Venice Branch
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Why it's listed
Built in 1930 at 610 California Avenue, the Venice Branch Library is a masonry building in the Spanish Colonial Revival style. It has a U-shaped plan, a symmetrical street facade, and a hip roof with a cupola at the rear. Oak double doors with diamond-shaped panes mark the entry, and the rear of the central block has full-length vertical rows of multi-pane windows between brick piers. Inside, an oak vestibule with Moorish motifs leads to a reading room with its original charging desk and a cast stone fireplace carved with a ship. Venice was an independent city from 1903 to 1925 but had no library of its own, only a rented storefront branch opened in 1912. After annexation to Los Angeles, the city built this library as part of a building program that also included a police station, a bathhouse and lifeguard stations. Architect David Witmer designed it, and it was his only library. Joe Crosel built it for $48,000.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the library is significant for its cultural and historical role in the Venice community and as a notable design by local architect David J. Witmer. It was the second public building the City of Los Angeles built in Venice after annexation in 1925. Its unusual rear window bands and interior details show the architect's attention to function and detail.
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 87001020, listed May 19, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 610 California Ave., Los Angeles |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | May 19, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87001020 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | David L. Witmer (architect, also given as David J. Witmer in the significance text); Joe Crosel (contractor) |
| Architectural style | Spanish Colonial Revival |
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The library has served the Venice community since construction, and the interior retains the original charging desk and meeting room light fixtures. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 33.99116, -118.47574 (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 87001020.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7919976
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.