“El Miradero beckons,” Leslie Coombs Brand mused, envisioning his Glendale mansion. Today, we stand before that very mansion. It is now known as the Brand Library & Art Center. This unique place has been a cornerstone for the arts in Southern California since 1956.
Leslie Brand was a prominent figure in Glendale’s development. He commissioned his brother-in-law, Nathaniel Dryden, to design this 5000 square-foot mansion. The design drew inspiration from the East Indian Pavilion at the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Brand finished it in 1904. He named it El Miradero. That is Spanish for a high place overlooking an expansive view.
Brand bequeathed the mansion to Glendale upon his death in 1925. He stipulated the city use the property as a library and its land as a public park. After Mrs. Brand’s passing in 1945, the city transformed the mansion into the Brand Library in 1956. It earned a spot on the Glendale Register of Historic Resources in 1977.
The transition from home to library brought modifications. Fluorescent lights replaced original chandeliers. Acoustic plaster covered ceilings. Windows and door openings were filled to make room for shelving and exhibits.
A major rehabilitation began in July 2012. The project sought to restore the building to its original glory. They removed incompatible additions meticulously. Windows were replaced and recreated in the Solarium. A fireplace, removed in the 1950s, was reconstructed. The surviving original woodwork was refinished.
The mansion had unreinforced walls posing a safety concern. The team devised a clever way to strengthen the structure seismically without visible evidence.
The mansion’s decorative ceiling underwent a notable restoration. Removal of the acoustic plaster revealed a faded painting. Artists used photographs to reconstruct the original paintings.
Today, the Brand Library & Art Center offers free services and programs. It serves a diverse community. The collection boasts over 110000 items. Subject specialist librarians are available. You can explore exhibitions, concerts, lectures, dance performances, and films. There are even hands-on craft programs for children and adults.
The Brand Library holds unique collections related to visual arts and music. Music collections offer biographies, music scores, CDs, LPs, music DVDs, jazz, classical music and more. Art collections feature design monographs, biographies, exhibition catalogs, art theory, fashion design and printmaking.
“In the Bag” kits offer guitar, ukulele, drawing, knitting, crochet, and hiking equipment to explore your creativity. Online resources grant access to millions of ebooks, audiobooks, songs, and online learning courses.
The Brand Library and Art Center stands as a testament to civic stewardship. It is a revitalized community anchor. It welcomes all to explore the arts and music.