The Mount Lowe Preservation Society Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation whose mission is to help secure and preserve history and artifacts about and regarding the Mount Lowe Railway. The organization is also parent to the Pacific Electric Railway Historical Society and Golden West Books, a revered rail-history publishing company based in San Marino, California.

The Mount Lowe Preservation Society was recognized and incorporated by the State of California on March 15, 2000.

Professor Thaddeus LoweIt is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax deductible, public benefit, educational corporation and is not organized for the private gain of any person. It is organized under the Non-Profit Public Benefit Corporation Law of California for charitable purposes. The specific purposes for which this corporation is organized are to develop a museum to display, educate, and further preserve the landmarks and artifacts of the Mount Lowe Railway and its founder, Thaddeus Sobieski Constantine Lowe.

This corporation is organized and operated exclusively for educational and literary purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

The property of this corporation is irrevocably dedicated to the educational purposes, meeting the requirements of Section 214 of the California Revenue and Taxation Code, and no part of the net income or assets of the organization shall ever inure to the benefit of any director, officer, or member thereof or to the benefit of any private person.

 

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Our Mission

The Mount Lowe Preservation Society, Inc., is a California non-profit educational foundation formed by a group of dedicated individuals with the intent to establish a permanent museum in Pasadena, California. Our building will house and display memorabilia, artifacts, photography, ephemera and literary works for the purpose of educating the public about all forms of transportation. Our collections include extensive materials from the Mount Lowe Railway and its founder-builder and engineer, Thaddeus S. C. Lowe and David J. Macpherson, as well as the successor companies including the Pacific Electric Railway and the Southern Pacific Railway. With a focus on railroad and trolley travel, our collections also include an indoor railroad signal garden, antique automobiles, transportation photography, display models, Civil War Ballooning materials from the late Thaddeus S. C. Lowe, as well as an extensive railroad related research library.

Among our goals outside of the museum are to:

  • Work in conjunction with the United States Forestry Service, Los Angeles County and the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority to identify, preserve and possibly restore existing landmarks of the public transportation including the Pacific Electric Railway, Los Angeles Railway and the Mount Lowe Railway, listed on the National Register of Historic Places
  • Curate and guest-curate displays and shows using artifacts from our own extensive collections as well as team-up with other organizations to share our collective and historic transportation history
  • Hold public educational lectures to generate interest and appreciation of our great historic transportation landmarks as well as participate in events to earn public support and knowledge
  • Publish materials including books, documentaries, and videos outlining the history of transportation in Southern California and beyond, as well as the individuals and events connected with our storied transportation legacy.

Examples of Our Outreach Programs

Below are images documenting Mount Lowe Preservation Society’s previous outreach programs.

July 13th 2012 shoot of various art works from the Micheal Patris collection shot at 250 N Vinedo in Pasadena, CA.
Photo Credit: Steve Crise
© Steve Crise 2012
Steve Crise photo. “A Fare to Remember” Then & Now show at theEl Tranquilo Gallery & Information Center at 634 N. Main Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 from July 5 to July 28th 2016
All Rights Reserved
Steve Crise photo © 2017. Civil War Ballooning Show at Pasadena Museum of History on April 18th 2015. Also known as “Johnny Comes Marching West” show.
Subject: Images of the gallery space showing items displayed for the “Johnny Comes Marching West” show.
Steve Crise Photo
All Rights Reserved 2015
Preparation for the opening of the Pacific Electric Railway Then & Now Show at the Pasadena Museum of History on August 18th, 2012
Subjects:
Photo Credit: Steve Crise
© Steve Crise 2012
Preparation for the opening of the Pacific Electric Railway Then & Now Show at the Pasadena Museum of History on August 18th, 2012
Subjects:
Photo Credit: Steve Crise
© Steve Crise 2012
Steve Crise Photo ©2017 From the show at the Pasadena Museum of History “The Art of Getting There” on display from April 9 to August 13, 2017. Pasadena Museum of History, 470 W Walnut Street, Pasadena, CA 01103
Artist:
Collection:
Steve Crise Photo
Steve Crise Photo ©2017 From the show at the Pasadena Museum of History “The Art of Getting There” on display from April 9 to August 13, 2017. Pasadena Museum of History, 470 W Walnut Street, Pasadena, CA 01103
Artist:
Collection:
Steve Crise Photo
Steve Crise Photo ©2017 From the show at the Pasadena Museum of History “The Art of Getting There” on display from April 9 to August 13, 2017. Pasadena Museum of History, 470 W Walnut Street, Pasadena, CA 01103
Artist:
Collection:
Steve Crise Photo

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