Despite the persistent challenges of the pandemic, 2021 was a very productive year for preservation and for Pasadena Heritage! As we reflect on the last year, we are thankful for our successes and look forward to the many new opportunities on the horizon. We have been able to continue as a strong, healthy organization though not without some major shifts in how we do things and real financial challenges to overcome.

We expanded our virtual offerings, introducing a variety of virtual programs to highlight Pasadena’s diverse history, which were well-attended and well-received. Scholars and community leaders helped us present the Japanese American experience, stories from Pasadena’s Latinx community, and an in-depth look at the work of Paul R. Williams.

This year’s Spring Home Tours and Preservation Pasadena continued to attract participants not just locally, but from across the country and even around the globe! Workshops, audio tours, and other popular Zoom programs are now offered regularly, and we have carefully assembled an ever-expanding library of recorded programs for you to access on demand.

The pandemic brought many activities to a halt, but not threats to Pasadena’s historic places, nor did it stop our robust advocacy efforts! We diligently reviewed new development, participated in planning initiatives, worked for revisions to strengthen the Historic Preservation Ordinance and helped forge a Mansionization ordinance. We continued our efforts to preserve Pasadena’s most notable landmarks—pushing for more appropriate design options for the Colorado Street Bridge fencing and stepping right in when the Central Library was closed for seismic concerns.

In an amazing turn of events, we acquired the historic Blinn House and immediately began restoration work to ensure its preservation. To cover these costs, we launched the Blinn House Capital Campaign. We look forward to 2022, when we can reopen the house to the community and the many nonprofits that used this wonderful historic resource in the past.

It is only with your support that Pasadena Heritage today is a trusted voice and champion of preservation. We can’t do all this without you and your generosity. Please consider an extra gift to Pasadena Heritage as the year draws to a close. With so many new and exciting opportunities on the horizon, we need your donations and your encouragement as we begin 2022!