To quote a bad line from a mediocre movie: "Pop quiz, hotshot!" What do Albert Einstein, Amelia Earhart, Kevin Costner, Julia Child, George S. Patton, Eddie Van Halen, David Lee Roth, and Paul McCartney all have in common? True, they've all got (or had) killer hair, but more than that, they are (or were at one time), residents of sunny Pasadena, California. If you've ever visited (or lived in) the City of Roses, you'll know why they all chose to call this fabulous city home.
What makes this former cattle town so great? Well, for one thing, it was a former cattle town and that carries a lot of cowboy credit. To be sure, there are a number of nice places to live in Southern California, but none of them blend their past with their present as effectively as Pasadena. Once home to Hahamog-na tribe, a branch of the Tongva Nation, the first European settlers would not appear until the arrival of the Indiana Colony in 1873. The name of the city, which means "of the valley," was agreed upon in 1886.
Before long, the city was cultivating a cultural and scientific place for itself on the national scene. Though San Francisco was considered the first cosmopolitan city in California, Pasadena wasted no time giving it a run for its money. In 1922, the Norton Simon Museum was founded, while the Pasadena Playhouse was erected five years earlier. The Art Center of College and Design, a well-respected art school, was established in 1930 with a mission to produce students who would work to change the world. And of course, there is the JPL or Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which got its start in 1936. The JPL is, of course, one of the preeminent centers for rocket and space technologies in the world.
From an orange grove to a cattle town to an international arts and education center, Pasadena has fought for every square inch of respect it's earned. The building boom, which began in 1886, doesn't seem to have stopped more than hundred years later. You can still see the grand facades of Old Pasadena clustered on Colorado Boulevard. As you wax philosophical about the history of human progress, keep in mind the ever-popular Tournament of Roses, a New Year's Day tradition since 1890.
Though long affiliated with the Parade, the Rose Bowl didn't come into being until 1902. Until that time it was customary to have chariot races and fun and games for the family after the Parade. With the growing popularity of American football, especially on the collegiate level, the Rose Bowl soon became the "The Granddaddy of them All." Book your tickets by plane train or automobile and come see why Pasadena, California will never be outdone.
What makes this former cattle town so great? Well, for one thing, it was a former cattle town and that carries a lot of cowboy credit. To be sure, there are a number of nice places to live in Southern California, but none of them blend their past with their present as effectively as Pasadena. Once home to Hahamog-na tribe, a branch of the Tongva Nation, the first European settlers would not appear until the arrival of the Indiana Colony in 1873. The name of the city, which means "of the valley," was agreed upon in 1886.
Before long, the city was cultivating a cultural and scientific place for itself on the national scene. Though San Francisco was considered the first cosmopolitan city in California, Pasadena wasted no time giving it a run for its money. In 1922, the Norton Simon Museum was founded, while the Pasadena Playhouse was erected five years earlier. The Art Center of College and Design, a well-respected art school, was established in 1930 with a mission to produce students who would work to change the world. And of course, there is the JPL or Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which got its start in 1936. The JPL is, of course, one of the preeminent centers for rocket and space technologies in the world.
From an orange grove to a cattle town to an international arts and education center, Pasadena has fought for every square inch of respect it's earned. The building boom, which began in 1886, doesn't seem to have stopped more than hundred years later. You can still see the grand facades of Old Pasadena clustered on Colorado Boulevard. As you wax philosophical about the history of human progress, keep in mind the ever-popular Tournament of Roses, a New Year's Day tradition since 1890.
Though long affiliated with the Parade, the Rose Bowl didn't come into being until 1902. Until that time it was customary to have chariot races and fun and games for the family after the Parade. With the growing popularity of American football, especially on the collegiate level, the Rose Bowl soon became the "The Granddaddy of them All." Book your tickets by plane train or automobile and come see why Pasadena, California will never be outdone.
About the Author:
Forget Alabama, the stars fall on Pasadena, California. Come enjoy the weather, the people, and the history. Pasadena will never be outdone, despite it's sad sister to the south continually trying to hog the limelight.
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