Culture news and discussion on TalkFuse.
Sphinxes, movie stars and 3m books: inside Los Angeles’s beloved art deco library
Los Angeles's central library, an art deco landmark in the city's downtown, has marked its 100th anniversary with celebrations that drew an estimated 12,000 visitors through its halls, courtyards and rotunda. The building, which opened in 1926, remains a much-loved civic institution and continues to feature prominently in popular culture, having served as a filming location for productions including Heat, Ghostbusters, Moonlighting, Murder, She Wrote and LA Law.
Designed by architect Bertram Goodhue and funded through a $2.5m municipal bond approved in 1921, the library blends Spanish, Egyptian, Byzantine and Islamic architectural influences and now houses nearly three million books across 89 miles of shelving. Its history has not been without darker episodes, including a visit from serial killer Richard Ramirez in 1985 and a devastating 1986 arson attack that destroyed 400,000 volumes and closed the library for seven years. Author Susan Orlean, who wrote about the library in her 2018 book The Library Book, was among those attending the centenary celebrations, which supporters describe as reaffirming the library's role as an inclusive public space open to all Angelenos.
In short
- LA's central library celebrates its 100th anniversary with 12,000 visitors
- Art deco building has featured in Heat, Ghostbusters and other films
- Survived a devastating 1986 arson that destroyed 400,000 books
Explained simply
Los Angeles's central library is a historic building that opened in downtown Los Angeles in 1926. It is an art deco structure designed by architect Bertram Goodhue, blending Spanish, Egyptian, Byzantine and Islamic architectural influences, and has become well-known as a filming location for numerous films and television programmes. The building is recognized as architecturally significant and attracts considerable public interest.
The library was built with funding from a municipal bond approved by the city in 1921 and today houses nearly three million books across its shelves. Its history has included significant challenges, including a devastating 1986 arson attack that destroyed hundreds of thousands of volumes and closed the building for seven years of restoration work. Despite these difficulties, it has remained an important institution serving Los Angeles residents.
The library's cultural and historical significance has drawn scholarly attention, with author Susan Orlean writing a 2018 book exploring its history. It represents an important public space serving diverse communities in the city. The building's survival of major challenges and its continued service to the community demonstrate the role libraries play as civic institutions.
Art Business Celebrity Culture Entertainment Film Markets