“I Do! I Do! Pasadena Ties the Knot 1850 to 1950″ showcases the wedding dress as an icon of social customs through the decades between 1850 and 1950.

Presenting historical narratives associated with the museum’s costume and textile collection, the exhibition is a fascinating look at age-old traditions of Pasadenenas since the arrival of the first settlers of the Indiana Colony.

I Do! I Do! will exhibit over thirty-five bridal gowns and the wedding stories that accompany them.

See the evolution of the wedding dress from a woman’s best dress worn in weddings of the 1860s, to the lace and high waists of the 1900s, the long silk trains of the 1930s, and finally the hourglass silhouettes of the 1950s.

Sleeve detail from Wedding dress, jacket, and slip. Cream linen and taffeta with crocheted lace, 1910.

The selection shown in this exhibition will include the 1880 dress worn at the wedding of early Pasadena settlers Jennie Hollingsworth and Joshua Giddings.Other highlights include the 1901 gown of the niece of Governor Henry Harrison Markham and several intricately beaded knee-length wedding dresses favored in the 1920s.

Formal portraits, engagement and wedding announcements, guest books, and other ephemera will accompany the gowns.

It’s one exhibit we’re sure you’ll “fall in love with!” Don’t miss it on MOTA Day!

PMH Volunteer Roberta Dumas works with exhibition co-curators Dr. Elizabeth Smalley and Suzanne Ehrmann to prepare the mannequins (Photo by Michelle Turner);

DRIVE YOURSELF
The MOTA museums are conveniently located off the 210 and 110 freeways in Pasadena and Los Angeles. 

Heritage Square is located just north of downtown off of the Pasadena (110) at the Avenue 43 exit; Gamble House and Pasadena Museum of History are located off of the Ventura (134) freeway on either side of Orange Grove, north of Walnut Avenue. The other museums are located between these two points.

Parking is typically available in Pasadena at Avery Dennison on Walnut (near Pasadena Museum of History) and surrounding streets. In Highland Park, parking will be on Carlota Street (near Lummis Home and Garden) and at Heritage Square’s parking lots and surrounding streets.

RIDE YOUR BIKE

Cyclists are encouraged to make the MOTA Loop! In Pasadena, bike racks are available at the Pasadena Museum of History (it’s a short walk across the street to visit the Gamble House). Bikes can be parked and locked on the front gate of the Los Angeles Police Museum; likewise the front gate to Heritage Square is a typical place where cyclists can park their bikes (again, it’s a short walk to visit the Lummis House from here). From Pasadena Museum of History to Heritage Square: a mere 6.4 miles!

TAKE THE GOLD LINE

You can easily reach MOTA Day by taking the Gold Line and exiting the train at the Heritage Square stop — it’s then a short walk to the rear entrance of Heritage Square. 

WALK THE MUSEUMS

Our two southern Highland Park museums — Heritage Square and Lummis Home — are within walking distance of each other. Our Highland Park walking map will be posted soon.

Likewise, our Pasadena museums — The Gamble House and Pasadena Museum of History — are virtually across the street from each other.

SHUTTLE SERVICE BETWEEN THE MUSEUMS

Due to budget cutbacks at the city level, Museums of the Arroyo Day will have limited shuttle service between Pasadena Museum of History and Los Angeles Police Historical Museum and between the Los Angeles Police Historical Museum and Heritage Square. Please plan accordingly.

Remember, MOTA Day is from noon to 5 p.m., with last entrance at all museums at 4 p.m. When making plans to visit, arrange your time appropriately.

Celebrating a diverse mix of art, architecture and history of the Arroyo Seco area, MOTA Day features five unique history-based museums that preserve and perpetuate early Los Angeles life.  The public can visit one or all of the museums during the day at no charge.

MOTA museum members include The Gamble House, Heritage Square Museum, the Los Angeles Police Museum, the Lummis Home and Garden and the Pasadena Museum of History.  In addition to its ongoing regular displays and exhibits, each museum will feature a distinctive slice of Southern California history.

For more information on the twenty-third annual MOTA Day, please join the fun on Facebook by becoming a fan.

To inquire about unique sponsorship of this year’s MOTA Day, please contact your nearest MOTA Day museum.

The public can visit the MOTA museums during the day at no charge.

As always, we expect great interest in MOTA Day, so visitors are advised to arrive early.  We’ve added additional parking and you can easily use the Gold Line to get to MOTA Day, so click here for more information.

Like Museums of the Arroyo Day on Facebook for more MOTA Day fun!

We look forward to seeing you.

Visit MOTA museums FREE
from Noon to 5 p.m.
on May 19, 2013!

Don’t forget to Check-in through your Yelp App on your iPhone, Android phone or Blackberry at each of the museums for a piece of Yelp swag!

The following helped Museums of the Arroyo in previous years:

• Councilman Ed Reyes

• Metropolitan Transit Authority

• City of Pasadena Transportation Department

• Quick’r Print’r in Highland Park

• Jamba Juice

• The Highland Park Heritage Trust

• Mount Washington Homeowners Alliance

• Mount Washington Association

• Avery Dennison

• Cheri Uno

• Sir Michael’s Party Rentals in Eagle Rock

• Wilcox Sound and Communications

Each year, thousands of Angelinos have experienced the diverse mix of art, architecture and history of the Arroyo Seco area found in the five unique history-based museums that preserve and perpetuate early Los Angeles life. 

The public can visit the MOTA museums during the day at no charge.

This year, MOTA Day is sponsored by Yelp, the online review site that connects people to great local businesses.  If you’ve been to MOTA Day in the past, you can let others know about your experiences here.

Don’t forget to Check-in through your Yelp App on your iPhone, Android phone or Blackberry at each of the museums for a piece of Yelp swag!

As always, we expect great interest in MOTA Day, so visitors are advised to arrive early.  We’ve added additional parking and you can easily use the Gold Line to get to MOTA Day, so click here for more information.

Like Museums of the Arroyo Day on Facebook for more MOTA Day fun!

We look forward to seeing you.

Visit MOTA museums FREE from Noon to 5 p.m. on
May 19, 2013!