Orange Grove, once known as "Millionaire's Row," is a boulevard in Pasadena noted for its beautiful homes and mansions, many of which were built in the early 1900s.
Would you like to see the inside of a mansion? Can you imagine what it was like to live in one at the turn of the last century? What kind of furniture did families have? Did they have running water? What type of toys did children play with? How were the mansions heated?
Today, the Fenyes Mansion, built in 1906 by Dr. Adalbert Fenyes and Mrs. Eva Scott Fenyes, provides a glimpse into family life on "Millionaire's Row" in the early 1900s. It is open to the public for tours and private functions. The mansion is unique because its bed linens, cookbooks, toys, photographs, books, art and grounds were donated in 1970 to what is today called the Pasadena Historical Museum. It is still furnished exactly as it was when the Fenyes family lived there many years ago.
During the holidays, the Fenyes Mansion is beautifully decorated. A spectacular 8-foot-tall Christmas tree, trimmed by students from Linda Vista Elementary School in Pasadena, is one of the special features.
In addition to the mansion, the museum grounds include a History Center that houses a large exhibition space. If you visit Fenyes Mansion before Jan. 6, you can also see an exhibit called "Hollywood Comes to Pasadena," which includes props, photographs, posters, costumes and videos from the many films and television series filmed in Pasadena and its neighboring cities since 1898. For more information, call (626) 577-1660 or visit www.pasadenahis tory.com.
This learning link is presented by the Pasadena Historical Museum, located at 470 W. Walnut St., Pasadena.
