For nearly 120 years, Baldwin Oaks Estate has sat behind its canopy of oaks in Arcadia, closed to the public. On April 17, the doors open.
The Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts chose the 1907 shingle-style residence for its 61st annual Showcase House of Design — the first time the estate has been publicly accessible in its history, according to the organization. The Premiere Night Gala that evening marks the exclusive first look, before the property opens for a month of public tours beginning April 19.
The house was built for Clara Baldwin Stocker, the eldest daughter of Elias “Lucky” Baldwin, the California pioneer credited with the development of Arcadia. Stocker inherited a fortune from her father and became known as “The Diamond Princess” for her love of jewels, turning the estate into a social hub where parties lasted for days and drew celebrities, athletes, and society figures, according to the organization’s press materials.
Twenty-six designers have transformed the home’s 30 interior and landscape spaces. The more than 8,000-square-foot residence sits on nearly two acres and features hallmarks of the American Arts and Crafts movement: cedar shingles, a roofline with multiple gables, a wraparound porch, and local stonework, according to the organization. It marks the fourth time the Showcase House has been held in Arcadia. The last Arcadia property, selected in 2020, never opened for public tours because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We received such a gracious response from the city as well as our neighbors,” Dotty Ewing, the organization’s 2025/2026 president, said in a November statement. “We are looking forward to a banner year.”
The gala begins at 5 p.m. with a preview of the redesigned estate. Guests then continue to The Clubhouse at Santa Anita Racetrack for a 1920s speakeasy-themed evening — cocktails at 6 p.m., followed by dinner, dancing, and a live auction from 7 to 11 p.m. Tickets are $350.
The evening includes a performance by violist Bradley Parrimore, the organization’s first sponsored LA Phil Resident Fellow. Parrimore, originally from Houston, trained at the Colburn School and holds degrees from the Manhattan School of Music and USC’s Thornton School of Music, according to the LA Phil. The fellowship, which Pasadena Showcase underwrites, is part of the LA Philharmonic’s Beckmen Resident Fellows program to advance early-career symphonic musicians.
“We are all about supporting excellence and experience in music,” Ewing said in a statement announcing the fellowship last year.
The Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts, founded in 1948 and operating an annual home tour since 1965, has contributed more than $27 million to music and arts programs, according to the organization. Its programs include the Music Mobile, which has introduced orchestral instruments to more than 130,000 third-graders, and the Youth Concert, which has brought nearly 260,000 fourth-graders to Walt Disney Concert Hall for performances by the LA Phil. In February, the organization’s Instrumental Competition awarded $21,000 in prizes to nine young classical musicians at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music.
The organization expects more than 30,000 guests during the public tour season, which runs April 19 through May 17. Morning admission is $58, afternoon admission is $48, and Friday happy hour admission is $38. Additional events include wine and whiskey tastings, floral design workshops, and Speakeasy Friday Nights with live music.
Shuttle service departs from Santa Anita Park, Huntington Gate 3, Lot C. Children under 10, including infants, are not permitted on the property. Tickets and information are available at pasadenashowcase.org or by calling 626-606-1600.
“My goal is to create an experience that feels special for every guest while raising the critical funds for our organization’s mission,” said Lynne Graves, one of three benefit co-chairs for the 2026 event.
PASADENA SHOWCASE HOUSE OF DESIGN’S PREMIERE NIGHT GALA Date & Time: Friday, April 17, 2026, 5:00 PM Tours, 6:00 PM Cocktails, 7:00–11:00 PM Dinner, Dancing, and Live Auction | Venue: Baldwin Oaks Estate, Arcadia, CA (Shuttle from Santa Anita Park, Huntington Gate 3, Lot C, at Huntington Drive and Holly Avenue, Arcadia, 91007. | Phone Number: 626-606-1600 | Website:https://tickets.pasadenashowcase.org/events/019a6b78-b18b-e08a-e5ce-f286cf98bd64
