01-31","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Architecture"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A one-story plus basement reinforced concrete library at the northwest corner of Court and Ward Streets in Martinez, Contra Costa County, California. It was built in 1941 and designed by architect E. Geoffrey Bangs.","why_significant":"It is significant at the local level under Criterion C in architecture as a good local example of the Art Deco/Classic Moderne style. It is described as the last remaining and second-to-last building erected in Martinez in this distinct style. The building retains its original design, workmanship and materials. Its reduced design also marks the end of the New Deal era locally.","narrative":"Built in 1941 at the corner of Court and Ward Streets in Martinez, this concrete library combines a one-story main hall, with ceilings over 20 feet high, and a basement used for staff offices and storage. Architect E. Geoffrey Bangs designed it in the Art Deco/Classic Moderne manner, with fluted false pilasters, banded fleuron relief at the roofline, steel-frame windows and zigzag door surrounds. The original design was larger, but Public Works Administration money was no longer available in 1939, so the plan was cut and the budget fell from $45,000 to $30,000; the finished building cost about $50,000 without federal funds. Original wood shelving, interior doors and the central service desk survive. The exterior has changed little apart from a wheelchair ramp, steps and repainting. It is described as the last remaining and second-to-last building of its distinct style erected in Martinez, and it was listed for its architecture at the local level.","period_of_significance":"1941","architect_builder":"Bangs, E. Geoffrey: Architect; Teigland, C.M.: Contractor","architectural_style":"Modern Movement: Art Deco (Art Deco/Classic Moderne)","criteria":["C"],"status_note":"In use as a library, part of the Contra Costa County library system; the property is owned by the City of Martinez. Described as retaining good integrity.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:54:29.788778-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_CA/07001467.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/07001467/5ac88307d0-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/07001467/5ac88307d0-1600.webp","licence":"CC BY-SA 3.0","author":"Sanfranman59","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Martinez_City_Library_(Martinez,_California).JPG\" rel=\"noopener\">Sanfranman59</a>, <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0\" rel=\"license noopener\">CC BY-SA 3.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Martinez_City_Library_(Martinez,_California).JPG"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/123858544","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martinez_Library","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q27982947"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/california/contra-costa-county/martinez-city-library-07001467/"}