Monday, December 17, 2012

Pasadena Heritage offers architectural walking tours Dec. 30

Pasadena Heritage is excited to announce its 2012 Architectural Legacy Walking Tours. Our expert guides will show you how Pasadena developed from a simple Indiana farm colony to the wealthiest resort community in the United States during the 1920s. Special this year is the opportunity to participate in four different walking tours. We invite you and your holiday guests to enjoy a walking tour featuring many of Pasadena’s architectural treasures – explore our award winning Civic Center, discover our beautiful estate residences and Craftsman style homes, walk our historic downtown, a national model for downtown revitalization, and more!

Tours will be offered on Sunday, December 30, 2012. There will be two tour times offered for each of the four walking tours – 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Make your reservation now at www.pasadenaheritage.org or purchase by phone,(626) 441-6333.l. The cost per tour is $20 for the general public and $15 for Pasadena Heritage members. Advanced reservations are highly recommended.

We look forward to seeing you with us this holiday season. For complete tour details, see the tour descriptions below or visit www.pasadenaheritage.org.


2012 Pasadena’s Architectural Legacy Walking Tours

Pasadena Civic Center Walking Tour
The Pasadena Civic Center tour will depart from the lobby of the Westin Hotellocated at 191 North Los Robles Avenue. This tour provides local residents and visitors with a unique look at the area’s intriguing architectural history. Pasadena’s Civic Center is a product of the “City Beautiful” Movement led by renowned planner Daniel Burnham, which began at the 1893 World Columbia Exposition in Chicago. Pasadena’s 1925 plan was created by Edward H. Bennett, protégé of Burnham and in May 2012, the American Planning Association awarded the National Planning Landmark Award to the Bennett Plan, recognizing the City’s dedication to its implementation over the years. There will be anecdotes of individuals such as architect Julia Morgan, who designed the former YWCA building, George Ellery Hale, who was the driving force behind Civic Center’s construction, and others, who helped to create and maintain the Mediterranean style of architecture within this beautiful civic core.

Old Pasadena Walking Tour
The Old Pasadena tour will begin at the lobby of the Courtyard Marriott Hotellocated at 180 North Fair Oaks Avenue. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Old Pasadena Historic District is Pasadena’s original downtown and a thriving shopping and dining district. The tour explores the architectural detail of the historic district as well as the struggles and triumphs of preservation and restoration of buildings such as Memorial Park, originally called Library Park, and Raymond Theater, originally a vaudeville theater done in the Beaux Arts style. Also included in the tour, is a look at the beautifully restored St. Andrews Catholic Church built in 1928-29. Additionally, a look at the smaller streets and alleys of Old Pasadena provide some of the best evidence of its Victorian past.

Pasadena Hillcrest Neighborhood Walking Tour
The Pasadena Hillcrest Neighborhood tour will depart from the lobby of the Langham Huntington Hotel, located at 1401 South Oak Knoll Avenue, and will allow tour goers to discover one of the most prestigious neighborhoods of Pasadena. With an extraordinary collection of architect designed homes, the tour explores various architectural styles such as Mediterranean, Victorian and Craftsman inspired homes. Showcased on the tour are numerous grand estates including Craftsman homes such as the Freeman House, designed by architects Arthur and Alfred Heineman, and the Blacker House, designed by Charles and Henry Greene. The southern terminus of the neighborhood is the Langham Huntington Hotel, an iconic landmark property since 1907.

Pasadena Playhouse District Walking Tour
The Pasadena Playhouse District tour will begin at the lobby of the Sheraton Hotel,located at 303 East Cordova Street. The tour includes buildings of diverse architectural styles along Green Street and Colorado Boulevard. The tour will also include the Pacific Asia Museum which was modeled after buildings in Beijing’s Forbidden City, the First Church of Christ Scientist, which was the first church in Pasadena to be constructed of reinforced concrete and the Pasadena Playhouse, a Spanish-Colonial Revival building with Mission elements designed by Elmer Grey, designer of the Beverly Hills Hotel, the Huntington Library and Art Gallery, and buildings on the Caltech campus.

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About Pasadena Heritage
Pasadena Heritage is a nonprofit organization dedicated to historic preservation in and around Pasadena, California. The organization advocates on behalf of historic resources, educates the public about local history and the benefits of preservation, and demonstrates quality restoration through its own preservation projects. Its 2,000-plus members are drawn from Pasadena and neighboring communities, and throughout Southern California. www.pasadenaheritage.org  www.facebook.com/pasadenaheritage

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