Pasadena Museum of History will be reopening the History Center Galleries at noon on Friday, April 22, featuring new and enhanced content in the exhibition “Starting Anew: Transforming Pasadena, 1890-1930.”
To celebrate the exhibition reopening, admission is free from Friday, April 22, through Sunday, May 22. Advanced, timed ticket reservations are required for all gallery visitors, including PMH members.
“Starting Anew” tells how Pasadena, a flourishing young city, was affected by the international crises that rocked the world in the second decade of the 20th century. The enhanced exhibit explores the city’s private and public sector development within the broader context of world affairs. Specifically, new content looks at how back-to-back global events – World War I and the Flu Pandemic of 1918 – affected Pasadena and its residents.
The 40 years between 1890 and 1930 were a dynamic time in Pasadena’s history. The area changed rapidly from a small agricultural community to a renowned winter resort and bustling young city. Newcomers came for many reasons, taken by the region’s natural beauty and the opportunities associated with its growth and potential. It was an appealing place to launch a new venture, or in some cases, to start over. The railroad provided convenient and affordable transportation to the appropriately nicknamed “Crown City.” Pasadena was changing significantly, fashioned by a rapidly burgeoning population and its hopes, dreams, and achievements.
Historic images, documents, artwork, clothing, and ephemera – many selected from the Museum’s collection, along with research compiled over decades by scholars, PMH staff, and volunteers – illustrate the scope of these vibrant decades in Pasadena’s history.
The exhibition also features the legacy of Museum benefactors Eva and Adalbert Fenyes, who quickly embraced the city as their new home after arriving in Pasadena as newlyweds in 1896.
The Fenyes purchased real estate, developed businesses, and contributed to the cultural and artistic development of Pasadena. Their 1906 Beaux Arts mansion is an important component of the exhibit storyline, providing visitors with a glimpse into what life was like on Pasadena’s Landmark Millionaire’s Row in the early 1900s.
“Starting Anew” is dedicated to the memory of PMH Project Archivist Julie A. Stires and PMH volunteers Sid Gally and Carol Watson. The exhibition is sponsored by the Paloheimo Trust and Susan Stevens and family.
Everyone entering the building will be required to show proof of vaccination, and masks will be worn indoors.
To reserve your tickets, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/starting-
For more information, visit www.pasadenahistory.org/
PHM is located at 470 W. Walnut Street in Pasadena.
