City Hall

Pasadena's City Hall has been impressive for over 80 years (it opened in December of 1927). Since its recent retrofit and clean-up job, it positively sparkles.

$3.5 million bought some fancy materials in 1927. They used Alaskan marble to make the stairway treads, wrought iron for the balustrades and cast stone for the wall ornaments. And did you know that the dome, which is red fish-scale tile, was originally multicolored? I learned that from reading this. Oh yes—and within City Hall is a cloistered courtyard garden with a baroque fountain. You can bet there'll be more pictures to come.

Throughout history, edifices such as this one have been built to impress—perhaps even to frighten. When you approach an entrance like this one, you know you'd best behave.