Aztec Hotel

How to Get There

From Pasadena (8 mi): Take I-210 East toward Monrovia, exit at Myrtle Avenue, continue north briefly, then travel east on Foothill Boulevard to reach the historic hotel at the corner of Foothill Boulevard and Magnolia Avenue.

Overview

The Aztec Hotel is one of the most distinctive architectural treasures along the historic Route 66 corridor. Opened in 1925, the building was designed by architect Robert Stacy-Judd, who introduced a bold Mayan Revival style unlike anything else in Southern California at the time. Its stepped towers, geometric ornamentation, sculpted glyphs, and richly decorated façade evoke the grandeur of ancient Mesoamerican cities while blending elements of Art Deco and Spanish Colonial Revival design. Travelers exploring the San Gabriel Valley are often surprised to discover such an exotic architectural landmark standing amid a classic Southern California streetscape.

The hotel's influence extended far beyond its immediate surroundings, helping spark a brief national fascination with Mayan-inspired architecture during the 1920s. Although Route 66 was later realigned and changing travel patterns reduced its prominence, preservation efforts helped safeguard the landmark for future generations. Today the building remains one of the few surviving examples of its architectural style in the United States and a celebrated stop for architecture enthusiasts, history buffs, and Route 66 travelers seeking a glimpse into an era when roadside hotels competed to capture the imagination of passing motorists through unforgettable design.

This article uses material from the Wikipedia articles, National Park Service resources, and official Route 66 preservation materials for the Aztec Hotel, which are released under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0.