Once upon a time, back home in Indiana, each winter just kept getting colder and colder. Well, Dr. Thomas Balch Elliott brought together a group of 100 Hoosier families that were sick and tired of it all and headed west to California in 1873. The current inhabitants of the Valley were from Europe and considered by the California Indiana Colony to be quite industrious growing vineyards and orange groves. The colony purchased 4,000 acres of the San Pascual Ranch that would later become Old Pasadena with the deal concluding at Christmas time of that year.



Calvin Fletcher is the mastermind behind the city's plan that remains today a beautiful area of town. It was built originally as an agricultural and ranching center and later outgrew itself to become a business district. The current downtown historic district is bordered by Holly Street, Fair Oaks Avenue, Arroyo Parkway, Green Street, and the old Santa Fe Railway, to Central Park onward to DeLacey Street, Pasadena Boulevard and North still to Union Street. This area upholds much history as we travel through time.

The cottage at Orange Grove and Lincoln that belonged to Albert Bristol was the first home purchased at Old Pasadena. The first wide ranging store at the town proper was operated by Barney Williams; he was the dealer in trading of goods and he was also the organizer of the post office. At the end of the nineteenth century, specifically in 1984, the Pasadena Library was constructed. This made a way to the incorporation of Pasadena in 1886. Grand Hotel, later known as Dodsworth Building, was built in 1902. Old Pasadena turned out to be a refuge for travelers and tourists during winter seasons. Schools were originally located at Fair Oaks and Colorado Boulevard but now moved to other places as the city became invaded upon its border.

The Castle Green Hotel which was built in 1887 was developed over the years. An annex across the street was also constructed with tunnels and bridges that enabled access to the hotel and railways. By 1924, the hotel was transformed into housing apartments and the annex was demoted to a single story. The portico at Raymond and Green was the only one that remained as original building. The Throop University now Caltech was located along the block. Lots of office buildings, manufacturers, and automobile dealership traders went in and out of Pasadena. Between the 30s and 80s, the beauty of Old Pasadena was gone. Even constructions slowed down. It was only in 1993 that revival came; the town became lively once again with nightlife, trading business, shopping, restaurants, theatres, clubs, and cafes.

The Tournament of Roses Parade goes back to January 1, 1890 hosted by the Valley Hunt Club had the horses and carriages adorned in flowers parading down the street. It was held on the same street (Colorado) as it is today. 1902 is when it was decided to add a sports game to it and football was decided upon as in 1920 the Rose Bowl Stadium was built. It was enlarged later in the century as the parade and bowl became ever more popular. When you ready yourself for Pasadena travel, make sure you allow enough time to see all these sites outlined here. There's much more available to visit and see!