As an L.A. Eastsider, living in Altadena, I spend a lot of time in the charming Old Pasadena area. Not far from Colorado Blvd to the South is South Pasadena which has its own appeal and historical significance.
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South Pasadena is a separate city from Pasadena east of the Arroyo Seco and North of the San Rafael Hills. It runs from Columbia Street to the North, Huntington Drive to the south, San Pasqual Avenue to the west, and Wilson Ave to the east.
Fork in the Road
A good place to start a visit is at the Fork in the Road at Pasadena Ave. and Bellefontaine St. It is a public art installation originally erected to commemorate the 75th birthday of Bob Stane, founder of the Ice House comedy club in Pasadena, and is a popular spot to take selfies.
War Memorial Building
The War Memorial Building at 435 Fair Oaks was constructed in 1923 to commemorate the Great War of WWI. A tree planted by General Pershing stands beside it along with canons. It is a historical landmark.
Next to it are the Oaklawn Bridge and Waiting Station which are Route 66 attractions. The waiting station was designed in 1906 by Charles and Henry Greene and is made out of stones from the Arroyo Seco. It was built for passengers waiting for the Big Red Cars of the now defunct Pacific Electric Line.
The bridge was built to allow access over the Santa Fe Railroad Tracks. An extra pillar was added on much to the architect’s chagrin.
Fair Oaks Pharmacy
Another Route 66 attraction is the circa 1915 Fair Oaks Pharmacy. Inside visitors can order egg creams and sodas. It’s a true blast from the past that you don’t want to miss.
East of the pharmacy are unique shops and boutiques. It is the perfect area to find one-of-a-kind gifts.
South Pasadena Metro Station
Farther down Mission Blvd at Meridian is the L.A. Metro South Pasadena Station. It is the best place to soak up the history of South Pasadena. A large and thriving farmer’s market is held there every Thursday night.
As you walk off the platform you will see a statue of The Walking Man a metal public art piece that stands on pieces of granite.
The Watering Trough
This historical marker was erected in 1906 by the Woman’s Improvement Association as a rest stop for horses and men traveling between Los Angeles and Pasadena. It is also made with Arroyo Seco stone in the Craftsman style.
You can see examples of Arroyo Seco stone used in the architecture of homes, markers, and gates throughout the Pasadena area.
The Pasadena Historical Museum
This building constructed in 1887 is one of the oldest buildings in the area. It was once a hotel/market and Meridian Iron Works, an ironworks and blacksmith’s establishment. The museum inside is a collection of Pasadena memorabilia and historical artifacts.
Alexander Building
The Alexander Building and Block was built in 1906 by Alexander R. Graham who named it after himself. It is now a collection of shops, pubs, a bakery, and offices.
Old Mission Hotel
Across Mission Blvd from the L.A. Metro station is another red brick building, which was once the Mission Hotel. It was built in 1923 and is a collection of shops, restaurants, and offices.
South Pasadena Library
One block south of the L.A. Metro Station is the South Pasadena Library. The Library was founded in 1895. In 1908, Andrew Carnegie gifted the library $12,000 to design a building by architects Marsh and Russell. The library was moved to its present location in 1928 but the Carnegie cornerstone can be found to the left of the Community Building erected in 1930.
A beautiful fig tree sits on the West side of the library on Center St. The library with decorative sculpture in front can be entered on Oxley Street. Its original design was Classical Revival but was remodeled in Mediterranean Revival with classical elements. Little can be seen of its original style. The complex also includes a Senior Center.
South Pasadena’s first bank
As you walk down the path from the Metro Station to Oxley one of the first buildings you will see is an old bank building. It was once South Pasadena’s first bank built in 1904. It now houses a coffeehouse and other businesses.
Fair Oaks Blvd in South Pasadena
There are several historical buildings on Fair Oaks Blvd in South Pasadena.
The Rialto Theatre built in 1925 was designed by Lewis A. Smith who also designed the Vista Theatre in Los Feliz. The Rialto is no longer open to the public but is one of the great movie houses of Los Angeles and was featured in the film La La Land among others. A private organization now owns the building.
Across the street from The Rialto is Gus’s BBQ, established in 1946. I can attest that it has some of the yummiest BBQ I have ever eaten.
The South Pasadena Masonic Lodge was built in 1930 and is just south of Gus’s BBQ.
Adobe Flores
Adobe Flores is the oldest building in South Pasadena built on Rancho San Pascual from 1838 – 1845. It is where the defeated commanders met after the end of the Mexican-American war. The adobe is hidden away at 1804 Foothill Street.
Rancho San Pascual encompassed Pasadena, South Pasadena, Altadena, and portions of San Marino.
Other places of interest in South Pasadena
The Raymond Waiting Station sits on Fair Oaks to the north similar to the other two mentioned. It serviced the old Raymond Grand Hotel up on the hill above it. The hotel went into foreclosure and was razed after the Great Depression but the waiting station and a sub-way entrance (buried under an apartment complex) remain.
Arlington Gardens and Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden are also in South Pasadena and are beautiful places to visit if you are in the area.
The entire area of South Pasadena is a bastion for Craftsman and Victorian homes, gothic and eclectic-styled old churches, restaurants, shopping, and lovely parks.
This article is now featured on https://www.gpsmycity.com To download this article for offline reading or create a self-guided walking tour to visit the attractions highlighted in this article, go to Walking Tours in South Pasadena https://www.gpsmycity.com/gps-tour-guides/south-pasadena-6666.html
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