National Register of Historic Places

Pasadena Civic Center District

Pasadena, Los Angeles County, California
Listed
July 27, 1980
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
80000813

About this property

The Pasadena Civic Center District is the civic center of and a historic district in Pasadena, California, United States. The district is roughly bounded by Walnut and Green Streets and Raymond and Euclid Avenues. Construction on the buildings in the district was funded with a $3.5 million bond issuance in 1923. The plan was created by the Chicago firm of Bennett, Parsons and Frost. The elaborate designs of the buildings in the district were inspired by the City Beautiful movement of the 1920s. The district was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. The Pasadena City Hall, Pasadena Central Library, and Pasadena Civic Auditorium serve as the centerpieces of the district. The Beaux-Arts Mediterranean Revival City Hall building was designed by San Francisco architects Bakewell and Brown in the style of 16th-century Italian architect Andrea Palladio. The building resembles three of Palladio's domed structures—the church of Santa Maria della Salute in Venice, the Hotel des Invalides in Paris and St Paul's Cathedral in London. Without being a direct imitation, Pasadena City Hall is related to them all. The Pasadena Central Library was designed by Myron Hunt in 1924. The Central Library was dedicated on Lincoln's birthday (February 12), 1927, and was the first building completed of the new Civic Center Plan. Part of the district prior to the 1920s are: the Pasadena Post Office, Turner and Stevens Company Building, YMCA, and the YWCA designed by Julia Morgan. After the Civic Center was formally planned, additional buildings were constructed in the area. These buildings include the American Legion Hall, the First Baptist Church, the Southern California Gas Company building, the Hall of Justice, the County Courts, All Saints Episcopal Church), and the Maryland Hotel Apartments. Memorial Park, the site of Pasadena's first public library, is also part of the district.

Location

Pasadena, Los Angeles County, California
34.14736, -118.14616

Categories

COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENTARTARCHITECTURESOCIAL HISTORY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
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Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
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Literature
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Spotlight
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Points of Interest
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Nearby Historic Sites

Civic Center Financial District
Listed
0.1 mi
Holly Street Livery Stable
Industrial
0.1 mi
Colonial Court
Colonial
0.3 mi
Odd Fellows Temple
Industrial
0.3 mi
Hotel Green
Industrial
0.3 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of San Gabriel (California 1847)
1847Mexican-American War
4.2 mi
Siege of Los Angeles
1846Mexican-American War
8.6 mi

Questions about this property

When was Pasadena Civic Center District listed on the National Register?

Pasadena Civic Center District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 27, 1980.

What type of historic resource is Pasadena Civic Center District?

Pasadena Civic Center District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Pasadena Civic Center District?

The period of significance for Pasadena Civic Center District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Pasadena Civic Center District?

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