Pasadena: History

Pasadena is a leader in scientific research, arts, higher education, healthcare, food and fun! Pasadena Welcome to

For thousands of years, the greater Pasadena area was home to the Tongva, who were displaced by the Spanish missions in the late 1700s. In the 19th century, the Pasadena area attracted Midwesterners seeking warm weather, rich soil and prosperity. By the late 19th century, Pasadena grew and evolved from an agrarian town into a strong and diverse economy.

Vacationers found

Pasadena’s resort hotels such as the Langham Huntington Pasadena Hotel, which survives today, ideal for winter get-a-ways.

Astronomers delighting in our clear night skies built the Carnegie Observatories and Mt. Wilson Observatory.

Artists, architects, writers and artisans nurtured Pasadena as the West Coast hub of the Arts and Crafts movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The Colorado Street Bridge was built in 1913 to connect Pasadena to communities to the west. After WWII, Pasadena developed as a center of commerce, industry and a shopping destination. In this time, Pasadena saw the completion of the Arroyo Seco Parkway (Pasadena Freeway) to downtown Los Angeles, the first freeway in Southern California.

As Pasadena expanded into a suburban center, the population blossomed to more than 100,000 people. In the 1970s, aided by easy access to freeways, Pasadena became headquarters for multi-national corporations, healthcare providers and professional service industries.

Pasadena is a safe and inviting urban environment without the worries and hassles of a big city.

The Ice House, was the first comedy club in the country. Michael Jackson premiered his “moon walk” on the stage at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.

The Rose Bowl is the only venue to have hosted Super Bowls, the World Cup soccer championship, Olympic soccer final, Women’s World Cup final and the college football national championship game – and the first professional go-kart races!

Opened in the 1880s as a technical school, California Institute of Technology (Caltech) has been home to 34 Nobel Prize awardees and has been named the top university in the world by the London Times for two of the past three years. Albert Einstein made three longterm visits in the 1930s and Stephen Hawking lectured at Caltech into the 21st century. Pasadenan Jackie Robinson was the first African-American player in major league baseball. Jackie Robinson’s brother Mack ran a very close second to Jesse Owens at the Berlin Olympics of 1936. America’s first culinary celebrity, Julia Child was born and raised here. In 1924, teen-aged Lionel Sternberger first served a cheeseburger to a customer at The Rite Spot in Pasadena.

Art Center College of Design is among the leading schools for fine art, commercial art and design in the nation.

Fuller Theological Seminary graduates ministers who work throughout the world.

Pacific Oaks College continues to train excellent educators.