Los Angeles Central Library
historic place
The Los Angeles Central Library, in Los Angeles County, is a historic public building. Voters approved a bond measure to fund its construction, and the original building was erected between 1924 and 1926. It officially opened to the public in July 1926. Architect Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue designed the library with influences from ancient Egyptian and Mediterranean Revival architecture. Its distinctive features include a tiled mosaic pyramid on the roof, crowned by a "Light of Learning" torch. The interior Rotunda showcases murals by Dean Cornwell, illustrating California's history. The Los Angeles Central Library was designated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 1967 and added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1970. The building underwent a significant renovation and expansion, including the Tom Bradley addition, which was completed in 1993. This site remains a notable example of early 20th-century public architecture in Los Angeles.