This lecture explores the history and architecture of Altadena’s Mountain View Cemetery, highlighting the artistry and symbolism of funerary design. The program will also illuminate the lives of those laid to rest there, from pioneers and political leaders to artists, scientists, and social figures. Notable individuals include Thaddeus Lowe, Civil War aeronaut and namesake of the Mt. Lowe Railway; Henry Markham, California’s 18th Governor and U.S. Congressman; architects Wallace Neff, Sylvanus Marston, J.J. Blick, and J. Lawrence Stimson; Eldridge Cleaver, Black Panther Party Minister of Information turned Senate candidate; Charles Richter of the earthquake scale; Nobel Prize–winning physicist Richard Feynman; and Amos Throop, founder of the institution that became Caltech. The legacies of the Scovilles, Woodburys, P.M. Green, D.M. Renton, Pancho Barnes’ parents, Emma Bangs, tilemaker Ernest Batchelder, and many others will also be examined, offering insight into the region’s cultural and historical fabric.
Hosted on the grounds of the Mountain View Cemetery. Bring your own lawn chair, blankets, and flashlights!
A portion of the ticket donations will go directly towards the restoration of the Mountain View Mausoleum.
About the Speaker:
Brian Alan Baker has been actively involved with Pasadena Heritage for over 15 years. He researches, writes, and leads historic walking and bus tours throughout the Pasadena area, and previously served seven years on the Pasadena Heritage Board of Directors—including three years as Chairman and one year as Vice President of Education. Beyond his preservation work, Brian has practiced business litigation law for more than 40 years. In his spare time, he has played electric guitar in several local Rhythm and Blues bands, including the Altadena-based Filet of Soul and The Tone Rangers.
