1900 Map of Pasadena

About this map

Pasadena serves as the focal point for this late nineteenth-century landscape, appearing at a time when grand resort culture and early rail expansion defined the San Gabriel Valley. The survey details the early grid of Pasadena and surrounding communities like Altadena and South Pasadena, alongside the prestigious Raymond Hotel and Oak Knoll. The mountain frontier is sharply defined by the Angeles National Forest, where the famous Echo Mountain Mt Lowe Hotel stands as a landmark of early alpine tourism. Transport is dominated by a dense network of competing lines, including the Terminal R. R. and the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe R. R., which facilitated the rapid growth of agricultural and residential colonies. Traces of the Spanish rancho era persist in the large land grants like Potrero Grande and Paso de Bartolo, centering on the historic Mission San Gabriel.