in the galleries
Designed to entertain as well as educate, changing exhibitions in the 2,000 square foot gallery space in the History Center feature diverse topics that speak to the area's multi-faceted history and interests.
NOW ON VIEW: Community Stitches: Quilt Designs & Stories
HOURS: Exhibition Galleries & Museum Store Wed-Sun 12-5 pm | Research Library Fri-Sun 1-4 pm
Starting Anew: Transforming Pasadena, 1890-1930
Final Weeks: In the Galleries until February 12, 2023
The Exhibition Galleries are open Thursday-Sunday, Noon to 5:00 pm throughout the run of an exhibit, unless otherwise noted in our calendar.
(Please note that the Museum is closed on all major holidays and the day after Thanksgiving. The Museum's hours can also be affected by the schedule at the Rose Bowl Stadium.)
Curator's Tour: Starting Anew: Transforming Pasadena, 1890-1930
February 3, 2023
11AM
Explore Starting Anew with curator Brad Macneil. Learn more about the exhibition and stories of Pasadena’s transformative years. Space is limited; advanced reservations are required.
Exclusive Spotlight Tours: The Fényes Legacy
February 12, 2023
11-12:30 pm
This exclusive 90-minute spotlight tour inside the 1906 Fényes Mansion and the Starting Anew exhibition takes advantage of materials temporarily on display to present a specialized, in-depth overview of the lives and accomplishments of Museum benefactors Eva and Adalbert Fényes.
General: $25 | PMH Members: $20
Starting Anew: Transforming Pasadena, 1890 – 1930 reopens to the public on Friday, April 22, 2022. To celebrate the exhibition reopening, admission is free for all from Friday, April 22 through Sunday, May 22. Advanced, timed ticket reservations are now required for all gallery visitors, including PMH members. Reservations are available online here.
How was this flourishing young city 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 (1914-1918) and the Flu Pandemic of 1918 – affected Pasadena and its residents.
The forty 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. They were 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 Fényes. After arriving in Pasadena as newlyweds in 1896, this sophisticated couple quickly embraced the city as their new home. They 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 story line, 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 & PMH Volunteers Sid Gally & Carol Watson.
