Pasadena enjoys an advantageous geography nestled at the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, just 10 miles north of Downtown Los Angeles. The town’s name was created in the mid 1800s and comes from Chippewa words meaning “of the valley.” The Chippewas may have inspired the name, but this sunny spot was first inhabited by Hahamogna Indians and then by Spanish settlers who established the San Gabriel Mission in the late 1700s.
In 1833, Mexico took control of the area until California became part of the United States in 1850. Among the first prominent settlers was Benjamin Wilson. Mr. Wilson later became General George Patton’s grandfather as well as the first Anglo Mayor of Los Angeles. A near-perfect climate ensured that Pasadena was a popular tourist spot from its earliest days on the map.
Today, the original business district has been revitalized with eateries, shops, arts and entertainment. 21st century visitors can enjoy Pasadena’s modern draws like the California Institute of Technology or the Tournament of Roses while retaining a sense of the 19th century charm that drew the original settlers West.