“Remembering that a noble, logical diagram once recorded will never die, but long after we are gone be a living thing, asserting itself with ever-growing insistency.” Daniel Burnham
“KNOW YOUR CITY BETTER”
REVITALIZING “MY CITY”
Though often associated with its landmark Civic Center of the 1920s, Pasadena’s City Beautiful Movement actually took place before US involvement in World War I, from 1913-1917.* This popular movement brought 5000 people together for its “My City” exhibit, building the essential momentum that was essential for Pasadena’s landmark Civic Center and its Golden Age of Development that followed.
In Dean Damon’s article “How to Get Started in City Planning: the Pasadena Way,” he describes the core principles of how the City Beautiful Movement worked to create ongoing momentum. The potential of revitalizing this approach is explored in the documents below, updating the simple approach to creating ongoing dialogue that is largely missing from today’s planning process. For details, download “My City” at mycity.is.
* After WWI, the phrase “City Beautiful” fell into disuse in Pasadena and during the Movement itself, “Beaux Arts” and style were rarely discussed.
In addition to George Damon’s April 28th, 1917 article that appears on the pages that follow, Dean Damon authored a number of other articles and plans between 1914 and 1917. See pasadenapassages.org for more articles about “My City” and Pasadena’s City Beautiful Movement and the new “My City” book about the planning of Pasadena.
“How to Get Started in City Planning: the Pasadena Way” Inscribed outside today’s Planning Bldg, Dean Damon describes “The Pasadena Way” in 1916. mycity.is/pasadenaway.pdf
PASADENAPASSAGES.ORG
“My City” tells the story of Pasadena’s City Beautiful Movement and the century that followed. Written by native son David Wolf and named after the 1916 exhibit of the same name, “My City” can be found online at mycity.is Printed copies are available at Pasadena’s Central Library.
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