Pasadena is a city in the San Gabriel Valley, a short drive from downtown Los Angeles. One of the oldest settled cities in California, it was originally inhabited by the Hahamogna Tribe. With the arrival of Spanish missionaries to California, the fourth Spanish mission was built in what is now Pasadena in 1771. The San Gabriel Mission provided the impetus for converting the Native Americans and using their labor to make the land surrounding the mission prosperous. That land was eventually divided into rancheros and made as grants to the Spanish who came to the valley to settle. The original land grand made by Spain eventually become the modern cities of Pasadena, Altadena, and South Pasadena. The city became incorporated in 1886. After some debate about the name, in which the names Indianola and Granada were considered, the name Pasadena, which means "Of the Valley" in local Native American language, was settled on. The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway stopped in Pasadena along its route, aiding the city's growth into a prosperous and beautiful Southern California locale.

Pasadena is has long been home to a variety of music, theater and visual arts. It boasts the Pasadena Symphony, the Pasadena Playhouse, the Nortion Simon Museum of Art, the Pacific Asia Museum and the Pasadena Museum of Calirfonia Arts.

The Rose Bowl and Tournament of Roses, known as the Rose Parade, are held every year on January 1. Each float in the parade must be covered with flowers or other natural materials. The parade was first held in 1890.