Kern Branch, Beale Memorial Library
historic place
The Kern Branch, Beale Memorial Library, also known as the Baker Street Library, is located at 1400 Baker Street in Bakersfield, California. This historic building was constructed between 1913 and 1915, officially opening on July 7, 1915. It was designed by architect O. L. Clark in the Classical Revival style. This library building is the only surviving structure in Bakersfield designed by Clark. The building features a central block with two wings. Its main entrance, on the east wing, has a portico supported by columns, topped with a pediment and a frieze reading "PUBLIC LIBRARY." The interior incorporates classical and Renaissance decorative themes. This facility replaced Bakersfield's original library building. The Kern Branch, Beale Memorial Library was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 1, 1981. This site stands as a significant example of early 20th-century public architecture and a long-standing center for community resources in Kern County.