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Pasadena Museum of History, California

Museum
In Pasadena, California
0.6 mi from Route 66

Founded in 1924, the Pasadena Museum of History in Pasadena, CA, combines a private, nonprofit museum with a research library, less than half a mile from the Route 66 corridor. It is the one place devoted entirely to the past, art and culture of Pasadena and the western San Gabriel Valley. Set on a historic estate that is about a hundred years old, it pairs exhibits with houses and gardens, a rewarding stop in a Route 66 city.

What is Pasadena Museum of History?

The campus brings several pieces together. Visitors find a History Center with exhibits, the Fenyes Estate with its gardens, a library holding research archives, the Curtin House, and a small museum of Finnish folk art. Together they tell the story of the city and the surrounding valley through buildings, objects and records.

Beyond exhibits, the museum runs tours, lectures, seminars and workshops, all meant to build appreciation for the history, culture, arts and sciences of Pasadena and nearby towns. It is as much a community resource for local researchers as a place for visitors passing through.

History of Pasadena Museum of History

The institution dates back to 1924. Today its headquarters sits on a historic estate, where the house, grounds and library serve the public. Its focus has stayed local, so this is the place to learn how Pasadena grew into the city Route 66 travelers drive through today.

Because the estate itself is part of the story, the setting does double duty: it is both the museum's home and one of the historic places it helps to explain.

Visiting Pasadena Museum of History: tips

Allow an hour or two to see the exhibits and grounds, and check whether a house tour fits your schedule. The Finnish Folk Art Museum is on the same grounds, the Norton Simon Museum is about 0.2 miles away, and Kidspace Children's Museum about 0.5 miles. On a museum day in Pasadena, this makes a good anchor stop.

Practical info

Address: Palazzo Fenyes
Phone: +1 626-577-1660
Website: pasadenahistory.org
Hours: Thu–Sun 12–5
On site & nearby

Sources: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikidata · official site — may be outdated. Suggest a fix

Where to eat near Pasadena Museum of History

All diners →

Diner & restaurant
Twohey's
South Pasadena, CA · 2.0 mi from Pasadena Museum of History
A 1950s-style diner in South Pasadena, founded in 1943 and known for a burger called the Little Stink-O.
Diner & restaurant
Fair Oaks Pharmacy
South Pasadena, CA · 2.4 mi from Pasadena Museum of History
A 1915 pharmacy with an old-fashioned soda fountain, on the corner where Route 66 ran down Fair Oaks Avenue.
Diner & restaurant
Philippe's
Los Angeles, CA · 7.6 mi from Pasadena Museum of History
A downtown Los Angeles restaurant running since 1908 that claims to have invented the French dip sandwich.