Packard Library
Also known as: Marysville City Library
Why it's listed
Packard Library is a public library at the corner of 4th and C Streets in Marysville. John Q. Packard deeded the lots to the city in 1900 on condition that he would build a library there within five years and that the city would maintain it as a free library and reading room. He hired San Francisco architect William Curlett, and R. Dewar of San Francisco received the $66,000 building contract. Work began in March 1905, and the city accepted the building on October 12, 1906. The gray sandstone came from Packard's land in Santa Cruz County. The fireproof, three-story building has a basement, a main floor for books and reading, an upper meeting room, and a 200-seat theatre. Verandahs, acanthus-leaf finials and bands of small square windows decorate the exterior. It has been in continual use and has not been remodeled. The nomination calls it the finest example of its type and period in Marysville.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as a well-preserved, handsome example of early 20th-century Neo Classical Revival or Italian Renaissance styling, and as the finest example of its type and period in Marysville. It was the gift of a leading local citizen, John Q. Packard, who hired one of California's leading architects to create a high-quality civic building.
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 78000829, listed December 18, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 301 4th St., Marysville |
|---|---|
| County | Yuba County |
| Listed | December 18, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78000829 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900-1999 |
| Architect / builder | William Curlett, architect; R. Dewar of San Francisco, building contractor |
| Architectural style | Italianate Beaux Arts; also described as Neo Classical Revival and Italian Renaissance |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Reported as in continual use as a library since opening in 1906; described as unaltered and not remodeled. Owned by the City of Marysville. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Within district | Marysville Historic Commercial District |
| Coordinates | 39.13966, -121.58772 (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 78000829.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14683591
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.