A Pure Boothe Creation
The Redwood Building is also known as the Technocratic Cathedral. David and Stephen made scale models before settling on the final form, then constructed the building from redwood shipped east through the Panama Canal. The large beams were laid horizontally and held with galvanized dowels rather than nails, with glass block windows making vertical beams unnecessary. The brothers intended the building for indoor church services and displays of early technological ideas. During the Depression, its construction also provided work, and over time it became known as a multi-purpose building shaped by Boothe ingenuity.
What to Look For
- Horizontal redwood beam construction
- Glass block window approach
- Cathedral-like interior feeling
- Connections to the brothers' interest in technology
- Basket collection history tied to the original ceiling canopy
