Central High School Music Hall – Fresno CA
The WPA built the music hall at this high school. This hall still functions as a music classroom, as well as a storage space for textbooks.
Chandler Field/Fresno Municipal Airport – Fresno CA
"Funds from the WPA were used to construct four buildings and upgrade airfield infrastructure at Chandler Field in 1936-1937. An Administration Building (terminal), Administration Building annex, bathroom building and electrical control building, in varying styles, were added under this campaign…. read more
City Hall Annex – Fresno CA
Fresno CA gained a new City Hall during the New Deal. It was undoubtedly paid for by the Public Works Administration (PWA), but this needs to be verified. A New Deal Fresno walking tour brochure describes the building: “Fresno’s second… read more
Frank H. Ball Park Swimming Pool and Community Building – Fresno CA
A New Deal Fresno brochure lists the swimming pool at Frank H. Ball park as being built by the PWA. The playground also received $42,000 for an NYA project to give youth training in building trades. The recreation building plaque… read more
Fresno (Veterans) Memorial Auditorium – Fresno CA
‘The building is approximately 170 by 236 feet in over-all dimensions. The auditorium is 100 by 140 feet and is provided with a stage, 35 by 100 feet, and a gallery around three sides. A large foyer, committee rooms,… read more
Fresno Chaffee Zoo – Fresno CA
The zoo is located in Roeding Park. The zoo's history goes back to 1907. The WPA added the cat barn exhibit and small chain link cages in the 1930s.
Fresno City College Ratcliffe Stadium Improvements – Fresno CA
The stadium was originally built in 1926, but later improved by the WPA. The archival photo pictured details each feature the WPA worked on at and surrounding this stadium, including new adjacent handball and tennis courts. The WPA work on… read more
Fresno County Hall of Records – Fresno CA
This building is now on the National Register of Historic Places. The PWA Deco Moderne building was built by Allied Architects, a “Great Depression-era consortium between architects W. D. Coates, Charles H. Franklin, H. Rafael Lake, Ernest J. Kump, Sr.,… read more
Fresno Fire Station No. 3 – Fresno CA
This firehouse was constructed by the PWA in 1938: “Constructed in 1938 (the oldest fire station in the Fresno Metropolitan area) and located at 1406 Fresno Street near E Street, Station No. 3 houses an engine, a 121-foot aerial ladder… read more
Fresno Memorial Auditorium Map – Fresno CA
The Fresno Bee of 10/6/38 reported that Fresnos first New Deal art project was an 8×12 feet historical wall map for the Fresno County Historical Society in the Fresno Memorial Auditorium. Current status to be determined.
Fresno Unified School District Office – Fresno CA
This Dutch Modern Administration Building was built in 1936. It is H. P. #53 on the Fresno Local Register of Historic Resources. It was built by Charles Franklin, Ernest Kump Jr., and Alastair Simpson for Allied Architects of Fresno. “Constructed… read more
Fresno Unified School District Shop and Maintenance Building – Fresno CA
Built by Ernest J. Kump Jr. for Allied Architects of Fresno in 1936. Unfortunately the building was recently demolished.
Fresno Water Tower – Fresno CA
This Fresno water tower was constructed by the PWA: “Curved lines and columns form an unusual composition in the modern water tower on the Fresno, California skyline.” The tower was located at the corners of Clinton and Del Mar… read more
Main Post Office (former) – Fresno CA
Formerly Fresno’s Main Post Office and subsequently its Downtown Station post office, building presently houses the Fresno United School District Education Center. “The U.S. Post Office building housed the main post office branch, as well as Federal courtroom sand offices,… read more
Malaga Elementary School – Fresno CA
In 1941, workers with the Works Progress Administration (WPA) built the Malaga School and the sidewalk in front.
Post Office (former) Mural – Fresno CA
The painted, glazed ceramic tile mural titled “Grape Harvest” was made for the interior of the post office in 1942 by Henry Varnum Poor under the auspices of the Treasury Section of Fine Arts.
Post Office (former): Bruton Bas Reliefs – Fresno CA
These two terra-cotta bas reliefs—one of a boy and one of a girl, both standing by a post office box—are about 5 feet tall and made from terra cotta. They are titled “RFD 1” and “RFD 2,” and were created… read more
Post Office (former): Calfee Sculpture – Fresno CA
Artist William H. Calfee created this cast concrete sculpture for the post office exterior in 1940 under the auspices of the Treasury Section of Fine Arts.
Post Office (former): Garner Bas Relief – Fresno CA
A poured stone relief of a woman and a set of scales signifying “Justice.” Approximately 10′ high x 5′ wide x 1′ deep. The sculpture was created in 1940 by Archibald Garner with support from the Treasury Section of Fine… read more
Riverside Golf Course – Fresno CA
In 1939 the Federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) built the Riverside Golf Course and clubhouse, as well as an adjacent swimming beach and playground in Fresno. “Riverside Golf Course was designed by Billy Bell and built in 1939 as a WPA… read more
Roeding Park Improvements – Fresno CA
The PWA built sprinkler and sewer systems in the park in the 1930s. The WPA built a long rustic stone wall around the park.
Washington High School Gymnasium – Fresno CA
Washington Union High School in the small Fresno County town of Easton received $45,000 for the building of a new gymnasium in 1940.
Wish-I-Ah Nursing Home (abandoned) – Auberry CA
Once known as the Wish-I-Ah Healthcare & Wellness Centre, this nursing home was built in 1928 as a sanatorium for tuberculosis by Fresno County and was sold to become a private care center for the aged when T.B. virtually disappeared… read more
WPA Sidewalks – Fresno CA
“The still-vivid Works Progress Administration concrete stamps on the sidewalks around Fresno’s second City Hall pay homage to the breadth of New Deal-era projects in Fresno, and the contribution the WPA made to improving city infrastructure.”