Castle Green Pasadena to offer tours June 26

Castle Green Summer Tour will show Interiors

The Tour:
On Sunday, June 26th, the century-old Castle Green will present its summer tour from 1:00pm to 5:00pm. Admission is $20.00 per person for the visiting public. At the tour, visitors may enjoy the grounds and walk through ground floor interiors that have been historically restored. Comparing the original photographs with the present-day décor demonstrates the great effort that has been put into maintaining the original integrity of the interior public areas. Visitors at the tour will also be able to explore over 25 residential units that will be open for viewing. There will be live music and light refreshments available.

As tour attendees step through the gates of the Moorish and Mission revival-style former hotel, they will see stagings of how people might have enjoyed the grounds in yester-year. There will be a 1940s-era picnic on the grass and live croquet before they ascend the veranda into the chandelier-lit foyer.

Those interested in history, creative interior design and cultural heritage will see the original interior of this unique city landmark, normally closed to the public.
 While trained docents will be available, you may walk at your own pace through the original public rooms and over 20 individual apartments. See the Grand Salon, the Moorish and Turkish Rooms, the Palm Room, Sunroom and Veranda, the open cage elevator, fireplaces, hand-carved woodwork, and marble staircases, the bridge, artist studios, and the Penthouse.


A Brief History:
Originally the Hotel Green was a small hotel built by Edward C. Webster in 1887 on the southeast corner of Raymond and Green (then Kansas) Street. Getting more ambitious, he proceeded to build a small passenger station, just south of his hotel, for the Santa Fe Line, the train carrying transcontinental travelers all the way from Chicago.

The hotel was to become a summer destination for these Midwestern sun and warmth seekers. But Webster went too far out on a limb financially, and G. G. Green, a traveling medicine salesman, acquired the hotel when he foreclosed on a sizable loan made to Webster.
Under the new ownership of Colonel Green, the hotel enjoyed phenomenal success. After expansion on the property on the east side of Raymond, a major annex was begun on the west side of the street. This building, now the Castle Green, was completed in November of 1898 and formally opened on January 16, 1899. The last annex was erected in 1903.

Both annexes were designed by Frederick L. Roehrig. The 1898 building was an eclectic combination of Moorish and Mission Revival architecture, seven stories high, built of steel, brick and concrete, and was then the only fireproof hotel in California, a very substantial claim for that era. This was especially important because of the fire that had destroyed the local Royal Raymond Hotel in 1895. The annex was the first steel frame building in Pasadena, and only the second in the southwestern United States.

The Castle in the 21st Century:
The “Castle” is now the private residence of designers, musicians, artists, collectors, and other dwellers. The semi-annual tours of the Castle Green are organized by volunteer members of the nonprofit support arm, Friends of the Castle Green, whose mission is to provide and implement restoration to the building. All funds raised through the tours and merchandise sales are dedicated to the preservation of this landmark building.


The Castle Green is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (individually and as a contributing building to the Old Pasadena Historic District), the California State Register and is a City of Pasadena Historic Treasure, the highest designation is a city of incredible architecture. Due to the need of restoration of this historic site, the Friends support group was formed.
The Friends of the Castle Green is a California 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation and restoration of the Castle Green. To raise money for this task, the Friends hold tours in June and December and also accept donations for specific projects, including restoration and reinforcement (seismic retrofit) of the bridge and veranda exterior, reproduction of the original lighting on the roof, repair of building domes, penthouse arches and reproduction of the original carpet used throughout the building.

Future plans include the re-topping of the veranda concrete, restoration of the bridge interior, the restoration of the front (east) façade of the building, among other needs.

More Information:
Some of the famous individuals associated with the 
Castle are Tim Burton, film director, animator (Edward Scissorhands, Nightmare Before Christmas) and former
 resident; Charles White, noted African-American artist 
who had his studio in the cupola in the bridge; and Marcel Duchamp, French
 artist closely associated with the Da Da and Surrealism movements. Among the many films shot at the Castle are The
 Sting, The Last Samurai, The Little Rascals, Wild At
 Heart, We Were Soldiers, and The Prestige, and television shows that include CSI Miami, Cold Case, Buffy the Vampire 
Slayer, Alias, the X-Files, Brothers and Sisters (season finale), Heroes and Numbers.

What: Castle Green - June Tour


When: Sunday, June 26th, 1:00pm to 5:00pm (rain or shine)



Where: 99 South Raymond Ave. Pasadena 91105


Cost: $20.00* adults, children under 12 are free.

~Public may pay at the gate. Reservations are not required. Pre-purchase tickets only possible for groups of 15 or more.

Further Info: 626-577-6765
 www.castlegreen.com