Sherman Library Celebrates 50 Years with Special Open House on October 22

Sherman Library & Gardens is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its beloved library with a special Open House on October 22, 2024. The event, open to the public and free of charge, runs from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. and includes light bites and a no-host bar. RSVPs are required to attend here.

Founded by Arnold D. Haskell in 1974, the Sherman Library was built to preserve the history of the Pacific Southwest. Haskell designed a two-story Mission Revival-style building, with library stacks on the upper level and a climate-controlled archival space below. Since then, the library has grown to house over 15,000 books and a wide array of historical materials, including manuscripts, letters, photographs, maps, films, and rare artifacts.

Visitors can explore Sherman Library's current exhibitions, including Re-emerging at Sherman Library & Gardens: Gene Bauer’s Golden Botanical Gardens, which highlights Bauer’s botanical serigraphs that she began in 1972, focusing on native California plants. Additionally, the exhibit Phil Dike: From Paris to the Peninsula showcases the artist’s watercolor and oil landscapes of Newport Beach, generously donated by Woodie and Judy Dike.

The library is also a treasure trove for genealogists, with an extensive collection of historical city and street directories, some dating back to 1888, primarily covering California, along with select directories from Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and Hawaii.

2647 East Coast Highway in Corona del Mar.