San Marino, established in 1913, is a small highly affluent city located in the San Gabriel Valley and Los Angeles County. San Marino is a beautiful city in the San Rafael Hills that is primarily residential, consisting of large luxury estates. Pasadena is to the north, South Pasadena and Alhambra are to the west and south, San Gabriel is to the south, and a small, affluent unincorporated area of Los Angeles County known as Chapman Woods, is to the east.

The first known inhabitants in the San Marino area were the Tongva People who occupied the area for thousands of years before it was claimed by Spain and later by Mexico.

 

Chapman Woods

Chapman Woods, also referred to as Chapman, is an irregularly shaped neighborhood in the San Gabriel Valley. Most of the neighborhood is located within unincorporated Los Angeles County, but a small portion is located within the city of Pasadena. San Marino and San Gabriel are to the west, Pasadena is to the north and west, Arcadia and Temple City are to the east, and Rosemead is to the south. Most of the community is east of San Gabriel Boulevard, south of E. Colorado Boulevard, and west of Rosemead Boulevard.

 

Lacy Park

Lacy Park is a beautiful city owned park in San Marino that consists of 30 acres of open space with mature shade trees. The park, originally named Wilson Lake in 1875, was purchased by the city of San Marino in 1925 and renamed Lacy Park. The park has beautiful gardens, two walking loops, six tennis courts, a pro shop, and a large picnic area that is used for concerts and various civic events. The park also contains a memorial to General George S. Patton, who previously lived in San Marino, and a second memorial to all other armed forces from San Marino.

 

The Langham Huntington

The world famous, lUxury resort Langham Huntington, Pasadena hotel, formerly The Huntington Hotel and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, is only steps from San Marino, and has been a focal point of the community since 1907.

 

Huntington Library

The Huntington Library, Art Collection and Botanical Gardens, also known as The Huntington, was established in 1928 by Henry E. Huntington in San Marino, California which is in the western San Gabriel Valley. The library is primarily a collections based educational and research institution. The art collection consists primarily of 18th and 19th Century European art and 17th to 20th Century American art. The botanical gardens include the Desert Garden, the Japanese Garden, and the Chinese Garden. The Huntington is absolutely beautiful and is open to the public. Memberships are available.

 

Chinese Club of San Marino

The Chinese Club of San Marino operates the Chinese School of San Marino and operates a civic league to promote and support Chinese culture, arts, and educational programs. The club also sponsors the annual Chinese New Year Carnival, a mid-autumn festival, and other entertaining and educational activities.

 

EI Molino Viejo

EI Molino Viejo, also known as The Old Mill and the Old Grist Mill, is the oldest commercial building in Southern California. The old mill was built in 1816 by Tongva Indians, in the San Rafael Hills of San Marino, California which is in the western San Gabriel Valley in Los Angeles County. It was one of the first ten sites in Los Angeles County to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been designated as a California Historical Landmark. Today, the building is owned by the city and is used as a museum and art gallery. It is home to the California Art Club and was first operated by the California Historical Society, and later by the Old Mill Foundation. It is definitely worth visiting.

 

Chinese School of San Marino

The Chinese School of San Marino, established in 1981, is a registered Heritage School"with the California Department of Education, located in San Marino, which is in the western San Gabriel Valley adjacent to Pasadena. In addition to teaching children and adults how to read, write, and speak Chinese, the school also provides its students the opportunity to learn traditional Chinese arts and culture.

 

San Marino Historical Society

The San Marino Historical Society collects and preserves historic documents, tapes, photos, books, oral histories and other artifacts, and teaches about the history of San Marino and, the surrounding area. The Thurnher House at Lacy Park houses the organizations offices and archives and is open to the public on certain Sundays. The San Marino Historical Society is a membership organization always seeking additional members, volunteers, and donations. The organization publishes a quarterly newsletter and offers various free lectures and programs to the public each year.

 

Chinese Historical Society of Southern California

The Chinese Historical Society of Southern California (CHSSC), established in 1975 in Chinatown, Los Angeles, is a non-profit organization that serves the Chinese communities in Southern California, including those in the San Gabriel Valley, the Conejo Valley, and Orange County. Its mission is to bring together people with a mutual interest in the important history of Chinese and Chinese Americans in Southern California; to pursue, preserve and communicate knowledge of this history; and to promote the heritage of the Chinese and appreciation of our rich, multi-cultural society. CHSSC holds monthly meetings and sponsors regular events. Memberships are available and donations are always welcome.

 

The Old Mill

The Old Mill, also known as EI Molino Viejo is a former grist mill built in 1816 in the San Rafael Hills of San Marino. The historic Old Mill and its beautiful gardens is the site where the California Philharmonic Chamber offers its Under the Stars music concerts each summer. The Old Mill gardens have been recognized and accredited as an arboretum.

 

San Marino Chamber of Commerce

The San Marino Chamber of Commerce, established in 1959, plays an active roll in supporting local businesses and in recruiting new businesses to San Marino. The mission of the San Marino Chamber of Commerce is to provide for the economic well-being of the community, to be an advocate for its members and to provide community leadership. The chamber offers its members networking opportunities, low cost advertising opportunities, referrals, and educational opportunities.

 

San Rafael Hills

The San Rafael Hills are a mountain range, partially within the San Gabriel Valley region of Los Angeles County, that runs parallel to and below the San Gabriel Mountains. The San Rafael Hills contain all or parts of Pasadena, South Pasadena, San Marino, Monterey Hills, La-Canada-Flintridge, City Terrace, EI Sereno, Montecito Heights, Cypress Park, Mount Washington, Glassell Park, and Eagle Rock. The San Rafael Hills contain a large aquifer on the north side.

 

Rancho San Rafael

Rancho San Rafael was a 36,403-acre Spanish land grant given in 1784 to Jose Maria Verdugo. The land grant was located primarily in the San Rafael Hills and was bordered by both the Los Angeles River and Arroyo Seco. It included the present day cities of Glendale, La Canada-Flintridge, La Crescenta-Montrose, Eagle Rock, and parts of Los Angeles, including Highland Park, Glassel! Park, and Mount Washington.