Mesa Verde Branch Library
At the formal Opening Day ceremony of the Mesa Verde Branch Library on November 20, 1965, Robert Wilson, mayor of Costa Mesa, called the library a “milestone in the city’s effort to provide worthwhile public facilities. It is the first one the city has constructed, but I assure you there will be more.” “Modern” was the most common way to describe the branch on opening day. Commentators praised the lofted solar reading room, the four patios, the dumb waiter, and, surprisingly, the fact it was carpeted. The mid-century modern library, designed by architects Schwager, Desatoff & Henderson, is considered one of Costa Mesa’s unsung gems, from its distinctive folded-plate roof to its elegant low-slung base and geometric colonnades.
Costa Mesa, Orange County
Images by Andrew Schmidt