National Register of Historic Places

Free Public Library of Petaluma

Petaluma, Sonoma County, California
Listed
June 22, 1988
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
88000925

About this property

The Free Public Library of Petaluma (also Old Carnegie Library, Carnegie Free Library and Petaluma Historical Library and Museum) is a research library and history museum at 20 Fourth Street in Petaluma, Sonoma County, California, US. Built in 1904 as a Carnegie Free Library, it was designed by Brainerd Jones as his first major commission before the architect gained regional recognition. In the 1970s, it was re-purposed as a research library and historical museum, known as the Petaluma Historical Library and Museum. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Location

20 Fourth St.
Petaluma, Sonoma County, California
38.23262, -122.63981

Categories

ARCHITECTURESOCIAL HISTORY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Everything a full report reveals about Free Public Library of Petaluma

This page lists Free Public Library of Petaluma. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Nearby Historic Sites

US Post Office-Petaluma
Industrial
0.1 mi
Petaluma Historic Commercial District
Listed
0.2 mi
Old Petaluma Opera House
Industrial
0.2 mi
Sweed, Philip, House
Industrial
0.4 mi
Petaluma Silk Mill
Industrial
0.6 mi

Questions about this property

When was Free Public Library of Petaluma listed on the National Register?

Free Public Library of Petaluma was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 22, 1988.

What type of historic resource is Free Public Library of Petaluma?

Free Public Library of Petaluma is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Free Public Library of Petaluma?

The period of significance for Free Public Library of Petaluma is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Free Public Library of Petaluma?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Free Public Library of Petaluma will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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