Pasadena’s Past Comes Alive in Summer Tour Series

Fenyes Mansion (File Photo -pasadenahistory

This summer, the Pasadena Museum of History invites residents and visitors alike to take a step back in time with a series of immersive walking tours that bring the city’s rich cultural and architectural heritage to life.

By News Desk

The first tour, Arroyo Terrace & Prospect Park, takes place on Saturday, June 14, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, and explores Pasadena’s pivotal role in the American Arts & Crafts movement. Around the turn of the 20th century, the Arroyo Seco and its surrounding hills buzzed with creative energy. Artists, craftspeople, and wealthy patrons helped establish Pasadena as one of the movement’s three national hubs. Participants will follow in the footsteps of influential figures like tilemaker Ernest Batchelder and renowned architects Charles and Henry Greene, discovering the multicultural influences and artistic passions that shaped the city’s identity. The tour begins at the historic Court of Appeals/Vista del Arroyo building (125 S. Grand Ave.) and ends at Orange Grove and California.

• For those unable to make the walk, historian Julia Long will offer an illustrated lecture on Thursday, May 15, at 7:00 pm at the Pasadena Museum of History.

The second tour, Exploring Pasadena on Foot: Arroyo Terrace & Prospect Park, also scheduled for Saturday, June 14, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, offers a different perspective. Highlighting early residential developments like Westmoreland Place and the tree-lined Prospect Park, the walk showcases homes designed by architectural giants such as Wallace Neff, Myron Hunt, and Frank Lloyd Wright.

• This route starts and ends at the Pasadena Museum of History (470 W. Walnut St.).

Rounding out the series on Saturday, July 12, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, is Saloons & Speakeasies, a lively tour through Old Pasadena’s spirited history with alcohol. From the city’s early stance as a “dry” community to the inevitable rebellion of speakeasies and saloons, this walk promises an entertaining dive into Pasadena’s more mischievous side.

• The tour begins at 34 Union St. and concludes next to Lucky Baldwin’s Pub (17 S. Raymond Ave).

Note: All walking tours involve steep inclines and declines. For details and ticketing, visit the Events Calendar at pasadenahistory.org.