Dana, Richard Henry, Branch
Also known as: Cypress Park Branch
Why it's listed
Built in 1926 at 3320 Pepper Street in Los Angeles, this one-story library was designed by Harry S. Bent in a New England Colonial Revival manner. It is L-shaped, with a high-pitched gable roof, gable returns and wide overlap board siding. A prominent entry portico at the north end has paired paneled doors, an arched canopy on paneled posts, a leaded glass fanlight and a wrought-iron light fixture. Inside, a vestibule with a black and white marble floor leads to the charging desk, and a marble fireplace sits at the north end. Box hedges landscape the setback site. The branch was named for the New England sailor and author Richard Henry Dana, which gave Bent reason to use a Cape Cod exterior and port hole windows. The building is the only surviving branch from its period with a wooden exterior and the largest wooden structure built by the library Board between 1911 and 1931. Now called the Cypress Park Branch, it continues to serve as a library.
Significance in brief: It is the only surviving branch building from its period with a wooden exterior, and the largest wooden structure built by the library Board between 1911 and 1931. Its Cape Cod styling and port hole windows allude to its namesake, the New England sailor and author Richard Henry Dana.
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 87001007, listed May 19, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 3320 Pepper St., Los Angeles |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | May 19, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87001007 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Harry S. Bent |
| Architectural style | New England Colonial Revival (Cape Cod style exterior) |
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still operating as a library, now called the Cypress Park Branch; a set of bathrooms was added at the northeast corner, not visible from the streets. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 34.09088, -118.22253 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 87001007.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7326393
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.