Caltech Docents to Lead Public Architectural Tour of Historic Campus Sept. 24

Volunteer docents will lead a public walking tour of the California Institute of Technology’s original campus on Thursday, Sept. 24, beginning at 10:30 a.m. at the Athenaeum, 551 South Hill Avenue, at the corner of South Hill Avenue and California Boulevard.

The tour is offered by the Caltech History & Architectural Tour Service (CHATS), a community service of the Caltech Women’s Club that has led architectural tours of the Pasadena campus since 1985. According to CHATS, the walk examines Caltech’s early academic buildings and the campus laid out under architect Bertram Goodhue, whom trustees hired in 1916. Caltech’s event page states the tour explores the exteriors only of the original campus.

The tour starts at the Athenaeum, the Mediterranean Revival faculty club designed by Gordon Kaufmann and completed in 1930; the club held its formal opening dinner, honoring Albert Einstein, in 1931.

Advance RSVP is required. The supplied listing directs participants to reserve online at chats.caltech.edu/reservations; Caltech’s event page adds a phone option, (626) 395-4654. The listing describes the route as a strenuous walk of about 1 1/3 miles that includes flights of steps and is not suitable for strollers, walkers or children; low-heeled shoes are advised. Tours run about 1½ to 2 hours, rain or shine.

The Athenaeum lot is reserved for members and guests of members; visitors have two hours of free parking on South Hill Avenue and California Boulevard. Information: chats.caltech@gmail.com.

Event: Campus History & Architectural Tour. When: Thursday, Sept. 24. Time: 10:30 a.m. Cost: not stated in the event listing; advance RSVP is required. Where: the Athenaeum, 551 South Hill Avenue. Parking: two hours of free visitor parking on South Hill Avenue and California Boulevard; the Athenaeum lot is reserved for members and guests of members. For more, call Caltech Campus Programs at (626) 395-4654 or visit chats.caltech.edu.