Alameda Free Library
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Why it's listed
Alameda's main library occupies the southwest corner of Santa Clara Avenue and Oak Street, across from City Hall. Completed in 1903, it is a two-story rectangular building of buff pressed brick above a quarry-faced sandstone basement, with a portico of round molded brick Corinthian columns that were said to be the first brick columns built in California. Inside, a barrel-vaulted main room with a skylight is flanked by galleries, and five stained glass windows show printers' trademarks. The building was paid for by a $35,000 grant from Andrew Carnegie after local fundraising failed. San Francisco architects William H. Willcox and John M. Curtis won a design competition, and Alameda builder C. H. Foster & Son constructed it. It was the city's first dedicated library building and still serves as its main library. Alterations have been modest: stuccoed parapets in 1956, replaced doors and some windows, and interior changes. The adjacent bungalow used as a children's library is excluded from the nominated property.
Significance in brief: It is significant as Alameda's first library building and is still used as the city's main library. It was funded by a $35,000 Andrew Carnegie grant, an unusually large amount. The nomination also praises its brick and stone craftsmanship, its Neoclassical imagery, and the quality of its interior and exterior design.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 82002152, listed June 25, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2264 Santa Clara Ave., Alameda |
|---|---|
| County | Alameda County |
| Listed | June 25, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82002152 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | C. H. Foster & Son/Curtis & Willcox |
| Architectural style | Eclectic, with Neoclassical, Renaissance, and Baroque elements |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in use as the city's main library; described as in excellent condition with only minor alterations. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 37.76577, -122.24357 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 82002152.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14681534
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.