Pasadena City Hall anchors the city’s Civic Center at 100 North Garfield Avenue, a short walk east of Old Pasadena. Completed in 1927, this working government building draws architecture lovers, history enthusiasts and photographers with its towering dome and arcaded courtyard.
San Francisco architects John Bakewell Jr. and Arthur Brown Jr. designed the six-story building in a blend of Mediterranean and Spanish Colonial Revival styles, crowned by a Renaissance-inspired dome that rises above the surrounding streets (source: [Tripadvisor](https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g32859-d6609432-Reviews-City_of_Pasadena_City_Hall-Pasadena_California.html)). At its heart sits a landscaped courtyard with a central fountain, shade trees and colonnaded walkways framing views of the dome. After damage in the 1994 Northridge earthquake, the building underwent a major seismic retrofit completed in 2007. Film and television crews favor the location, and sharp-eyed viewers will recognize it as Pawnee’s city hall in *Parks and Recreation*.
Visitor Highlights & Practical Info
City Hall remains an active municipal office, so the courtyard is generally open during weekday business hours. Admission is free. Visit on a weekday morning for quiet gardens. Photographers should aim for late afternoon, when warm light hits the dome. Weekend access can be limited, and private events and filming occasionally close sections of the building. Take the Metro A Line to Memorial Park Station, a few blocks west. Pair your visit with Old Pasadena’s shops and the city’s self-guided architecture tours (source: [Visit Pasadena](https://www.visitpasadena.com/things-to-do/tours/)).
