Nicholson, Grace, Building
Also known as: Pacificulture-Asia Museum
Why it's listed
Located across from the site of the former Maryland Hotel in downtown Pasadena, this two-story building was modeled on a Chinese Imperial Palace courtyard. Art dealer Grace Nicholson planned it as a Treasure House after studying photographs of Chinese temples and palaces from 1919 to 1924. The Pasadena firm Marston, Van Pelt and Maybury drew the plans, and construction ran from 1924 to 1929. The structure is concrete over a steel frame, with green imported roof tiles and carvings made in China or by local craftsmen. Galleries surround a central garden whose dragons, lotus newels and peony windows carry symbolic meanings. The building won an American Institute of Architects award in 1929. It opened in 1926 as an arts center, was deeded to the city in 1943, housed the Pasadena Art Museum until 1970, and then became the Pacificulture-Asia Museum. The nomination values both the architecture and the garden.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is a rare American example of an authentic Chinese courtyard style built with Western construction methods, and that its garden is an outstanding example of Chinese landscape architecture in America. It also honors Grace Nicholson, a dealer in Native American and Asian art, and the building's long role as a center for arts and culture in Pasadena.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 77000300, listed July 21, 1977. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 46 N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | July 21, 1977 |
| Reference number | 77000300 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1924-1929 |
| Architect / builder | Marston, Van Pelt & Maybury |
| Architectural style | Chinese Imperial Palace courtyard style |
| Areas of significance | Landscape Architecture, Art, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in good condition and unaltered, in use as the Pacificulture-Asia Museum, owned by the City of Pasadena. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 34.14649, -118.14112 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 77000300.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7122298
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.