The historic Lanterman House in La Canada Flintridge will host a free Summer Picnic and Ukulele Rendezvous on Sunday, May 25, from noon to 4 p.m., inviting visitors to enjoy music, games and tours on the grounds of the century-old estate.
The event at 4420 Encinas Drive will feature pianist Randy Woltz and ukulele player Conrad Cayman, with attendees encouraged to bring their own instruments to participate. The house will be open for mini-tours, and guests can dance in the second-story ballroom.
Visitors are invited to bring picnics to enjoy on the grounds, with complimentary cookies and lemonade provided. The Assistance League of Flintridge will operate a booth selling vintage and second-hand items from their Bargain Box.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Lanterman House was constructed in 1915 for Dr. Roy Lanterman and his wife, Emily. Architect Arthur Haley designed the reinforced concrete home in a U-shaped Mexican Colonial hacienda style, complete with a fountain courtyard and English Arts and Crafts design elements.
Dr. Lanterman built the concrete structure partially due to fire concerns, having witnessed the aftermath of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. The lavish home included modern conveniences and a ballroom to persuade his reluctant wife to move from Santa Monica to what was then a rural area.
The Lantermans lived in the home until their deaths in the late 1940s. Their son Lloyd, a mechanical engineer known for designing race car engines, left the property and its original furnishings to the city in 1987. His brother Frank served in the California State Assembly after 1950, where he championed rights for the developmentally disabled and mentally ill.
Following extensive restoration, the Lanterman House opened as a museum in 1993. The property is now owned by the City of La Cañada Flintridge and operated by the nonprofit Lanterman Historical Museum Foundation.
For more information, visit https://www.lantermanhouse.org
