Gladding McBean in Sacramento: The Story of the Company & Their Buildings

Bruce Marwick, the President of the Sacramento Art Deco Society, will be reviewing the history of Gladding McBean, the nationally known pipe and architectural terra cotta company. Founded in 1875 in Lincoln, California, Gladding McBean has been manufacturing terra cotta for buildings in Sacramento and across the United States for 150 years.

The presentation will highlight the Gladding McBean artisans that created the beautiful sculptures, bas-reliefs, and decorative panels for Sacramento’s most notable early 20th Century buildings. Such structures include the Sacramento Public Library, the Weinstock-Lubin Department Store, and the Citizen Hotel (formerly the California State Life Insurance Building).

Speaker Biography

Bruce Marwick is a board member of the Sacramento History Alliance. His interest in architectural terra cotta began 25 years ago when he first toured the Gladding McBean factory during the annual Feats of Clay Festival. Bruce has written articles, and given walking tours and presentations, focusing on Gladding…