Pasadena City Hall, Pasadena (must see)

Pasadena City Hall, an architectural gem completed in 1927, stands as a prime example of the City Beautiful movement which aimed to introduce beautification and monumental grandeur in urban planning. The movement reached Pasadena in the early 1920s, culminating in the approval of a $3.5 million bond in 1923 by residents for the creation of a civic center, with the City Hall as its cornerstone.

Designed by the San Francisco-based firm Bakewell and Brown, Pasadena City Hall embodies a blend of Mediterranean Revival and Spanish Colonial Revival styles. This architectural masterpiece was completed on December 27, 1927. It occupies a grand footprint of 361 feet by 242 feet and rises to six stories. The structure is noted for its over 235 rooms and passageways that span more than 170,000 square feet. A significant feature is its majestic dome, measuring 26 feet tall and 54 feet in diameter, positioned above the west entrance.

Beyond its administrative function, Pasadena City Hall has also gained acclaim as a picturesque location for film and television productions. It has portrayed various settings in films and series, including a Napa Valley town square in "A Walk in the Clouds" (1995), an embassy in the "Mission: Impossible" series, and a villa in Charlie Chaplin’s "The Great Dictator" (1940). Additionally, it represents the fictional city hall of Pawnee, Indiana, in the popular TV show "Parks and Recreation." This iconic building not only serves as a hub of government but also as a cultural landmark, celebrated both for its historical significance and its role in the arts.