The Land of Milk and Money 

March 28, 2026 @ 3:30pm

Buena Vista Street tells a story of enterprise and affluence that helped shape South Pasadena at the turn of the twentieth century. Once home to the Raab Creamery, a local dairy operation that supplied a growing region, the street reflects the agricultural roots that sustained early Southern California.

Within a few short decades, cream wagons and pastureland gave way to high level architect-designed residences built by industrialists, entrepreneurs, and civic leaders drawn to the area’s promise.

Encompassing both the Buena Vista Historic District and the Prospect Circle Historic District, this walking tour traces that transformation from milk to money across two of the city’s most intact residential enclaves.

Participants will encounter layered architectural styles, personal ambition, and the economic forces that positioned this neighborhood as both a working landscape and a showcase of prosperity.

Following the tour, there will be a casual garden reception with refreshments and lite bites in the idyllic gardens of a historic carriage house dating to circa 1904, a property listed on the South Pasadena Historic Inventory.

Members receive two complimentary walking tour tickets during their active membership year. Not yet a member? No problem! Join us for the tour at just $25 per ticket to be part of the experience.