Fenyes Estate Gardens
The lushly landscaped gardens at Pasadena Museum of History are the perfect setting for the period architecture of the elegant Fenyes Mansion and its companion buildings, the Curtin House and the Finnish Folk Art Museum. Originally part of the extensive estate that Eva and Dr. Adalbert Fenyes used both for pleasure as well as in their artistic and scientific pursuits, today the grounds are often the site of large-scale Museum activities as well as for weddings and corporate events. Visitors are welcome to stroll through the grounds during Museum hours.
The Early Years
During the early twentieth century, the property included two greenhouses and an “insectorium,” where Dr. Adalbert Fenyes pursued his entomological studies. The renowned American artist Richard E. Miller captured the resplendent beauty of the garden in his 1917 painting Dappled Light — a view from Eva Fenyes’ garden studio.
Dappled Light, by Richard Miller
The Gardens Today
Today’s visitors are charmed by the lushly landscaped grounds. A shady oasis of towering trees and abundant greenery surround the quaint Finnish Folk Art Museum, just steps away from the History Center’s Exhibition Hall and Library facilities. Seasonal blooms enhance the gardens throughout the spring and summer months. Wide swaths of lawn, with the magnificent Fenyes Mansion as their backdrop, are perfect for strolling.
With the elegance and idyllic quality of a tucked-away jewel, the Fenyes Estate Gardens are the perfect location for weddings and corporate events. Please click the following links for more information on planning a wedding ceremony or other type of event.
Visitors are welcome to tour the grounds during Museum hours.
Non commercial photography is allowed by permit only. Contact us at 626.720.3544 or tmacdonaugh@pasadenahistory.org to inquire.
Images: Richard Emile Miller (1875 - 1943). Dappled Light, circa 1917. Oil on canvas, 34 x 33 in. (Fenyes-Curtin-Paloheimo Collection, 2000.019.0037); photo of Fenyes Mansion exterior by Eric Politzer.