A. K. Smiley Public Library
Why it's listed
A brick library with a tile roof and a long arcade, the A.K. Smiley Public Library in Redlands was designed in 1898 by architect T.R. Griffith and built by the Redlands firm of Davis M. Donald. Work began in August 1897. Albert K. Smiley, a philanthropist with ties to education and Indian affairs policy, gave it to the city along with an adjoining park. The building is cross-shaped, with oak interiors, hand-carved gargoyles, a stone griffin over the main entrance and original stained-glass rose windows. Wings were added in 1907, 1920, 1926 and 1930, and the tower was cut back in 1936. Its style has been called Moorish and Mission, but the nomination describes it as an eclectic mix of Islamic, Mediterranean, Romanesque and Gothic-inspired motifs. It was listed for its architecture, its education role and its archives of California and Redlands history. It remains an operating public library owned by the city.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the library is significant as a gift from philanthropist Albert K. Smiley to Redlands and as a distinctive eclectic design blending Moorish, Mission, Mediterranean and Romanesque motifs. It also stresses its educational role and its archives on California and Redlands history, which have drawn authors and researchers.
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 76000513, listed December 12, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 125 W. Vine St., Redlands |
|---|---|
| County | San Bernardino County |
| Listed | December 12, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76000513 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Davis Donald/T.R. Griffith |
| Architectural style | Moorish/Mission eclectic, combining mainly Islamic and Mediterranean motifs |
| Areas of significance | Art, Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Marked occupied and in good condition, in public ownership and use as a functioning public library with an archives collection. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 34.05416, -117.18399 (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 76000513.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14681529
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.