Among Pasadena’s many claims to fame is the beautiful, and to some, mysterious, Castle Green, built in 1898 as an annex to the resort Hotel Green. Now privately owned apartments, the building will be open for its annual Spring Tour on Sunday afternoon, June 6th.
One of Pasadena’s last historic hotels is now the private residence of designers, musicians, artists, collectors, and other dwellers. Those interested in history, creative interior design and cultural heritage will see the original interior of this unique city landmark, normally closed to the public. While trained docents will be available, you may walk at your own pace through the original public rooms and over 20 individual apartments. See the Grand Salon, the Moorish and Turkish Rooms, the Palm Room, Sunroom and Veranda, the open cage elevator, fireplaces, hand-carved woodwork, and marble staircases, the bridge, artist studios, and the roof.
The semi-annual tours of the Castle Green are organized by volunteer members of the nonprofit support arm, Friends of the Castle Green, whose mission is to provide and implement restoration to the building. All funds raised through the tours and merchandise sales are dedicated to the preservation of this landmark building.
What: Castle Green - June Tour
When: Sunday, June 6th, 2010
Where: 99 South Raymond Ave. Pasadena 91105
Time: 1:00pm to 5:00pm (rain or shine)
Cost: $20.00* adults, children under 12 are free.
More Info: 626-577-6765 (Public may call). www.castlegreen.com
Pay at Gate. Reservations are NOT required. Pre-purchase tickets only possible for groups of 15 or more.
Additional Information related to the Castle Green:
Some of the famous individuals associated with the Castle are Tim Burton, film director, animator (Edward Scissorhands, Nightmare Before Christmas) and former resident; Charles White, noted African-American artist who had his studio in the coupola in the bridge; and Marcel Duchamp, French artist closely associated with the Da Da and Surrealism movements. Among the many films shot at the Castle are The Sting, The Last Samurai, The Little Rascals, Wild At Heart, We Were Soldiers, and The Prestige, and television shows including CSI Miami, Cold Case, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Alias, the X-Files, Brothers and Sisters (season finale), Heroes and Numbers.
The Castle Green is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (individually and as a contributing building to the Old Pasadena Historic District), the California State Register and is a City of Pasadena Historic Treasure, the highest designation is a city of incredible architecture. Due to the need of restoration of this historic site, the Friends of the Castle Green was formed. The Friends of the Castle Green is a California 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation and restoration of the Castle Green. To raise money for this task, the Friends hold two tours of the building per year, the first Sunday in June and the first Sunday in December. The Friends also accept donations for specific restoration projects.
Projects the Friends of the Castle Green have funded fully or partially include:
Reproduction of the original lighting on the roof;
Recreation of the missing light fixtures from the veranda and sun room;
Restoration of the chandeliers in the ballroom;
Restoration and reinforcement (seismic retrofit) of the bridge and veranda exterior;
Recreation of the 1920’s metal “Castle Green” signs for the bridge;
Return of the sun room to its original colors;
Painting of the bridge and veranda;
Research and manufacture of recreated original 1898 carpeting;
Creation of special knives to reproduce any missing molding in the building;
Repair of domes on the roof;
Restoration of penthouse arches;
And most recently, the reproduction of the original tiles and replacement on the veranda roof.
In the future, the Friends of the Castle Green will be paying for projects such as the repainting of the old ironwork elevator, re-topping of the veranda concrete, restoration of the bridge interior, the restoration of the front (east) façcade of the building, among other needs.
Photographs courtesy of the Friends of the Castle Green Archives
For images and more press information, contact Patricia Hurley, at 626.590.1134
