Altadena in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

MacPherson Parkway

Mount Lowe Park

Photographed By Craig Baker, July 14, 2020

1. MacPherson Parkway Marker

Inscription. Named in honor of David J. MacPherson who planned and engineered Mt. Lowe Railway and Echo Mountain Incline, in use 1893 to 1938.

Erected 1964 by Pasadena Historical Society, Supervisors Los Angeles County, Pasadena Pioneer Association, Altadena Historical Society, MacPherson Family.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Parks & Recreational Areas • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1893.

Location. 34° 11.875′ N, 118° 7.571′ W. Marker is in Altadena, California, in Los Angeles County. Marker is on Mt Lowe Drive just south of Maiden Lane, in the median. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Altadena CA 91001, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Holmes House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Farnsworth Park (approx. 0.4 miles away); Mount Lowe Scenic Railway (approx. half a mile away); Cobb Estate (approx. half a mile away); Andrew McNally House (approx. 0.8 miles away); Mount Lowe Railway (approx. one mile away); Zane Grey Estate (approx. one mile away); Christmas Tree Lane (approx. 1.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Altadena.

Regarding MacPherson Parkway. During the early 1900’s, tourists could take the Pacific

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Electric trolly from Los Angeles to Rubio Canyon, then take the Incline Railway to the top of Echo Mountain, and then take another electric trolly to the Alpine Tavern hotel, all for one dollar round-trip. The hotel burned down in 1936, and was not rebuilt due to the Great Depression.
MacPherson Parkway, also known as Mount Lowe Park, was originally part of the railway into Rubio Canyon.

Also see . . . Mount Lowe Timeline. (Submitted on July 21, 2020.)

Photographed By Craig Baker, July 14, 2020

2. MacPherson Parkway Marker

Echo Mtn and Mt Lowe can be seen in the distance.

Photographed By Craig Baker, July 17, 2022

3. MacPherson Parkway Marker

National Register of Historic Places image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Baker, July 14, 2020

4. National Register of Historic Places

The Mount Lowe Railway, 1893 - 1936. This plaque, installed in 1993, is on the back of the monument. An identical plaque is on the mountain.

Historic Powerhouse image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Baker, July 14, 2020

5. Historic Powerhouse

Located one mile south of the marker, at 2245 Lake Ave, Altadena Substation #8 of the Pacific Electric Railway, placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. Today it houses a clothing store.

Incline Railway image. Click for full size.

circa 1915

6. Incline Railway

Alpine Tavern image. Click for full size.

circa 1913

7. Alpine Tavern

Credits. This page was last revised on January 23, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 21, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 787 times since then and 52 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 21, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 3. submitted on October 20, 2022, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on July 21, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.