Photo of the Gardner Building in 1925. Image courtesy of Palos Verdes Library District Local History Center. Image Barcode 000024075. Title: Gardner Building, Malaga Cove Plaza, Palos Verdes Estates, California. To see more images of the Gardner Building, visit palosverdeshistory.org
Dedicated on September 13, 1925, the Gardner Building was the first commercial structure built on the Peninsula. The 51 x 141 ft building was named for its first owner W. W. Gardner, but was designated “Casa Primera” by the Palos Verdes Project Art Jury to stick with the Spanish style of the streets in the surrounding area. The architects were Webber, Staunton, and Spaulding and it was erected by W. W. Gardner and Associates. The architecture reflects the Spanish colonial revival style, which is characterized by its four arches, stucco walls and ceiling, and the red brick paving.
When the Gardner Building first opened, it housed the Palos Verdes Estates Post Office and was home to Malaga Cove School during construction of the new school buildings. Originally the entire second floor was home to the Palos Verdes Project’s Engineering and Design Department as well as the Art Jury and Homes Association. Over the years it has also housed different markets and drug stores. The Gardner Building was designated as a historical site by the Rancho de los Palos Verdes Historical Society on October 31, 1981.
This geocache was placed with the permission of the City of Palos Verdes Estates
