The Historic Arroyo Seco Parkway (aka Pasadena Freeway) is a federal scenic byway, the only one in Southern California.
The parkway is located between the four-level interchange in downtown Los Angeles and Glenarm Street in Pasadena. A National Register eligible historic resource, the parkway is significant as the first freeway in the west. It represents a transitional time in history when parkways became freeways. Because of its engineering significance, it was designated a historic engineering landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers in 1999.
These amazing resources tell the story of the Arroyo Seco Parkway:
- The Historical American Engineering Record -- This project, completed in 1999, documents the origins and planning of the Parkway.
- The Arroyo Seco Parkway Corridor -- This remarkable planning project by graduate student at CalPoly in 2001 presents a wonderful vision for the restoration of the parkway to its future grandeur.
- National Scenic Byways Program -- This site presents the nomination slides for the successful application to make the Arroyo Seco Parkway a federal scenic byway.
- Draft Arroyo Seco Parkway Corridor Management Program -- This 2004 document prepared by the National Trust for Historic Trust for Caltrans presents a rehabilitation and preservation plan for Southern California's most historic road.
- Current Planning Efforts -- This was the presentation made at a workshop in November 2011 to update the 2004 draft plan and finalize a National Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan.
A Caltrans video showing the Arroyo Seco Parkway being built in 1939 through 1952.
