Riverbank Branch Library
Also known as: Riverbank Carnegie Library
Why it's listed
Completed in September 1921, this single-story Craftsman bungalow on Santa Fe Street in Riverbank served as the town's Carnegie-funded branch library. It has a gable roof truncated with slight hips at the ends, a central porch supported by two heavy wooden columns, a French door entrance, triplet windows under transoms, and a brick chimney at one end. Shiplap siding, flower boxes on shaped brackets and a concrete foundation complete the exterior, which is virtually unaltered. Riverbank's first library, a few shelves in a store, was lost in a 1917 fire. That year Stanislaus County received $3,000 from the Carnegie Corporation for a Riverbank branch. Residents paid for the site through contributions, and the lot was chosen partly for a large oak tree. It was among the last Carnegie libraries built in California and one of only four in the Craftsman style. It remained the community's only library until 1978 and now houses the Riverbank Museum.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant for its role in social history and education as Riverbank's Carnegie library, one of the last Carnegie libraries completed in California. It is also one of only four Craftsman-style Carnegie libraries in the state. It was the community's only library until a new county library opened in 1978.
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 96001077, listed October 10, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 3237 Santa Fe St., Riverbank |
|---|---|
| County | Stanislaus County |
| Listed | October 10, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96001077 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1921-1946 |
| Architect / builder | Mr. Hoose, architect; Mr. Miller, builder |
| Architectural style | Bungalow/Craftsman |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Now houses the Riverbank Museum; the building is described as well maintained and virtually unaltered on the exterior. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.73640, -120.93574 (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 96001077.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q133568632
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.