{"nrhp_refnum":"96000103","name":"Oakland Free Library-Golden Gate Branch","other_names":["Oakland Public Library Golden Gate Branch"],"category":"building","location":{"address":"5606 San Pablo Ave., 1098 56th St.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Oakland","county":"Alameda County","state":"CA","lat":37.83928588200007,"lon":-122.28214554099998,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1996-02-16","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Architecture","Social History"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A one-story-and-basement Georgian Revival branch library of dark red brick with white cast concrete and wood trim, at 5606 San Pablo Avenue in Oakland, California. It was built in 1917-18 as one of four Carnegie-funded branches, designed by Charles W. Dickey and John J. Donovan.","why_significant":"The nomination argues it is significant as one of four Oakland Carnegie branch libraries built under a 1914 grant, and as a neighborhood institution in continuous library use since 1918. It is said to be the only Georgian Revival building among California's Carnegie libraries. It is also valued for the work of two prominent Oakland architects and for its nearly unaltered interior and exterior.","narrative":"Built in 1917-18 at 5606 San Pablo Avenue, this Oakland branch library is a long, low Georgian Revival building of dark red brick with white cast concrete trim, a slate gable roof and a central cupola. Its symmetrical front has a pedimented entry with Tuscan columns, and inside a split-level stair hall leads to two reading rooms and a basement auditorium. It was one of four branches funded by a 1914 Carnegie grant of $140,000 to Oakland, and it was designed by architects Charles Dickey and John Donovan, with R.W. Littlefield as builder. The nomination says it is the only Georgian Revival example among California's Carnegie libraries. The branch has served its neighborhood continuously since its December 1918 dedication, hosting plays, flower shows and community events. Since 1975 it has also housed the African American Museum and Library at Oakland. Exterior and interior remain largely intact, and the city designated it a local landmark in 1980.","period_of_significance":"1918-1946","architect_builder":"Dickey, Charles W. (architect); Donovan, John J. (architect); Littlefield, R.W. (builder)","architectural_style":"Colonial Revival","criteria":["A","C"],"status_note":"Still an active branch library and neighborhood meeting hall; described as in excellent condition with excellent integrity.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:54:27.96117-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_CA/96000103.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/96000103/388b07b356-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/96000103/388b07b356-1600.webp","licence":"CC BY-SA 3.0","author":"Sanfranman59","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oakland_Free_Library-Golden_Gate_Branch_(Oakland,_CA).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:Oakland_Free_Library-Golden_Gate_Branch_(Oakland,_CA).JPG"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/123857342","wikipedia":null,"wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q133254992"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/california/alameda-county/oakland-free-library-golden-gate-branch-96000103/"}