Northwest in Denver in Denver County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)
William H. Smiley Branch Denver Public Library
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 2, 2024
1. William H. Smiley Branch Denver Public Library Marker
Landmark Preservation Commission
Erected 1989 by The City and County of Denver. (Marker Number 182.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Charity & Public Work • Education. In addition, it is included in the Carnegie Libraries, and the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1918.
Location. 39° 46.828′ N, 105° 2.707′ W. Marker is in Denver, Colorado, in Denver County. It is in Northwest. It is on West 46th Avenue just west of Tennyson Street, on the right when traveling west. The marker is mounted at eye-level, directly on the subject building, on the right side of the south/front entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4501 West 46th Avenue, Denver CO 80212, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Colorado’s Front Range. It is also in the American Mountain West. Globally, it is in North America, the Rocky Mountains, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Berkeley School (approx. 0.8 miles away); Elitch Theatre (approx. 0.8 miles away); Theatre Alumni (approx. 0.8 miles away); Gold Was Discovered (approx. 0.9 miles away); Placer Mining (approx. 1.4 miles away); The Cherokee Trail (approx. 1.4 miles away); Gold Fever (approx. 1.4 miles away); Ralston's Gold Discovery (approx. 1.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Denver.
Regarding William H. Smiley Branch Denver Public Library. Contributing property, Berkeley Lake Park District, National Register of Historic Places № 86002255.
From the National Register Nomination, 8/6/1986:
The William H. Smiley Branch of the Denver Public Library system occupies the southeast corner of the park. This small library, designed by Park French (of Mountjoy, French and Frewen of Denver), was built in 1918 in an English suburban style (frequently called a cottage style). It is a picturesque composition of red brick, white mortar,stucco, a green tile bracketed roof, clerestory windows, dormer gables with a hint of the neocolonial above the brick line, an entry stoop, a Romanesque entry arch, and buttresses to the sides of the entry.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 2, 20242. William H. Smiley Branch Denver Public Library MarkerThe marker is mounted on the right side of the south/front entrance.
Also see . . .
1. William H. Smiley Branch (Denver Public Library).
Excerpt: The Smiley Branch, built in 1918, was one of the original branch locations partially funded by the Carnegie Corporation, and is on the National Register for Historic Places. The $20,000 English cottage-style building was so successful in design that the Carnegie Corporation requested pictures and a description of the branch.(Submitted on September 30, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)The branch was named after William H. Smiley, Denver school teacher and superintendent who moved to the city in the 1880s and was known as The Grand Old Man of Education in Colorado. In 1980, it became home to the Northwest Denver Toy Library, which was run solely by neighborhood volunteers and offers toys and games for checkout with a library card.
The branch was designed by library officials with the idea in mind that it should be as attractive as possible for the children of the neighborhood. Its location in Berkeley Park was intended for the special use of the large groups of children who play there daily, and who will skate there in the winter time. (The Denver Times)
2. Smiley Branch Library History (Denver Public Library).
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 2, 2024
3. William H. Smiley Branch Denver Public Library
(distinctive brickwork detail)
(distinctive brickwork detail)
Excerpt: The Smiley Branch Library is designated as a Denver landmark as approved by the Denver Landmark Commission in 1989. The program is a public process that recognizes properties of historical, architectural and geographical importance to the City and County of Denver. To be eligible for designation, a structure must maintain its historic and physical integrity and meet criteria in two of three categories: history, architecture and geography.(Submitted on September 30, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)A 1992 renovation by David Owen Tryba Architects upgraded the interior, added an additional entrance on the north side of the building and addressed infrastructure maintenance. Today the branch serves a wide variety of customers who rely on the branchs close proximity to Berkeley Park and West Denver neighborhoods for their informational, recreational and cultural needs. The branchs collection and programs reflect the interests and needs of the diverse neighborhood.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 2, 2024
4. William H. Smiley Branch Denver Public Library
(north elevation)
(north elevation)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 2, 2024
5. William H. Smiley Branch Denver Public Library (northeast elevation)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 2, 2024
6. William H. Smiley Branch Denver Public Library (south/front elevation)
Credits. This page was last revised on January 9, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 30, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 603 times since then and 74 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on September 30, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
