Old Pasadena In Person Walking Tour

Pasadena Heritage's walking tours of Old Pasadena occur on the first Saturday of every other month. Trained docents will lead you through the historic neighborhood and reveal its many hidden and unusual architectural details, old alleyways, and historic signs. Tours last approximately 1 hour 15 minutes and cover nearly 1 mile.

October Walking Tour

Join Pasadena Heritage for the October Old Pasadena Walking Tour to explore the rich history of Dayton Street and some of Pasadena's earliest Black-owned businesses, the inaugural fire station, and the now-renamed Friendship Pasadena Church (formerly Friendship Baptist Church). The tour will also delve into the intriguing story of Mills Place, the site of the infamous "Night of Terror" as chronicled by the L.A. Times. This narrative unveils how the 1885 incident, involving the burning of a Chinese laundry, set in motion the expulsion of the Chinese community from Pasadena's original commercial hub.

Over the years, Old Pasadena has undergone numerous transformations as our city's first commercial epicenter. Thanks to the efforts of Pasadena Heritage, this area, now a National Register Historic District, has been preserved from potential destruction. Today, it stands as an exemplary model of downtown revitalization in the United States. The tour lasts approximately 1.5 hours, covering a walking distance of about 1 mile.

Old Pasadena tours graciously sponsored by the Old Pasadena Management District.

Photo courtesy of Pasadena Heritage.