Glendale History: Verdugo Swim Stadium

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With the official start of summer just days away (and the summer heat already here), thoughts turn to finding outdoor activities and ways to keep cool.

From the 1938 until the mid-1980s, the Verdugo Swim Stadium provided both for residents throughout Glendale. This picture, taken by a Glendale News Press photographer, suggests that the pool was quite a hit with the kids and teens of Glendale in the 1940s.

The Verdugo Swim Stadium, which was located next to the Civic Auditorium on Verdugo Road, was finally demolished in 1988. This photograph is one of the thousands available to library patrons and researchers at the Special Collections Room in the Glendale Central Library.

The Special Collections Room also contains news clippings, books, maps, and other materials that cover the history of Glendale, neighboring cities, and California in general. The collection is particularly useful for local history and genealogy research projects. Special Collections also houses the Cat Collection, one of the largest collections of feline-related materials in the world.

The Special Collections Room is currently open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m and 1 to 3 p.m., Saturdays from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., and by appointment. Please call (818) 548-2037 for additional information.