Celebrate Women's History Month in Pasadena

The incredible Octavia Butler, who was born and raised in Pasadena, attended Washington Junior High School, which was later called Washington STEAM Multilingual Academy. Later, the school was renamed Octavia E. Butler Magnet and the library was named after the famous alumna in 2020 with a mural in her honor. Celebrate her life with an adventure on a 2.5-mile walking loop to Experience Butler’s Pasadena on Foot, where you'll pass by Nikki High's bookstore highlighting female authors and BIPOC writers at Octavia’s Bookshelf on the way to Octavia E. Butler Magnet school. Then a take a visit to The Huntington to witness Butler's personal writings in the exhibition, Stories from the Library: From Brontë to Butler, on view through June 15, 2026. The exhibition illuminates the private lives and creative processes of women writers from the early 1800s to today.

The renowned Norton Simon Museum on Pasadena’s famed Colorado Boulevard has a sculpture garden with a lush pond and two significant sculptures by the pioneering English sculptor, Barbara Hepworth: Four-Square (Walk Through) (1966) and Rock Form (Porthcurno) (1964). Learn more about these sculptures and other women artists in the Museum's collection on March 28 with a tour from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Also on view is the exhibition Dear Little Friend: Impressions of Galka Scheyer, which offers an intimate view of the German-born art dealer and collector Galka Scheyer, known for her pivotal role in bringing European modernism to the United States. This focus exhibition looks at her legacy through a lesser-known aspect of her life—the friendships she forged with both artists and supporters.

The Pasadena Hotel & Pool is a historic hotel built in 1926 by local businesswoman Constance G. Lewis Perry. Located on the Rose Parade route, the hotel reopened in 2022 with updated interiors and branding to blend the Spanish influences of Southern California with the building’s 1920s ethos. Plan a trip to the city and stay at the pet-friendly hotel. Soak up the sun in the rooftop pool or lounge inside the charming lobby with evening fare offerings from the bar.

The 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup Final at the Rose Bowl Stadium broke attendance and television records for women’s sports and the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team’s winning kick was one of the defining moments of women’s athletics in the United States. Tour the stadium to snap a picture with the sculpture commemorating the historic moment and get an inside look at the locker rooms, press box and more.

On selected days this month from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., step inside the historic 1906 Fényes Mansion at the Pasadena Museum of History to experience an exclusive, in-depth tour of Museum benefactors Eva Scott Fényes, her husband Dr. Adalbert Fényes, and Eva's descendants. The mansion reflects the lifestyle and culture of a woman raised in the Victorian era as it was practiced in Pasadena in the time of Orange Grove's Millionaire's Row.

Beginning March 22, 2026, The Huntington presents a new exhibition and installations featuring work by Southern California artists Laura Aguilar, Mercedes Dorame, and Sandy Rodriguez. The works will be on view across multiple galleries as part of the "Borderlands" exhibition, which presents the museum's American art collections. Additionally, an installation by Pasadena icon Betye Saar is currently on view. Saar was a key figure in the art communities of Pasadena and the greater Los Angeles in the late 50s. Her large-scale work Drifting Toward Twilight, features a 17-foot-long vintage wooden canoe and found objects, including birdcages, antlers, and natural materials she gathered from The Huntington's grounds.

Enjoy the experiences from Pasadena’s women-owned businesses. Monopole by WineRX is owned by a wine-educated Latina physician and offers phenomenal wine tasting experiences. Savor the wide selection of specialty cheeses at Agnes Restaurant & Cheesery, curated by cheesemonger Vanessa Kalb. See the full list of women-owned businesses to celebrate their creativity, resilience, and passion for the city.