City of Pasadena City Hall
The City of Pasadena City Hall is one of the historical buildings in the city that you need to visit the next time you’re there. For one, it has nice grounds where you can take leisurely strolls if the weather is fine. And if you’ve seen the building and think that it looks familiar, then you’ve probably seen it from the sitcom Parks and Recreation. In the show, it was referred to as Pawnee Indiana’s City Hall.
But the truth is, the City of Pasadena City Hall has been in many Hollywood movies and television shows. Charlie Chaplin has filmed a movie in the building. It has also appeared in the movies A Cinderella Story and Beverly Hills Cop 2. It really is a beautiful building. It’s one of the most attractive structures in the city. And even if you’re not familiar with the building, for sure you’ll notice it when you pass by it.
If you’ll see the building, you’ll understand why it’s a favorite among movie directors and Hollywood producers. It was designed by the acclaimed architectural firm Bakewell and Brown. The firm also designed the San Francisco City Hall. The building was built in 1927 and it was patterned after Italian Renaissance architecture. Some of the highlights of the building include the central courtyard and the cast-stone fountain that shows a Baroque influence.
The building’s main attraction, of course, is the red-tiled dome that is six stories in height or more than 200 feet. It’s a beautiful building indeed and it looks just as good on camera as it is up close. If you’re an architecture enthusiast or simply a lover of beautiful buildings, then you will surely enjoy a visit to the City of Pasadena City Hall. It’s a nice place to just sit and contemplate, especially during times when the place is quiet and serene.
There are some things that you need to know before you visit the city hall. First of all, you need to keep in mind that the place is a functioning public building. It’s not a museum. This means that people are actually working in the building. So you can just imagine that it gets bust during the weekdays. So the best time to visit is during the weekend when the place is often quiet and secluded. And the best time to go is early in the morning.
But if you do want to come on a weekday, then you need to know that the grounds are open only before and after official working hours. You can’t stay there beyond 9:00 pm though or come before 7:00 because the grounds are closed during that period. You need to respect the place and the people who work there. Keep in mind that they are serving the city.
When you see the building, you’ll immediately have the urge to take out your mobile phone or your camera to immediately take pictures. The place is what you might call Instagram-worthy. Actually, if you’ll check Instagram you’ll find thousands of photos tagging the city hall. It’s also a favorite venue for professional photoshoots. It has been used as a backdrop countless times for weddings, engagements, graduations, etc. But if you’re planning to hold a professional photo shoot at the city hall, you need to get written permission first. Unless you want your photoshoot to be interrupted by authorities.
It’s probably for the best since the number of people who are taking professional photoshoots there is increasing. The city hall has become popular even to non-residents of Pasadena. The policy to request professional permits is to control the people who are taking photographs in the area.
If you’re bringing a car to the City of Pasadena City Hall, then you’ll be delighted to know that parking won’t be a problem. This is because there is a lot of metered parking available in front of the city hall. But if you don’t want to pay for parking, then you need to go on a Sunday. You can also look for free parking spots along the streets near the city hall. There’s a lot on E. Union Street and in the streets surrounding it.
