2023 Colorado Street Bridge Party
Discover how we pursue the best for Pasadena through advocacy, education, and
the protection of Pasadena’s unique historic resources.
Pasadena Heritage was incorporated in 1977 as a 501(c) (3) non-profit historic preservation organization. Since inception, we have grown from a grass-roots group of concerned citizens to one of the largest preservation organization in California. Our programs directly benefit the City of Pasadena and attract a broad regional audience.
We advocate for the protection and preservation of the historic resources of Pasadena and provide educational programming and events showcasing the city’s rich history and extraordinary architectural legacy.
The mission of Pasadena Heritage is to identify, preserve and protect the historic, architectural and cultural resources of the City of Pasadena through advocacy and education.
The Blinn House was designed in 1905 by renowned Chicago architect George Washington Maher and is the only known Maher residential structure built west of the Mississippi River. Featuring finely detailed woodwork and paneling, beautiful fireplaces, and hardwood floors, the Blinn House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, both individually and as part of the Ford Place Historic District. The Blinn House is also a Pasadena Cultural Landmark and is listed on the California Register of Historical Resources.
In 2021, after more than 75 years of service to its members and the Pasadena community, the Women’s City Club of Pasadena decided to dissolve and transfer ownership of the Edmund Blinn House to Pasadena Heritage and serves as our offices and remains a meeting space for local community groups.
Pasadena Heritage holds more than 80 historic preservation easements (the largest easement program west of the Mississippi), and has a revolving Preservation Fund to assist with hands-on preservation projects. We are best known for the preservation of Old Pasadena, which became a model for preservation planning nationwide, and for the preservation fo the Colorado Street Bridge where we host our biennial Bridge Party.
Major focuses of the organization in the past two years have been the update of the Historic Preservation Ordinance which was strengthened and modernized, the designation of the Pasadena Avenue Historic District to the National Register, and continued advocacy on Pasadena’s Specific Plans and other zoning issues to ensure compatibility with historic resources.
The first Saturday of every month Pasadena Heritage conducts an expertly curated tour of Pasadena’s most historic and vibrant neighborhoods.
Our current tours alternate each month and are of Old Pasadena and The Playhouse District.
Preservation Pasadena is a three part event held on different weekends throughout the year.
Each weekend focuses on a different style of architecture and features a hand-picked home that showcases the best example of that style of architecture in Pasadena.
Throughout the year we are host to experts in their respective fields who provide a behind-the-scenes look at their work.
Past lectures have featured discussions on Hearst Castle architect Julia Morgan, Rose Bowl architect Myron Hunt, and architect of the historic Blinn House George W. Maher.
Pasadena Heritage office of the historic Blinn House is a meeting space for over 23 other local community groups and organizations.
Contact us at(626) 441-6333 x114 for more information on our meeting space and making your next meeting historic at .
Every other year Pasadena Heritage holds “the best party in town” on the Colorado Street Bridge.
It’s an unforgettable night celebrating historic preservation and a Pasadena icon, the Colorado Street Bridge.
The Bridge is closed to motor traffic allowing guests the unique opportunity to stroll the entire Bridge and spend the evening over the Arroyo Seco and under the stars with local festive food, craft beers, live music, classic cars, kids activities, and more.
The next Bridge Party will be in the summer of 2025. We hope to see you there!
Pasadena’s long held weekend event celebrating everything craftsman.
Currently, the Craftsman Weekend is on a hiatus as we’ve now expanded the event to include other types of architecture.
Craftsman Weekend has now morphed into a three weekend event in Preservation Pasadena, where during three separate weekends throughout the year we focus on a different style of architecture with home tours, walking tours, lectures, film screenings and more.
A brief list of the types of events we conduct serving our local community, showcasing the best parts of Pasadena and providing education on Pasadena’s unique and significant history.
Help preserve Pasadena’s history, save endangered buildings, structures and places, and defend Pasadena’s storied legacy.
Subscribe to receive event notifications, preservation news, and more!
