Carnegie Art Museum (Oxnard, California)

The Carnegie Art Museum is a public art museum owned by the City of Oxnard, California in the building originally occupied by the Oxnard Public Library. The Neo-Classical building, located adjacent to Oxnard's Plaza Park, opened in 1907 as the Oxnard Public Library and was converted into an art museum in 1986.[2] In July 1971, it became the first building in Ventura County and the first Carnegie library in California[3] to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Carnegie Art Museum
Carnegie Art Museum, September 2008
Established1986 (1986)
OwnerCity of Oxnard
Oxnard Public Library
Location424 S. C St., Oxnard, California
Coordinates34°11′54″N 119°10′48″W
Built1907
ArchitectFranklin P. Burnham
Architectural styleNeo-Classical
NRHP reference No.71000210[1]
Added to NRHPJuly 27, 1971

In 2019 the city considered laying off the employees at the museum and at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center and shuttering both facilities.[4] At that time, city officials stated the closure was temporary and the museum could reopen when new downtown development began, which is expected in about three years.[5]

Construction and early history
Downtown Oxnard in 1908, Oxnard Public Library on the right

In late 1904, Oxnard's first mayor Richard B. Haydock[6] wrote a letter to Andrew Carnegie soliciting a donation to build a library in Oxnard.[7][8][9] In February 1906, Carnegie offered to donate $10,000 toward the construction of a library if the City of Oxnard would furnish the site and agree to provide at least $1,000 per year to maintain it.[10][11][12]

By September 1906, construction was underway.[13] Mayor Haydock selected the Greek Neo-Classical architecture with Doric columns for the new library, which was designed by Los Angeles architect Franklin Burnham.[14][15]

Carnegie initially gave $10,000 toward construction of the library, but as the plans were drawn, the city decided to build a more expensive building that could also house the city's municipal offices and city hall.[16] In July 1906, the city signed a contract with Thomas Carroll for $14,000 to build the dual-use facility. Carnegie agreed to pay half of the additional appropriation in addition to the original $10,000 gift.[16] The final cost was $14,000 with Carnegie contributing $12,000 and the city contributing $2,000.[17] The main floor was occupied by the library, and the basement was Oxnard's city hall.[18]

The library was opened on May 16, 1907.[19] Five years later, Oxnard's library had "the largest circulation of any city of the sixth class in the State."[20]

In 1923, the library was expanded with the opening of a new three-story addition on the east side of the building, allowing the library to expand its holdings to 20,000 books.[21][14]

The structure continued to serve as Oxnard's city hall until 1949 and as the Oxnard Public Library until 1963.[2][22]

Later uses

In March 1963, the Oxnard Public Library moved to a new location, and the building was used between 1963 and 1975 by the Oxnard Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Chamber of Commerce.[23]

It also served as a facade for the "Dan August" television show starring Burt Reynolds in the early 1970s.[24]

Two of the structure's three neoclassical facades

In 1977, the city received a $133,000 federal grant to restore the building, which re-opened on August 16, 1980 as the Carnegie Cultural Arts Center, which was the home of the Art Club of Oxnard, the Oxnard Historical Society Museum and the audiovisual portion of the Oxnard Public Library.[14]

In 1986, the building became the Carnegie Art Museum, owned and operated by the City of Oxnard.[2][14] The museum had 37,000 visitors in 2002.[24] It has hosted exhibitions by Southern California artists, including Michael Dvortcsak, Joyce Trieman, Frank Romero and Gronk.[24][25] The Museum also has a permanent collection of more than 1,500 art and ethnographic objects, including over 600 paintings, drawings, prints and photographs primarily by 20th century California artists such as Arthur Beaumont, Colin Campbell Cooper, Millard Sheets, and Leo Politi.[26]

Historic designation

In February 1971, the Ventura County Cultural Heritage Board listed the building as a heritage landmark.[23]

In July 1971, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places, becoming the first site so designated in Ventura County.

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  2. "Carnegie Cultural Center open to public: History of art center reveals integral usefulness to county residents". Los Angeles Times. 1981-05-02.
  3. "Carnegie Libraries of California - Oxnard, California". www.carnegie-libraries.org. Retrieved 2017-12-23.
  4. Leumg, Wendy (May 15, 2019). "Closure of Oxnard performing arts center, Carnegie Museum proposed as city slashes budget". Ventura County Star. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  5. Leung, Wendy. "Last chance to visit Oxnard's Carnegie Art Museum is this weekend". Ventura County Star. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
  6. Patel, Shivani (June 5, 2020). "Oxnard's Haydock school renamed Dr. Manuel Lopez Academy of Arts and Sciences". Ventura County Star. Retrieved 2020-06-06.
  7. "Move Toward Carnegie Library". Oxnard Courier. December 23, 1904. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Carnegie Library Movement". Oxnard Courier. December 30, 1904. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "United Action Will Secure It: Conditions Favorable to Secure Carnegie Library for Oxnard". Oxnard Courier. January 13, 1905. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "City Library in Sight". Oxnard Courier. February 9, 1906. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "Carnegie Promises Library". Oxnard Courier. February 23, 1906. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. "Library Money Ready for Use". Oxnard Courier. March 9, 1906. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. "Work of New Library Progressing Rapidly". Oxnard Courier. September 7, 1906. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. "A brief history of the Carnegie Art Museum". Carnegie Art Museum. Archived from the original on 2008-06-15.
  15. Hudak, Tracy (2012-06-08) "My Own Private Museum: A Closer Look at Oxnard's Carnegie Art Museum" KCET Artbound
  16. "Carnegie Twice Generous: The Ironmaster Gives Total of Twelve Thousand Dollars for Oxnard Library". Los Angeles Times. 1906-07-29.
  17. "The Carnegie Library". Oxnard Courier. January 18, 1907. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. "Library Almost Ready To Open". Oxnard Courier. March 15, 1907. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. "Public Library Fittingly Opened: Stately Monument to Art and Literature is Dedicated to the People in Simple yet Beautifully Impressive Manner". Oxnard Courier. May 17, 1907. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. "To Celebrate Anniversary: Fifth Annual Birthday of the Oxnard Library Is to be Properly Observed by the Beneficiaries". Los Angeles Times. 1912-05-04.
  21. "Formal Opening of Library and New Addition Attracts Hundreds of People From Oxnard District". Oxnard Courier. April 14, 1923. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. Lindell, Karen (2012-10-14) "Carnegie Art Museum in Oxnard celebrates 25th anniversary" Ventura County Star
  23. "Carnegie Cultural Center open to the public". Los Angeles Times. May 2, 1981. p. Gold Coast Advertising Supplement, 18.
  24. Josef Woodard (2003-01-20). "Ventura County: Little Museum Gets Big Boost from Patrons; The Carnegie in Oxnard is enjoying 39% rise in visitors and, as seen in current show, a host of generous donors". Los Angeles Times.
  25. Josef Woodard (2002-01-03). "Ventura County Culture: A Place Where Culture Remains Alive and Well". Los Angeles Times.
  26. "Permanent Collection of the Carnegie Art Museum". Carnegie Art Museum.
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