pasadena bungalow tour 2023

National Register of Historic Places

Bungalow Heaven Home Tour

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34th Annual Bungalow Heaven Home Tour

Historic Hearths and Homes

April 28, 2024 | Tickets are now available

Since 1990, the Bungalow Heaven Home Tour has been giving guests a chance to experience Pasadena’s past through its architectural history and celebrate homes that have been preserved and restored in our community. Featured houses showcase the unique architectural details and period-appropriate renovations for which our neighborhood is famous.

The interior of eight homes will be featured on the self-guided walking tour, with volunteer docents on hand to explain the history and architectural highlights of each home. This year’s theme, Historic Hearths and Homes , highlights some of the unique fireplaces created during the early 20th Century in Pasadena and Los Angeles area. Consistent with the Arts and Crafts movement, you can observe period materials and designs that make our fireplaces the center piece of each home.

Along the route, participants can speak to restoration experts about how to maintain a historic home and view demonstrations of restoration work. Throughout the day, McDonald Park will be hopping with music, a silent auction featuring unique items and local food trucks for lunch.

We invite you to join us for this special event celebrating our neighborhood’s history.

Nearby Communities

• Altadena, CA
• San Marino, CA
• South Pasadena, CA
• Eagle Rock, CA
• Highland Park-Mount Washington, CA
• Sierra Madre, CA
• La Cañada Flintridge, CA
• Arcadia, CA
• Montrose-La Crescenta, CA
• Monrovia, CA

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Pasadena | Local Event

Bungalow heaven home tour "history in bloom".

Event Details

Since 1990, the Bungalow Heaven Home Tour has been giving participants an inside look into beautifully restored homes within the Bungalow Heaven Historic District, Pasadena’s original Historic Landmark District. For two years, the pandemic halted our in-person events in favor of virtual tours. But participants missed seeing the houses in real life. So, this year we are thrilled to be back - in person!

The interior of seven homes will be featured on the self-guided walking tour, with volunteer docents on hand to discuss the history and architectural highlights of each home. In addition, we will feature an exterior collection of Minimum Traditional houses from the 1940s and highlight their architectural significance. Along the route, participants can speak to restoration experts about how to maintain a historic home and view demonstrations of restoration work. Throughout the day, McDonald Park will be hopping with music, entertainment, lemonade, cookies and a silent auction featuring unique items to bid on. Plus, local food trucks will be on hand, selling an array of delicious lunch and snack options.

The Bungalow Heaven Home Tour is a chance to experience Pasadena’s past through its architectural history and celebrate homes that have been preserved, restored and loved in our community. Featured houses showcase the unique architectural details and period-appropriate renovations for which our neighborhood is famous.

This year's theme, History in Bloom, highlights the locally gathered flowers on display throughout the tour homes. Consistent with the Arts and Crafts movement, you can also observe period floral patterns on rugs, vases, tiles and textiles.

We invite you to join us for this special event celebrating our neighborhood’s history on Sunday, April 30th from 10am - 4 pm. Tickets are available on Eventbrite: $25 in advance and $30 day of tour.

You can also visit BungalowHeaven.org for more information and a link to the Eventbrite ticket page .

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33rd Bungalow Heaven Home Tour

Sun apr 30 2023 at 10:00 am to 04:00 pm, bungalow heaven | pasadena.

Since 1990, the Bungalow Heaven Home Tour has been giving participants an inside look into beautifully maintained and restored homes within the Bungalow Heaven Historic District, Pasadena’s original Historic Landmark District. For two years, the pandemic halted our in-person events in favor of virtual tours. But participants missed seeing the houses in real life and we’ve seen a resurgence of neighbors excited to open their homes. So, this year we are thrilled to be back - in person!

Several homes will be featured on the self-guided walking tour, with volunteer docents on hand to discuss the history and architectural highlights of each home. Along the route, participants can speak to restoration experts about how to maintain a historic home and view demonstrations of restoration work. Throughout the day, McDonald Park will be hopping with music, entertainment, lemonade, cookies and a silent auction featuring unique items to bid on. Plus, local food trucks will be on hand to provide lunch.

The Bungalow Heaven Home Tour is a chance to experience Pasadena’s past through its architectural history and celebrate homes that have been preserved and restored in our community. Attention to detail, crafted elements, and respect for the past is what really sets the homes featured in our Home Tour apart. Featured houses showcase the unique architectural details and period-appropriate renovations for which our neighborhood is famous.

This years theme, History in Bloom, highlights our beautiful floral arrangements throughout the tour homes made with flowers gathered in Bungalow Heaven neighborhood gardens. Consistent with the movement, you can also observe period floral patterns on rugs, vases, tiles and textiles in many of our tour homes.

We invite you to join us for this special event celebrating our neighborhood’s history. Tickets will go on sale in late February for $25 advance and $30 day of tour. Please visit Bungalow Heaven.org for more information.

Bungalow Heaven was designated in 1989 to preserve historic and early 20th century bungalow homes, many built during the Arts & Crafts period. Bungalow Heaven is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and designated as one of the “10 great places in America” by the American Planning Association (APA).

The neighborhood was built between 1888 and 1956 and has been known as Bungalow Heaven since the mid -1970s. Coined by a city planner, the name reflects the abundance of one- and two-story Craftsman homes in the compact, square-mile neighborhood.

The Bungalow Heaven Neighborhood Association (BHNA) is a non-profit organization composed of neighborhood volunteers dedicated to preservation of the homes in its district, education about Pasadena architectural history, and organization of neighborhood forums to address current events and advocacy.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Bungalow Heaven, 1000 E. Mountain St, Pasadena, United States

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Pasadena, CA 91102

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Enjoyed the Bungalow Heaven Home Tour a couple of times now and will definitely be back in future years to see more beautiful historic homes from the early 1900s... 5 stars!!!!! If you live in an older home and/or you are a fan of historic homes, the Bungalow Heaven Home Tour in late April every year is an event not to be missed. Be ready to be amazed with the exterior as well as the interior of 6 to 7 featured homes in Pasadena. Most of the owners of these homes have meticulously restored their home's historic glory, and their commitment and dedication to their homes will definitely make you think twice about today's cookie cutter modern homes. Thank you so much to the Bungalow Heaven Home Tour committee for organizing such a wonderful event for the home showcase volunteers for letting strangers see their beautiful homes! Buy tickets online ahead of time to get a discount. A map of all featured homes will be given to you at Check In at MacDonald Park, and this park is the perfect check in area since it's pretty much in the middle of Bungalow Heaven. You set the pace and the route since the tour is completely self-guided. Bring a lot of water and snacks, and make sure to wear comfortable shoes. Yes, you can also drive yourself from home to home, but part of the charm is walking through the beautiful streets of Bungalow Heaven. Walk and enjoy the views of this historic neighborhood if you are able. Several food trucks are at McDonald Park for a lunch break, and there are also different opportunities to enjoy live music performances along the route. In the 2023 tour, the first one to take place after the pandemic, the tour also featured craftsmen who live in the area along the route, from quilt makers to painters to furniture makers.

See all photos from Jun L. for Bungalow Heaven Home Tour

From reading the other reviews, it seems that the tour continues to grow each year. Dear Hubby saw an announcement about it in the L.A. Times. As he loves the Craftsman style, we decided to go today for the annual event; our first time. The opportunity to go through up to 8 of the Arts and Crafts period gems inside and out is the draw of the tour. Adding flavor and value, the organizers have included live music being performed at some of the houses. There was also a section of one street blocked off, with food trucks offering food for sale, with seating available in the shade. Meanwhile, several residents set up refreshment / mercantile booths in multiple locations. They offered free cookies, lemonade, and water. Or for a dollar you could purchase cold bottled water to go. T-shirts, mugs, aprons, and more were also for sale with the tour logo. Everyone was friendly, and patient. Some chill was required, as most of the homes had a wait to go inside. They would stage a group of up to 15 guests or so to go through the homes. A docent would check in tickets on the front porch and give an intro to the house, offering its general history. From there, once inside, another volunteer would intro the living / dining areas. On through bedrooms, dens, kitchens, and baths. Each home showcased various levels of details in built-in benches with storage, fireplaces, crown molding, hutches, and other cabinetry. Some of the pocket doors were works of art in their design. Today was quite warm, and several of the dwellings became stifling inside with so many guests and no air conditioning. Only a few had fans going. It became oppressive by 3:30 in the afternoon, so we skipped the last two places. While walking between the homes, various displays were offered around the neighborhood. One was on stained glass. Another was an amazing collection of quilts. The organizers packed value in for the $30 same day admission fee. We could have saved $5 each by pre-purchasing online. A trolley ride was also an option for another $10 apiece, but they sold out before noon. Put this on your list for next year if you enjoy historic houses, especially Craftsman ones. Most homeowners also follow through with the theme with their furniture and accessories, so it's like a journey back in time. Wear comfortable, low-heeled shoes!

See all photos from Lianne K. for Bungalow Heaven Home Tour

A wonderfully organized event and opportunity to view a beautiful and historic neighborhood. Super friendly volunteers and attendees. Overall, a good event, but I wish the docents in the homes had more detailed and varying knowledge. Towards the end of the tour things were getting repetitive. Here's how it works: On a Sunday morning, in McDonald Park, the map to the tour is handed out. Then you begin your self-guided walk around the neighborhood, stopping at this year's homes to tour the interior. At each home, a tour group gathers outside to be lead thru by docents who give a spiel about the property. Further details are in the booklet included with the map. The homes are in varying degrees of restoration and represent different styles of the Arts & Crafts period. Definitely worth checking out and a great way to spend a sunny Sunday, but may be a bit intense for those not already super into the Arts & Crafts period.

If you have a love for historical homes, than you should definitely try to make it to the yearly Bungalow Heaven Home Tour in Pasadena. Bungalow Heaven is a neighborhood where the people living there actually worked to have it declared as a Landmark District. So why a Landmark District? Well, considering that Bungalow Heaven contains a rare and mostly intact collection of over 800 homes built from the 1900s through the 1930s, you can see why. The architectural significance of Bungalow Heaven is that the homes reflect the start of the Arts & Crafts movement a la the Gamble House. As many of you may know, the Arts & Crafts movement rejected the ornateness of Victorian homes for simplicity in architectural style and a use of more natural materials. This particular tour is self-guided and at your own pace, but what's so fantastic about it is that you get to visit the interior of 6 to 8 California bungalows and you'll also get a booklet detailing the particular history of that home. I was just amazed that at the time some of these homes were first in existence, a couple thousand dollars would get you the home of your dreams. That's certainly not the case now. The tour runs $15 to $20 and happens every April. I think the tour is worth every penny and what better way to spend a spring day than exploring beautiful homes. To see pics of the tour I took last year, see below: http://www.flickr.com/photos/la_addict/sets/72057594140795493/

The 2010 Bungalow Heaven Tour was a blast! The houses are absolutely beautiful and give you so much inspiration for your own home even if you don't live in a bungalow. The homeowners and/or the tour representatives in each home (the tour is self guided) know so much about the homes history as well as Pasadena history you feel like you've stumbled onto a little town. You have to start right on time because homes are scattered all over and because they only allow a couple of people in the home at a time sometimes there is a bit of a back up. Added bonus- a lot of homes are put on the market that weekend so you can see even more homes in the area.

Yay, we LOVE the Bungalow Heaven Home tour! The neighborhood has perfect streets for strolling (shady, tons of gardens) and features absolute eye candy for architecture buffs. The homes are all in amazing condition (give or take a few not-so-much) and the tour lets you come INDOORS to see all the cool period furniture collections, woodwork, nooks and crannies, built-in cabinets (like, built-in beds! ironing boards!) ... oh, to live in the day's of yesteryear.... Held this year on April 25, 2010, 10am-4pm. The neighborhood assoc website has the info, and I think they're on Facebook too.

"Bungalow Heaven" is a collection of historic bungalow homes in Pasadena, California. The homes were primarily constructed in the early 1900s in the spirit of the Arts and Crafts movement. The residents help run the Annual Bungalow Heaven Home Tour, which provides an opportunity to tour the interiors of selected homes. The Tour is a great idea since it is otherwise not socially acceptable to walk through strangers homes. The 23rd Annual Bungalow Heaven Home Tour took place on April 29th 2012. My wife and I were two of the many "home enthusiasts" in attendance. The Tour features the homes along North Chester Ave. and North Michigan Ave. between East Mountain Street and East Orange Boulevard. The homes have many distinctive features. The Craftsman Bungalow exteriors are characterized by their one-and-a-half-story height, slanted roof, wide front porch, and sleeping porch. The interiors often contain built-in cabinets and seats, a California basement, and an emphasis on all things horizontal. Many of the homes along Michigan Ave. feature arroyo stones within their fireplaces and along the front porch and intricate windows within the wide front doors. These characteristics were particularly prominent in the "Living History Home" featured on the Tour. The Living History Home Tour takes you through the lives of character actors portraying the realty issues in the 1970s. The whole experience may leave you feelin' groovy. You can find more information and pictures by clicking on the link to my blog on my profile.

Great organization doing a good service to showcase these classic homes. Well organized and I applaud the owners for opening their homes for us all to take a step back in time.

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Bungalow Heaven – The House Tour, A Fundraiser for Gill Remains, and Art Pottery Fun in Syracuse

by Kate Nixon

Next week seems to be an incredibly busy week for Arts & Crafts collectors and enthusiasts, kicked off by Treadway’s Decorative Arts auction this upcoming Sunday, April 23rd and continuing with next week’s American Art Pottery Association’s own annual AAPA Convention and Shows with this year’s location in Syracuse, New York – a historical hub for the movement and significant in the life of Gustav Stickley, the father of Arts & Crafts furniture! However, if you aren’t able to attend the convention or shows in New York, know that there are a couple of options on the Pacific Coast in California including the return of the in-person home tour in Pasadena’s own Bungalow Heaven Neighborhood and a fundraiser for a good resting place for a historic architect. Read more about how you can enjoy next week on the West Coast, but first…

The American Art Pottery Association Show and Sale

Preview night for AAPA members: Friday, April 28th

Open to the general public Saturday, April 29th

The Marriott Syracuse Downtown ( Click here for Google Maps )

9 AM – 5 PM

The AAPA shows will take place at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown Saturday, April 29th from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and a special preview night happening Friday, April 28th from 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM. The American Art Pottery Association Convention will begin Wednesday, April 26th at the Everson museum and the convention will continue thru to Saturday, April 28th at the host hotel Marriott Downtown, Syracuse, NY. Here are the list of speakers and presenters during the convention:

• Welcoming Remarks by Garth Johnson, Paul Phillips and Sharon Sullivan Curator of Ceramics of the Everson Museum
• “New Research on Fulper Pottery” by Jon Kornacki
• A Demonstration and Lecture from Syracuse pottery David R. MacDonald
• “Marie De Hoa Le Blanc: Newcomb’s Provocative Creole” by Dr. Tom Brady-Folk
• “ California Dreaming: The Boys, the Tiles, the Joy of Cathedral Oaks” by Richard Mohr
• “Rookwood and Roseville Pottery Back In Business?” a discussion group hosted by Linda Carrigan and Riley Humler
• Demonstration and discussion with Stephanie Young of Calmwater Designs

The AAPA is still looking for more pottery donations for the AAPA benefit auction – a major fund raiser for AAPA. Contact Riley Humler at [email protected] or call him at 513-432-5769.

Lost & Found Fundraiser and Cocktail Party

Raising funds to find a respectful resting  place for irving j. gill’s remains.

April 26, 2023

Gill’s Cossitt Cottage Hillcrest, San Diego, CA

5:30 PM – 8:30 PM

Click here to purchase tickets

Irving J. Gill. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Upon his untimely death in 1936, it was assumed by many that Mr. Gill had been cremated, but no one knew what became of his remains; until now. According to the Irving J Gill Foundation, it was recently learned that Mr. Gill’s ashes have been sitting in a tin box, on a shelf, in a closet at the Cypress View mortuary in San Diego. The mortuary paperwork states that they are to be held until “family comes to pick them up.” In the 87 years since his death, his family never came. It is the plan of the Irving J. Gill Foundation (IJGF) to secure a burial plot and a headstone in Mt Hope Cemetery. At Mt. Hope, he can enjoy the San Diego sunshine that inspired his work and the proximity of his many friends, associates, and clients.

The IJGF Foundation is holding a cocktail party, self guided tours and a special talk on the Lost and Found gill buildings at Gill’s Cossitt Cottage on April 26th from 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM.

Included in the night’s events are:

1) An update on the IJGF progress.

2) Cocktails and appetizers with fellow stewards and admirers of Gill and his work.

3) Self-guided tours of one of Gill’s 1910 Cossitt Cottage, a cubic masterpiece.

4) A special talk on nine Lost & Found Gill buildings by architects Heather Crane and John Sheehan. (Begins at 6:30 PM)

Parking is limited; Uber or Lyft is highly recommended.

Click here to purchase tickets for $75.00 a piece.

For those who cannot attend, the IJGF has set up a donation page for those who would like to make a credit card payment towards the cause via PayPal. Supporters can also contact the IJGF to make a donation. If interested, please make a donation here .

Bungalow Heaven Home Tour

Home tour 2023: history in bloom.

Sunday, April 30th in Pasadena, CA’s own Bungalow Heaven historic neighborhood

10:00am to 4:00pm

Click here to buy tickets

Since 1990, the Bungalow Heaven Home Tour has given participants an inside look into beautifully maintained and restored homes within the Bungalow Heaven Historic District, Pasadena’s original Historic Landmark District. After three long years, the in-person tour continues with the opportunity to see the interiors of seven traditional homes while nearby McDonald Park will be hopping with music, lemonade, cookies and a silent auction featuring unique items. Plus, local food trucks will be on hand to provide lunch.

On Sunday, April 30th, the home tour kicks off and last through the day from 10:00am to 4:00pm, starting at 1000 E. Mountain St. Pasadena, CA 91104. Tickets are $25.00 and should be presented upon check in.

The self-guided walking tour will have volunteer docents in each house to explain the history and architectural highlights of each home in the cozy neighborhood that truly exemplifies the Arts and Crafts movement. Along the route, participants can speak to restoration experts about how to maintain a historic home and view demonstrations of restoration work. A number of artists will also be on hand near these beautiful homes in a unique art show featuring some of California’s best artists.

This year’s theme, History in Bloom , highlights the locally gathered flowers arranged throughout the tour homes.

To buy a $25.00 ticket for yourself, click here to purchase through EventBrite.

ArtsandCraftsCollector.com is a website dedicated to exploring the works, artisans, historical origins and the contemporary revival of the American Arts & Crafts Movement. The historic movement started as a response to the country’s Industrial Revolution and encouraged simple design paying tribute to the natural world over the intricate design of the Victorian era.

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Pasadena Bungalow with Original Woodwork

One word comes to mind to describe the approach taken by Carol Polanskey and Martin Ratliff for their restoration: scientific. Beginning in 1992, these committed homeowners used their analytical experience—both are rocket scientists—to take restoration to a higher level, researching the era and looking for evidence on site. The result is a house that glows.

The formal foyer, somewhat unusual for a Craftsman house, showcases stained and shellacked woodwork of Douglas fir. The library table and large Morris chair are Grand Rapids’ Lifetime Furniture antiques.

Jaimee Itagaki

Passersby inevitably slow down to take notice of the 1909 chalet–bungalow. Its Craftsman-era piers of arroyo stone and clinker brick fit right in with other houses in Pasadena’s Bungalow Heaven Landmark District. But the exterior has “more action” than a typical bungalow, with steep gables and dormers, and stickwork that recalls late 19th-century Swiss chalets. Details are all the more evident with the polychrome paint scheme. (Despite many friendly knocks on the door, the colors chosen are a secret so that the house remains unique.)

The distinctive bungalow is one of the most photographed homes in Pasadena’s Bungalow Heaven district.

A transitional nature is apparent inside, too, where entry is through a relatively large and formal foyer. The superb woodwork found throughout the house starts here, with a wainscot, staircase, built-in bench, and colonnade of stained and shellacked Douglas fir.

Living and dining rooms have a beautiful interplay of warm colors, authentic period furnishings, and original woodwork. A bold motif repeats: the peaked lintel over windows outside also frames doorways on the interior. Inside, the header is pierced by arrow-top stile extensions that look like through tenons.

The peaked lintel design repeats throughout the house.

The woodwork, which could be overbearing with white walls, has become the house’s strongest asset, owing to the owners’ paint-color choices and—they were amazed to discover—their embrace of wallpaper. Carol admits to having disliked fussy, papered walls. But, during an early restoration phase they dubbed “the white abatement program,” they say the house told them it had to have wallpaper. When they moved in, the interior was cold and uninviting and, scientists that they are, they had an explanation: Human eyes adjust to the brightest thing in the space; if that happens to be a white wall, the woodwork will look featureless and dull. Moody colors complement the dark wood trim, showcasing the wood’s grain and sheen and bringing it depth. The room becomes more cheerful.

A grand buffet in the dining room features leaded glass.

Prepping for a bedroom paint job, the couple was surprised to find distinct layers of wallpaper on the walls, each paper from a different era. Martin and Carol slowed down to take note of individual layers, to experiment with various removal techniques, and to carefully save samples. It was the living room, however, that “really got the restoration juices flowing,” says Carol. This room had seven layers, one a leaf pattern that captured their fancy. They halted the project, meticulously photographed the paper on the wall before peeling it off, and eventually plan to have the pattern reproduced for use in another room. They went through a similar process in the dining room and first-floor office near the kitchen. “We’ve become wallpaper archaeologists,” Carol laughs, as she points out foam-core boards with vacuum-pressed samples attached. “We realize that this house has a true relationship with wallpaper.”

The first-floor office features a built-in, drop-front writing desk, below which is a twin hideaway bed.

Samples pulled from the upstairs bedroom ultimately influenced the couple’s wallpaper choices. Because their house is transitional, they wanted patterns with finer lines and subtle texture, not overtly American Arts & Crafts styles or 1920s geometrics. They selected hand-printed, abstract-floral reproduction papers by specialty companies, which required expert installation. Anticipating more discoveries, Carol notes that they’ve yet to strip the wallpaper in several rooms upstairs.

The nicely designed backyard shade structure is new. Engineered to withstand an earthquake, the addition is not attached to the house; it supports a series of solar panels on top.

Precise and logical restoration came into play elsewhere, too. During the design of the new shade structure adjacent to the rear of the house, the couple agonized over how to be sure its stone piers would look authentic. On neighborhood walks, they scrutinized porches, even measuring grout thickness and depth, the clinker-to-rock ratio, how the clinker bricks were massed, and the distribution and size of the rocks. Then, using an Excel spreadsheet to chart their findings, they discovered that old masonry shows a wide distribution of color and size of rocks, while new masonry is more uniform. The craft of masonry was evident when the couple deduced that the grout tended to be about “two knuckles deep” and the distance between the rocks was always the width of a finger. Yet a rooftop feature of the new structure is hardly original: “Rocket scientists love solar panels!” Martin jokes.

Tags: arts & crafts bungalow California Jaimee Itagaki OHI March/April 2012 Old-House Interiors Sarah Hilbert

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The Definitive Bungalow Documentary, Bungalow Heaven: Preserving A Neighborhood

F ilmmaker Joaquin Montalvan always knew he wanted to live in a bungalow – even before he knew what a bungalow was .  Growing up, he had lived in a Spanish Mission style home with a welcoming front porch, hardwood floors and a fireplace that his family frequently used.  Those three features were ingrained in his mind at an early age, and he knew that any home he might one day purchase would have to have all of them.

“I remember as a kid walking around barefoot on those hardwood floors and feeling the wood creaking, and the floor giving beneath me, and liking how that instability made it feel as though the house was alive ,” says Montalvan.  “Years later, when I set out to look for a house for me and my wife, I just told the realtor – I want a porch, I want hardwood floors, and I want a fireplace.  And she responded, ‘Well that’s a bungalow.  You should go to Bungalow Heaven.’”

And in 1997, that’s exactly what he did.  Over the next 18 years, Montalvan would cultivate friendships and bonds in the neighborhood and become part of its tight-knit community, paving the way for him to film and direct the highly-anticipated new documentary, Bungalow Heaven: Preserving A Neighborhood , presented by American Bungalow magazine.  You can watch the trailer below and  order your copy of the film here .

In the late 1990s, not long after moving to the neighborhood, Montalvan casually started taking photos and documenting the annual Bungalow Heaven Home Tour , eventually putting together a short video and sharing it with the neighborhood association that puts on the tour.  As a filmmaker and documentarian, it only made sense for him to take the next step and direct a full scale film about the history of the neighborhood, its residents, and the constant threat that old homes like these face from developers and demolition.

“I had done other documentaries before where I was looking for a story,” Montalvan says.  “But for this project, I already knew what the story was, because it’s been going on right in my own backyard.”

Interviewing everyone from neighborhood residents, to bungalow historians and architectural scholars, Montalvan takes us on a journey over a century in the making – from Pasadena’s early days as a farming and agriculture center, to its discovery as a destination for those seeking solace in its year-round temperate climate, to its present-day status as a vibrant cultural hub away from the hustle-and-bustle of Los Angeles.

The film centers around the residents’ efforts over the last 25 years to preserve the charm and timelessness of not only their idyllic neighborhood, but Pasadena as a whole.  Officially established as the Bungalow Heaven Landmark District in 1989 – the city of Pasadena’s first such designation – it’s mission has always been “to preserve the historic qualities of the area and to deter demolition, destruction, alteration, misuse, or neglect of architecturally significant buildings that form an important link to Pasadena’s past.”

More recently in 2008, thanks again to the tireless efforts of its residents, the Bungalow Heaven was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Montalvan’s unassuming approach to interviewing people in their own homes enabled them to feel comfortable and relaxed, like two neighbors sharing in a casual conversation.  “I basically showed up as a one-man band, with a camera mounted on a tripod, and I would duck down so that their eye level matched where the camera was, and just talk to people, and they really opened up.”

Along with the interviews, Montalvan applies his extensive experience in cinematography, using different techniques of subtle tracking and dolly shots,  to capture the homes in such a way that it almost feels as though you’re walking through the homes yourself.

In the film’s opening credits, Montalvan shot images of his own home (above) and applied an 8mm film filter to it to give it the look and feel of actual archival footage.  It’s a wonderful effect and really sets the tone for the whole film.  “I wanted to shoot it as if someone went through the house with a camera and shot footage of the house for posterity, as if it was going to be torn down,” he explains.

“Our house was built in 1911, and we’re actually only the second family to have lived in it,” he continues.  “The last person to live in it before us was the grand-daughter of the original owners.”  It’s that kind of stability and continuity that makes Bungalow Heaven – and other neighborhoods like it – so special.  There’s a palpable sense of community that gets passed down from generation to generation, and that’s something that you just don’t see that much of anymore.

Carol Polanskey, former Bungalow Heaven Neighborhood Association president from 2009 to 2011 perhaps says it best in the film.  “My role in this house is to be the caretaker.  I want to take care of this house in the same way that it has taken care of myself and my family.

“I’m here for a very short time compared to the length of time that this house has been,” she continues.  “This house has been here through many generations, many different families, and my hope is that it continues to serve this same purpose for many, many years after I’m gone, or my children are gone.  There’s such great potential for this house to live on in the way that it is now, and the more that it stays true to itself, the more it will be valued in the future.”

Looking back on the project, Montalvan is most proud of the heart and spirit of the community that comes through in the passionate testimonials of those that are interviewed in the film, and he would love to see the film become part of a movement that keeps the wheels in motion for the continued preservation of Bungalow Heaven – as well as other places like it – across the country.

“It has always been my hope when I made the film that it might help to bring interest in Craftsman architecture to a younger generation,” he says.  “There needs to be some kind of spark, and I’m hoping that this film will be a part of that spark.”

In a fitting ending to the film, noted Arts & Crafts historian, author and owner of the Ernest Batchelder House since 1972, Dr. Robert Winter, sings his delightful rendition of George F. Devereaux’s In the Land of the Bungalow during the closing credits.

Winter’s jovial version of the song is the perfect cap to the film and hearkens back to Pasadena’s earlier, simpler times when people were first drawn to the land of the bungalow.

In the Land of the Bungalow by George F. Devereaux, as sung by Robert Winter

I just got off the sunset train I’m from the Angel town The golden West, Los Angeles Where the sun shines all year round

I left a girlie back there She’s the sweetest girl I know She said goodbye, I’ll wait for you In the land of the bungalow

In the land of the bungalow Away from the ice and snow Away from the cold, to the land of gold Out where the poppies grow

To the land of the setting sun And the home of the orange blossom To the land of fruit and honey Where it does not take much money To own a little bungalow

The film has been shown in limited engagements in and around Pasadena, including headlining the 2015 Pasadena International Film Festival, and it is available for purchase on AmericanBungalow.com.

To order your copy of the DVD, please click here to be redirected to AmericanBungalow.com.

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Thu, Apr 22

Online Event

Bungalow Heaven Virtual House Tour

31st Annual Tour of Pasadena, CA Bungalow Heaven Landmark District. Video walk-throughs of seven historic homes--built in the Craftsman and English Revival style architecture from 1900 to about 1925--with insightful commentary about the home's architectural details and history.

Time & Location

Apr 22, 2021, 10:00 AM – Apr 28, 2021, 11:59 PM

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Pasadena Holiday Look In Home Tour

An Enchanted In-Person Home Tour 2023 December 2 & 3 9:30am – 4:00pm

The 56th annual holiday look in home tour will be showcasing beautiful gardens and the magnificent architecture of four elegant homes embellished by the talent of the finest floral designers., enjoy a feast for the eyes and ears as you leisurely stroll through the homes and gardens while docents point out interesting features and musicians provide holiday music in the background., visit our popular free holiday look in boutique where you can mingle with friends and shop to your heart’s content on december 2 and 3 from 9:30am – 5:00pm. .

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Museum of Failure – Los Angeles, California

Homes Sweet Homes:  Bungalow Heaven 2017 Home Tour – Pasadena

Besides the Arts & Craft homes, there are other architectural styles such as Spanish Revival, English-style homes and others.

Bungalow Heaven has also received national attention.  In 2009, the Bungalow Heaven Landmark District was designated as one of the 10 great places in America by the American Planning Association due to its “significantly important historic homes. Bungalow Heaven is truly remarkable in that there are more than a thousand historic homes in the neighborhood.”

In 2002, Sunset magazine named Bungalow Heaven as the “Best Neighborhood in the West.”  Obviously they didn’t hear my music playing.

…can be viewed outside of various homes along the walking route.

To give you an idea of what you might see and hear on this tour, I have chosen few houses (and a little of their history thanks to the booklet received when you purchase your ticket).

The house has an unusual entry and a very cool porch.  The construction cost for this gorgeous home…$2,360!  That’s probably less than the monthly mortgage being paid now.

For a little added benefit, as we walked through the backyard of this house a couple of years ago, we were serenaded by some lovely ladies with terrific voices.

The final craftsman I toured (on North Chester) was constructed in 1913. The brochure said it boasted “a profusion of prominent gables,” yet Clark was nowhere to be found.

Even the homes not on the tour are gorgeous.

Bungalow Heaven is a great place to stop…

…and smell the roses.

You might even get in a little reading along the way.

…or a little smaller, but…

MaiTaiTom’s helpful hint for you…Get there as close to 10 a.m. as possible.  If you pick up the early home tours, the lines are relatively minuscule.  As the day progresses, the lines become much longer, but it’s a good way to meet new people.

Bungalow Heaven Home Tour Sunday, April 30, 2017 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.  • Advance Tickets: $25 ( Day of Event: $30)

Advance ticket website: bungalowheaventour.bpt.me

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The enchanting, historic architecture of Pasadena

Architectural Gems

Things to do

Architecture

From historic architectural marvels to heavenly craftsman homes, there are over 30 historic and landmark districts packed into 23 square miles in Pasadena. This is your one-stop-shop for the finest in preservation. (Hero photo credit @tommy.lei)

Touring the Architecture of Pasadena

Simply by visiting the city’s cultural and academic attractions, you’ll see everything from Beaux Arts and Spanish Revival to Craftsman and Northern Chinese Imperialist. With tree-lined streets of iconic craftsman bungalows by Henry and Charles Green and 1920s revival style historic landmarks in the vibrant downtown centers, Pasadena is a pioneer in the historic preservation movement and a must-see American architectural destination.

The Gamble House

Designed by Charles and Henry Greene, the Gamble House is considered to be one of the finest examples of architecture from the American Arts & Crafts Movement. The home was built in 1908 for David and Mary Gamble of Procter & Gamble and is a National Historic Landmark that appears as Doc Brown's house in "Back to the Future." Tours available on Tuesdays, and Thursdays through Sundays.

Greene & Greene Neighborhood Tour

Explore the historic Arroyo Terrace neighborhood, a National Register historic district home to nine Greene & Greene houses as well as the works of other noted architects such as Myron Hunt, Edwin Bergstrom, Elmer Grey, and D. M. Renton. See the personal residences of Myron Hunt and of Charles Greene, whose house evolved between 1902 and 1915 as his family grew and his design matured. The tour is led by the Friends of the Gamble House.

Old Pasadena Walking Tours

Old Pasadena is a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places and one of the best examples of downtown revitalization in the United States. The district’s cobblestone courtyards, quaint alleyways and ornate architecture date back to the 1880s. Tours can be arranged through Pasadena Heritage . The Old Pasadena Walking Tour is offered on the first Saturday of each month throughout most of the year, except January, July and October.

Haunted Pasadena Walking Tour

Through castles and courtyards, mortuaries and theatres, darkened alleyways and shuttered shopping malls, get walking with Pasadena Walking Tours to discover the sordid side of the City of Roses. Meet the phantoms who haunt its alleys, underground tunnels, corridors, and back rooms. Unexplained mysteries and dirty dealings pepper Pasadena's past as you uncover the stories through a nighttime wander through the Playhouse Village and Old Pasadena.

Self-Guided Tours

Use the Explore Pasadena Architecture brochure for these tours. The brochure features 10 neighborhoods with a rare concentration of landmark homes and buildings. The tours range from 1.2 to 4 miles in length and may be explored on foot, by bicycle or car. Pick up copies of the brochure in the Pasadena Visitors Center or download it here .

SAMPLE TOURS

Tour 4: Oak Knoll Once the site of a sheep ranch owned by Henry Huntington, Oak Knoll was developed into large estates in the early 1900s. The rolling oak-covered area is now home to The Langham Huntington, Pasadena and an array of impressive estates. Tour 6: Civic Center & Playhouse District Planned in the 1920s, the richly detailed buildings, broad boulevards and park-like settings are firmly rooted in a civic axis. Commanding structures include the historic Central Library, Pasadena City Hall with its red-tile dome, and the revered Pasadena Civic Auditorium . Tour 10: Lombardy Road Returning from European study, the aspiring gentlemen architects of the time created fanciful reconstructions of their remembered visions of rural Spain and Italy. This route passes the California Institute of Technology whose faculty has won 39 Nobel Prizes. End the tour at The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens with lunch in the Tea Room.

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Old Pasadena In-Person Walking Tour

• April 6, 2024

Date/Time Date(s) - 04/06/2024 10:00 am - 11:00 am

Location See Event's description for location

Union Street, Old Pasadena, Pasadena, California (Photo – flickr, Ken Lund).

Pasadena Heritage’s walking tours of Old Pasadena occur on the first Saturday of every other month!

Trained docents will lead you through the historic neighborhood and reveal its many hidden and unusual architectural details, old alleyways, and historic signs. Each tour will have a slightly different route and theme so each tour will be slightly different, so make sure to catch them all. Tours last approximately 1 hour 15 minutes and cover nearly 1 mile.

Admission: $18 Members | $22 Nonmembers

To purchase tickets: See this website .

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Events Coordinator, Jonathan Ong, a resident of Pasadena. is a PUSD graduate and an incoming USC student. He's passionate about swimming, social justice and preserving the environment.

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