Muir, John, Branch
Why it's listed
John Muir Branch Library is a one-story brick building at 1005 W. 64th Street in South-Central Los Angeles, completed in 1930 and designed by local architect Henry F. Withey in the Italian Renaissance style. A limestone entry with an arched opening, Doric columns, a broken pediment and a cartouche of an open book marks the symmetrical facade. The side walls have tall arched windows separated by Levanto marble Corinthian columns, and the interior has a wooden truss ceiling. The branch began in 1923 with neighborhood support, using rent-free quarters offered by businessman F. W. Braun, and was named for the California naturalist and writer John Muir. The present site was bought in 1929. Its design suits the single-family character of the surrounding streets while standing out architecturally. It illustrates the quality of 1920s public building in Los Angeles and has long served as a cultural and social center for the community. It is part of a thematic group of city branch libraries.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the library is an architecturally distinguished public building in a neighborhood with few noteworthy designs, reflecting the City's commitment to high-quality public architecture in the 1920s. It has also served as a social and cultural center for the community. It is one of several branch libraries nominated as a thematic group.
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 87001017, listed May 19, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1005 W. Sixty-fourth St., Los Angeles |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | May 19, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87001017 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Henry F. Withey (architect) |
| Architectural style | Italian Renaissance |
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as retaining a strong sense of time and place and expected to remain an important community asset; it has a community support group that raises money for books. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 33.98133, -118.29100 (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 87001017.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6249707
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.