North Arroyo in Pasadena in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Aerojet Engineering Corporation First Plant

AIAA Historic Aerospace Site

Aerojet Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, June 22, 2020

1. Aerojet Marker

Inscription. On this site in 1942, the Aerojet Engineering Company founded the first manufacturing facility for the production of rocket propulsion systems. This was done under the leadership of Aerojet's first president, Dr. Theodore von Kármán, world-renowned scientist and engineer from the California Institute of Technology. The plant remained here until 1945.

Erected 2000 by American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Industry & Commerce • Science & Medicine. In addition, it is included in the AIAA Historic Aerospace Sites series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1942.

Location. 34° 8.754′ N, 118° 9.388′ W. Marker is in Pasadena, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in North Arroyo. It is on Colorado Boulevard just west of St John Avenue, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 285 W Colorado Blvd, Pasadena CA 91105, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Los Angeles

and in the Transverse Ranges.

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: History of Ambassador Gardens (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Merritt Mansion (about 800 feet away); Ambassador Auditorium (approx. 0.2 miles away); Places Change, People Endure (approx. 0.2 miles away); Terrace Villa Mansion (approx. 0.2 miles away); Fraser Alley (approx. ¼ mile away); Worldwide Church of God and Ambassador College (approx. ¼ mile away); Christensen Alley (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pasadena.

Also see . . . List of AIAA Historic Aerospace Sites. This was the first of 58 plaques dedicated by AIAA between 2000 and 2013. They began dedicating new plaques again in 2025. Some have not been installed yet, including one for Tranquility Base - The Moon. (Submitted on November 19, 2020.)

Photographed by Craig Baker, June 22, 2020

2. Aerojet Marker

Aerojet Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, June 22, 2020

3. Aerojet Building

Interior View image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, June 22, 2020

4. Interior View

The historic building houses a new-car dealer.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 1, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 23, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 1,745 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 23, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.