The centennial bash is this Saturday
The whole world meets at the corner of 5th and Flower. In classic Los Angeles fashion, the art and architecture of our wildly eclectic Central Library mashes up Spanish, Egyptian, Roman, Islamic and Byzantine styles with a little Hollywood art deco razzmatazz thrown in.
Los Angeles Public LibraryCredit: jimw/Flickr
The Los Angeles Public Library serves the largest population of any library system in the United States and dates back to 1872. The operation has millions of books and endless learning resources spread over 72 branches, but the heart of the system is the 8-story, half-million square foot behemoth downtown.
Kickoff for the Los Angeles Public Library Centennial in January 2026Credit: Photo by Chris Nichols
Downtown’s Central Library is listed as a Historic-Cultural Monument, but narrowly survived replacement in the 1970s (sparking the birth of the Los Angeles Conservancy) and was restored and expanded into an 8-story, art-filled wonderland after a devastating fire nearly destroyed the institution in 1986.
Los Angeles Public Library on fire in 1986Credit: Photo by Security Pacific National Bank Collection/Los Angeles Public Library
Our city’s grandest beacon of knowledge has been celebrating its centennial all year, and the downtown landmark of learning officially turns 100 this month and has been celebrating with special events, arts and crafts and the gala opening of the 1925 time capsule back in January.
On July 11, a free Centennial Festival at the Downtown landmark shows off the art, architecture and history of Bertram Goodhue’s masterpiece.
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Visitors can learn how to make carousel books, collage art, write haikus and visit the world’s largest pop-up book. Live performances include music by bands including Ashley Anne & The Carnations and viral sensation the Linda Lindas.
Centennial banner at Central LibraryCredit: Photo by ItalianAce1/Wikipedia
L.A.’s favorite puppet theater, the Bob Baker Marionettes, will bring out the vintage characters for a spin. The library’s Centennial Committee includes a wide range of L.A. luminaries, including artists and actors like Ed Ruscha and LeVar Burton, late night host Jimmy Kimmel and writers Susan Orlean and Lisa See. Comedy legend Cheech Marin, whose extensive Chicano art collection lives at the Cheech museum in Riverside, is also a supporter. “As a kid, I taught myself about art at the Los Angeles Public Library,” says Marin. “Libraries really do change lives.”
Central Library Centennial Festival
Sat, Jul 11 2026. 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM.
630 W. 5th Street, Downtown Los Angeles
lapl.org