Palos Verdes Public Library and Art Gallery-Farnham Martin's Park (Boundary Increase)
The National Park Service has not published a boundary polygon for this district; the map shows the listed properties inside it and the district's reference point.
Why it's listed
On a steep, sloping site in Palos Verdes Estates, a Mediterranean Revival library and an adjoining Olmsted-designed park form a single civic complex. Myron Hunt designed the library in 1929 with hollow-cast reinforced concrete walls covered in white stucco, a red tile roof, a corbeled balcony and a square tower with open loggia. Five levels house a gallery and meeting room, library collection, local history room and tower. Farnham Martin's Park, planted in 1928 to designs by Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr., has a stone fountain, twin stone staircases, an elliptical lawn and original plantings such as an American elm and Canary Island pines. The library served as the social center of the young community between 1930 and 1945, hosting the Woman's Club, art exhibits, lectures and recitals. The combined property was listed for its local importance in architecture, social history, landscape architecture, and community planning, and a later boundary increase added the park.
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) · catalog entry. Generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29).
| Period of significance | 1928-1945 |
|---|---|
| Styles | Late 19th & 20th Century Revivals: Mediterranean Revival |
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Social History, Landscape Architecture |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Boundary source | not published |
| Full listing page | Palos Verdes Public Library and Art Gallery-Farnham Martin's Park (Boundary Increase) (property record) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.