Gamble House revives ‘Upstairs Downstairs’ tour for summer

For only the second time, the Gamble House in Pasadena is offering a firsthand look at the landmark’s rarely viewed servants’ quarters during a two-week-long “Upstairs Downstairs” series of tours.

Beginning July 30, guests can learn more about the Gamble family -- and the staff who worked for them -- while touring the iconic 1908 Arts and Crafts estate designed by architects Charles Sumner Greene and Henry Mather Greene. The 90-minute docent-led tours will explore the servants’ quarters (the rooms are inhabited by USC School of Architecture students during the school year), the original laundry and coal rooms in the basement, and the rest of the estate’s family rooms, bedrooms and kitchen.

Tours of the immaculately preserved home, which is owned by the city of Pasadena and operated by USC, will spotlight custom Greene & Greene designed furnishings, leaded art glass light fixtures, carved living-room friezes and other unique architectural features such as the second floor sleeping porch.

“Upstairs Downstairs” tours will be held Thursdays through Sundays, every hour from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 30-Aug. 16. $20. Tickets can be purchased online.

Additionally, one-hour docent-led tours are available to the public Thursdays-Sundays. Tours begin at noon with the last tour beginning at 3 p.m. $15. “Behind the Velvet Ropes” tours are generally held twice a month. $45. The Gamble House, 4 Westmoreland Place, Pasadena. Tickets available online or by calling (844) 325-0812.

Also:

Tour offers an intimate look at the Gamble House

One-of-a-kind log cabin Craftsman in Pasadena

Woodworking father restores Pasadena bungalows; son carves own path