On Saturday, May 14th, together with our co-hosts the City of San Gabriel and the San Gabriel Historical Association, Pasadena Heritage will offer walking tours of historic San Gabriel. The tours will include the San Gabriel Mission, Lopez de Lowther Adobe, the historic Mission District, museums and the iconic Mission Playhouse.
The San Gabriel Mission, named for the Archangel Gabriel, was founded in 1771 and remains one of the best preserved missions in California. Some of its many original features include a hammered copper baptismal font from 1771, and six altar statues from 1791.
Guests will also tour the San Gabriel Mission Playhouse. The Playhouse was dedicated on March 5, 1927 and was built by John Steven McGroarty for his famed “Mission Play”. The world –renowned production told the dramatic story of the founding of the California missions.
Today, the theater looks much as it did when the “Mission Play” was in production. The architectural style is Spanish Colonial, with Mexican and Native American influences apparent in the décor. The opulent theater is complete with tapestries presented by the King of Spain, a beautifully carved and painted ceiling, a fully operational Wurlitzer Theatre Organ, which will be demonstrated during the tour, and chandeliers that replicate the lanterns used on Spanish galleons from the 1800s.
