While driving through downtown Sacramento, a few buildings stand as landmarks to the community, such as the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium and Sacramento’s City Hall, but what many may not notice is the intimate terra cotta features that give each of these buildings flair and character.

These small details, which often go unnoticed, are thanks to a Lincoln-based company located just outside of Roseville, known as Gladding McBean.

Gladding McBean, an architectural terra cotta factory, is the main source for the decorations that adorn many downtown buildings.

The factory, which is named after the two founders of the company, Charles Gladding and Peter McBean, opened its doors in 1875, said Phil Hitchcock, director of the University Library Art Gallery at Sacramento State.

Since the Festival of the Arts is this month, Sacramento State officials asked Gladding McBean to showcase their work from Friday until June 12 in the University Library Gallery, in the exhibit titled “Gladding, McBean: 1875 – present.”

“We want to tell our story at Gladding McBean and give our successful history, which is something we are very proud of,” said Mike Moraes, manager of Gladding McBean.

Hitchcock said the exhibit will be showcasing decorations found on some of the buildings in Sacramento, which include City Hall and the Public Library, as well as Shriners Hospital.

He said Gladding McBean is one of the only major factories in the United States that produce architectural terra cotta.

“Terra cotta is a form of ceramics that is left unglazed to show the reddish-brown color of the clay,” Moraes said.

Hitchcock said since its doors opened in 1875, the factory is one of the longest running factories in the country.

Another interesting fact of Gladding McBean, Hitchcock said, would be the wide range of the factory’s clientele.

“Gladding McBean goes all over the world,” Hitchcock said. “The reason that they produce in Lincoln is that they have a great depository of this certain rich terra cotta clay there.”

A terra cotta cast of a lion’s head, which is a decoration featured on a Catholic church in Ohio, is one of the displays at Sac State’s exhibit.

“One great thing about this lion head is the fact that it seems so large in person but so small compared to the building,” Hitchcock said. “It might seem miniscule to the plans, but great detail went into making this terra cotta casting.”

In the exhibit, the architectural floor plans and pictures of the church are placed behind the lion head, he said.

Hitchcock said pieces like this show students the work that Gladding McBean produces and the beauty of these pieces.

“This gallery is all about community,” Hitchcock said. “It’s about opening all kinds of visions and possibilities to the community, including students here at Sac State.”

Since the factory specializes in handmade craftsmanship, Hitchcock said, art students will especially benefit from the exhibit.

“This is good for the art students because all of these pieces have to be crafted by ceramic craft artists,” Hitchcock said. “This could also be a possible vocation for art students.”

Sac State art professor Catherine Turrill said she is looking forward to the Gladding McBean show since the exhibit will provide her with information on California’s past when it comes to terra cotta architecture.

“It is nice to hear about the past of this company because they are a pretty significant part of American history,” Turrill said. “”This is an exciting exhibition to have here at Sac State.”

Hitchcock agrees and said Sac State is very lucky to have Gladding McBean exhibit on campus.

“We are grateful Gladding McBean is willing to come to Sac State and show students how beautiful terra cotta architecture can be,” Hitchcock said. “Gladding McBean is one of the gems of Sacramento and most people don’t know about it.”

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