The Hotel Carver

The Hotel Carver, located in Pasadena, California, is a historic Victorian building with a rich cultural legacy. Originally built in the late 1880s, it transitioned from a stagecoach showroom to a freight depot, and later became the Hotel Mikado, serving the Japanese American community. In the 1940s, it was renamed after George Washington Carver and became Pasadena's first black-owned hotel, catering to African American clientele. The hotel featured a dining room and a nightclub that hosted many notable musicians. In the 1970s, it transformed into art studios and the Pasadena Repertory Theatre, gaining recognition for its productions. The building has housed numerous artists and creatives over the years, contributing to its vibrant artistic community. Although it faced challenges, including a significant earthquake and eventual eviction of tenants in the 1980s, the Hotel Carver remains a symbol of cultural history and artistic expression in Pasadena.