Pasadena is one of the most well known cities in Southern California, whether for the annual Rose Bowl Parade and Rose Bowl, as the home of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, it's many cultural attractions or even the Beach Boys hit of the 1960's. There is a lot of history and a wealth of things to see and do in this city, located just outside of Los Angeles. Even if you've never visited the city, you probably know at least a little about Pasadena.
So what is it about Pasadena that makes it so unique? Other cities in sunny Southern California have an interesting past, but none stands out the way Pasadena does. As with most California towns, Pasadena was first inhabited by Native Americans - a tribe related to the Shoshone. One of the early settlers was the honorable Benjamin Wilson, who established his Lake Vineyard property in the area. In 1873, a doctor from Indiana visited Wilson, in search of a place he could bring clients with respiratory ailments. Soon afterward, the newcomers incorporated their community as an Indiana Colony. The name they eventually gave themselves, Pasadena, comes from an Indian phrase meaning "of the valley."
Before long, Pasadena was a well known resort for easterners, with many affluent people from New York, Philadelphia and Boston spending their winters there. These newcomers helped build cultural and scientific institutions which began building the reputation of Pasadena for culture and science. The Norton Simon Museum, founded in 1922, holds an art collection which is famous. The Pasadena Playhouse was founded in 1917 and puts on seven different shows per season. The Art Center of College and Design, one of the tops schools in the fields of art and design was established in 1930 with a mission to produce students who worked to change the world through their work. And of course, there is the JPL or Jet Propulsion Laboratory, begun in 1936 by a group of scientists dedicated to the development of rocketry. JPL is of course now one of the centers of NASA's spacecraft and robotics design and manufacture.
Once an agricultural community, Pasadena saw a building boom from 1886 to 1888. The Old Pasadena Historic District represented the focus of commerce and industry for the entire San Gabriel Valley. During the 1920s, the Spanish Colonial Revival style of architecture gained popularity. Visitors today can see remnants of that era by looking at the facades on buildings facing Colorado Boulevard. Perhaps the city's #1 claim to fame is the annual Tournament of Roses, a New Year's Day tradition that has been traveling the same route through town for decades. The event started in 1890, courtesy of Pasadena's Valley Hunt Club. As former residents of the East Coast and the Midwest, Californians wanted to let their friends back East know about the state's beauty and mild winter weather. As one professor said, "Let's hold a festival to tell the world about our paradise."
And since 1902, the Rose Bowl has been another Pasadena New Year's tradition. This game is sometimes known as "The Grandaddy of them All" and has sold out consistently every year since 1947. While the game is televised, there is nothing to compare to being at the game in person. If you're planning to go, have a look at Pasadena hotels and lodges online.
So what is it about Pasadena that makes it so unique? Other cities in sunny Southern California have an interesting past, but none stands out the way Pasadena does. As with most California towns, Pasadena was first inhabited by Native Americans - a tribe related to the Shoshone. One of the early settlers was the honorable Benjamin Wilson, who established his Lake Vineyard property in the area. In 1873, a doctor from Indiana visited Wilson, in search of a place he could bring clients with respiratory ailments. Soon afterward, the newcomers incorporated their community as an Indiana Colony. The name they eventually gave themselves, Pasadena, comes from an Indian phrase meaning "of the valley."
Before long, Pasadena was a well known resort for easterners, with many affluent people from New York, Philadelphia and Boston spending their winters there. These newcomers helped build cultural and scientific institutions which began building the reputation of Pasadena for culture and science. The Norton Simon Museum, founded in 1922, holds an art collection which is famous. The Pasadena Playhouse was founded in 1917 and puts on seven different shows per season. The Art Center of College and Design, one of the tops schools in the fields of art and design was established in 1930 with a mission to produce students who worked to change the world through their work. And of course, there is the JPL or Jet Propulsion Laboratory, begun in 1936 by a group of scientists dedicated to the development of rocketry. JPL is of course now one of the centers of NASA's spacecraft and robotics design and manufacture.
Once an agricultural community, Pasadena saw a building boom from 1886 to 1888. The Old Pasadena Historic District represented the focus of commerce and industry for the entire San Gabriel Valley. During the 1920s, the Spanish Colonial Revival style of architecture gained popularity. Visitors today can see remnants of that era by looking at the facades on buildings facing Colorado Boulevard. Perhaps the city's #1 claim to fame is the annual Tournament of Roses, a New Year's Day tradition that has been traveling the same route through town for decades. The event started in 1890, courtesy of Pasadena's Valley Hunt Club. As former residents of the East Coast and the Midwest, Californians wanted to let their friends back East know about the state's beauty and mild winter weather. As one professor said, "Let's hold a festival to tell the world about our paradise."
And since 1902, the Rose Bowl has been another Pasadena New Year's tradition. This game is sometimes known as "The Grandaddy of them All" and has sold out consistently every year since 1947. While the game is televised, there is nothing to compare to being at the game in person. If you're planning to go, have a look at Pasadena hotels and lodges online.
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If you're coming to Pasadena, wear some flowers in your hair and be sure to choose from the impressive selection of Pasadena hotels available for all budgets.
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