If I just say "Gamble," that may not mean much. But if I say "Procter & Gamble," now you have a better idea who these people were and how much money they had. I can almost guarantee the company makes many of the products you buy all the time. The Gamble House in Pasadena is an architectural (Craftsman) gem. If you want to go inside, you need to book a guided tour. Book your tour well in advance or you will likely get shut out. We saw it happen. There are multiple tour choices but the basic option is a one hour docent-led one. I highly recommend it. The docents are passionate about this property and it shows. By the way, if you don't want to spring for a tour (or you get shut out), you can still walk around the porch and/or the grounds for free. You don't have to be an architect or a design junkie to appreciate the tour. If you like style, or even history, you will enjoy the experience. (Or maybe you are a "Back to the Future" fan; yes, the exterior was shown in the movie.) And it is only a one hour tour, after all. The exterior is gorgeous but the interior is beautiful, too. The lighting, furniture, materials, and just the colors are lovely. For a home that was built about 115 years ago, it is in remarkable condition. It is well worth visiting. read more

See all

Came to check out this very historic house which also serves as doc browns house in back to the future! It's always cool to be walking through places that seem like a time capsule especially when everything is original and in mint condition Lovely tour and lots of great details and things to see! read more

See all

Stepped inside the legendary Gamble House in Pasadena and it's basically a time machine set to 1908. Forget IKEA trends, this place is the ultimate masterclass in custom craftsmanship. Every single piece of furniture--from the desks to the light fixtures--was designed specifically for this house by architects Greene & Greene. ​I'm talking hand-carved wood, stained glass that glows, and details that make you want to re-think your entire home decor strategy. Seriously, my current bookshelf is feeling very exposed right now. ​If you love real vintage, architectural genius, and furniture that has a story, you need to add this to your must-see list. read more

See all

Outstanding! I had toured this house about 12 years before, but my cousin had never been. I was delighted to see this beautiful house again. We had an excellent tour guide, who pointed out small details that would otherwise have been missed. She patiently answered every question and allowed plenty of time to see everything before leading us along the tour. The house has been kept in beautiful condition. It was fun to relearn its history, and about Pasadena and that neighborhood at the time when the house was built. The gift shop has a wonderful assortment of fun things. read more

Terrific tour! Carol H is extremely knowledgeable, pleasant, and took ample time to field questions. A must-do if you're in the area. Highly recommend! read more

We were surprised with how much we liked the tour. It is an amazing house with an interesting story and Samuel, our tour guide, did an exceptional job! Price for a tour is $15 which seemed a tad bit high. Tour lasts about an hour. The attention to detail was astounding. read more

See all

GAMBLE HOUSE IS AN ARTS AND CRAFT MASTERPIECE ============================================ My good friend and I booked tickets for a one-hour docent led tour on Thursday, April 27, 2023. It was very easy to get tickets online for the 11:30 a.m. tour. They recommend that you arrive ten minutes early to check-in at the bookstore. I would also recommend that maybe you try to get there twenty minutes before to find parking. We parked in the church parking to the south and I was a bit nervous I might get a ticket. Thankfully I did not. THE ONE-HOUR DOCENT LED TOUR ============================= Our docent was great and gave us so many details about Greene and Greene, the architects, David and Mary Gamble, the original owners, and the next two generations of Gambles who owned the house before it was donated to the City of Pasadena. The cost of a one-hour docent led tour is $15.00. MISC. INFO: 1. Check in at the Bookstore which is north of the house. If you need to use a restroom they have one there. There are no restrooms at the Gamble House. 2. Go up the stairs in front of the house and turn right to walk over to the covered patio. That is where you will meet your docent. 3. Don't bring a big handbag. The docents will ask you to leave it in a room in the house. I would not feel comfortable with that with all the tour groups walking around. 4. Don't touch or lean on anything. Most of the furniture and cabinets are original. One lady on our tour leaned up against some cabinets in the kitchen and the docent spoke to her. 5. There are lots of nice things in the gift shop. I bought a little book called "Self-Guided Neighborhood Walking Tour" for $2.00. I can't wait to go back with friends to do our own walking tours around the Gamble House, the Huntington Library and Bungalow Heaven. read more

See all

Overall this was a really fun experience! I recommend buying a ticket for the guided tour in advance as it makes it easier overall. Our tour guide was kind and very knowledgeable, they'll take you to different rooms/parts of the house and talk about the history, architecture, and materials used. It's almost completely a no-touch zone, you can touch the railings at one part though. They ask that you avoid stepping directly on the edges of the rugs as it helps preserve them. You'll end in the gift shop-which used to be the garage of sorts-super beautiful read more

See all

What a neat spot! Finally discovering attractions in my local neighborhood and I stumbled on the Gamble House! It's known for their craftsman architecture and is actually shown in a decent number of movies (after doing some research). The house is open for tours on Tuesdays, and Thursdays through Sundays with tickets around $15. Advanced reservation is recommended! The house itself has a comforting yet grand vibe. It's described as a 'bungalow vibe' and I can definitely see it! The backyard garden is also very serene. Great little pocket of architecture history in Pasadena worth checking out. If not on the tour, at least in a stroll to admire! read more

This house is huge and beautiful! Open for tours on certain days, look ahead of time and buy tickets. There is also a bookstore/gift shop next door to the house that you can buy souvenirs at! The Gamble House is truly beautiful inside and out. So elegant. Highly recommend visiting! Also I recommend reading the website's FAQ section, as there are many rules such as no flashes while taking photos, notes on accessibility, and more. read more

See all

Arrived there on a Sunday 9 min late. This bigger older lady was so rude to us, basically stating that it was impossible for us to reschedule until 3 hours later. Didn't even offer a refund. Luckily the younger lady helped us and offered a refund. Terrible experience considering that we drove an hour just to get there. So disrespectful. read more

The Gamble House, aka, Doc. Emmit Brown's crib is located in Pasadena and is an architectural masterpiece that take you on a journey back through time. I went in thinking I will learn some things about back to the future trivia, etc, but I was bitterlysweetly (I know that's not a word lol) suprised. From the moment we set foot on its meticulously maintained grounds, we was transported to a bygone era, where attention to detail and craftsmanship shocased in everything we came across. We got tickets for "Behind The Velvet Rope" tour. The visit includes a guided tour led by knowledgeable docents who brought the history of the Gamble House to life with their years of experience, passion towards preservation of art and architecture and expertise acquired from over a decade. They regaled us with captivating stories about the Gamble family and pointed out the architectural features that make this house truly unique and one-of-a-kind. For the back to the future fans, I'm afraid there isn't much here, other than seeing the Doc's house and garage from the outside. A little tip; if you are looking to see the inside of the house that was shown in the movie, check out Robert R. Blacker House which is less than 5 miles away. One of the little secrets the dosants shared with me while they rolled their eyes! Lol JK. They were super sweet! That said, I wholeheartedly recommend visiting the Gamble House in Pasadena. It is an opportunity to witness architectural brilliance, get a glimpse into history and get transported to an era of unparalleled beauty, creativity and masterpiece. Buying tickets in advance are recommended but not always necessary unless you are looking to do a special tour like behind the velvet rope. Have fun! read more

See all

Great tour, nice staff and docents, cool stuff in the bookstore for architecture enthusiasts and Back to the Future fans read more

Gamble House - Gamble house - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Pasadena, California

I love this house. I love the history; It is beautiful and it is so wonderful to see the house restored and so many people invested in it's preservation. I had amazing docents guide me on my first visit in September 2024. However, the docents that were hosting the Gamble house on Friday, May 9th were rude and unprofessional. They did not seem interested in the house, or interested that guests were visiting the home. The docent at the door seemed like she didn't know what to say, and kept talking about not touching anything and walking on the rugs (I know it is important but she didn't offer other entry info). One docent told me to watch my head (I am tall) because of the sconces (which I was not near to) and that "They're are shorter people in the world than you" in a demeaning tone to me. It was confusing. I had said to another docent "I love the stained glass". And they responded "It isn't stained glass" and just stared at me...did not offer any information until I said "What is it?" These experiences really made the house not enjoyable to view. I hope Gamble house takes volunteers who are compassionate towards guests and are excited to talk about the house and it's history! read more

This place was walking back in time, the tour guide was so informative, need to go back again

What's not to love about exploring an architectures gem and being able to ask a docent all kinds of questions. Of course it's known for its lines but I wanted to comment on the Flora and fauna. Loved the clover grass, fish pond, flowers and the back of the back garden area. Loved the copper water roof drainage pipes. Enjoyed the twisting vines. read more

See all

Doc Brown's House from Back to the Future! (at least the outside). This and the entire neighborhood is a wonderful pocket of architectural history. I recommend the docent tour, but even without, stroll the grounds to enjoy the abmience. It's an excellent example of Craftsman architecture! read more

One of the premier Green & Green Architect examples for Craftsman Style. Commissioned by the Wrigley family, the Gamble House uses trees once only available from Tahiti. Better known in modern times as Doc. Brown's House from "Back to the Future." This fine piece of architecture is now part of USC's Dept of Architecture. read more

See all

I love this home so much, I took a back to back tour 2 days in a row. The craftsmanship of this home cannot be seen in modern home builds. The types of wood used can no longer be found. THIS home is truly a piece of art!!! LOVE! If you appreciate architecture, interior design and furniture, you'd enjoy the tours as much as I did! I plan to go back again and again! Enjoy! ~~~ read more

FINALLY!!! I've waited a LONG time to see this house which is also a Historic Landmark, and FINALLY I got to see it for free during MOTA Day. Usual cost is $15 for a one hour docent led tour but today on MOTA Day we did a self guided tour. We decided to visit this museum first since we've already been to the PMH and Heritage Square plus usually the lines are SO LONG for the Gamble House. This house was built for the Gamble family of the Procter and Gamble Company ( Ivory soap). Beautiful Arts and Crafts home inside and out. We weren't allowed upstairs because it's occupied every year by two USC recipients of the Scholars-in -Residence Fellowship. How cool is that?!?! LUCKY!!! The rear terrace is so beautiful! Everything is so green. The fish pond adds such a nice touch. Afterwards, we visited the bookstore which is adjacent to the house so that I could buy my magnet. read more

See all

Beautiful craftsman home-landscape, architecture, furniture, light fixtures and distinct features of the home. The folks in the bookstore were kind.. I probably would have enjoyed it more if the home offered a self guided tour. The group tour was okay but I stopped due to the energy. The racist undertones were not how I wished to spend a day with my sons. The tour guide was nice but before entering the home she looks directly at myself and sons talking about a craftsman style church down the street and if we visit the church we must me respectful. She emphasized this a couple of times with an intense stare at myself and sons. I was taken aback.I didn't want to ruin my sons day but I wanted to tell her the only sacrilege against churches in the US was done by folks of her group wearing white sheets, burning crosses, burning churches and mass shooting folks in churches. It was odd but to be expected I suppose. Nonetheless, I remained quiet and we moved on to engage in the tour. We toured the downstairs which was spacious with beautiful period furnishings. While touring diningroom, One of my son's stood next to an Australian man to make way for the other visitors and he almost jumped out of his skin. I shook head and called my son over to me. The tour continued upstairs. Before entering on of the upstairs bedrooms, I quietly dismissed myself and sons from continuing. Visit and enjoy. The home is gorgeous but be prepared for any indirect action or anything said if you visit as a Foundational Black American. read more

A beautiful tribute to architecture and design that's well maintained and a lovely insight into life and times of the past. Do a guided tour here and stop by the gift shop! read more

The Gamble House is a Pasadena landmark and an important piece of local history. The house itself is large and extremely carefully preserved by USC Architecture. The woodwork is ornate and so well-crafted. The flow of the rooms are thoughtful and reflect the way the original owners used it. I love that some of the furniture is original, too! It provides us with a glimpse of life as the original Pasadena residents knew it. The grounds are sweeping and immaculately maintained. The tours are super, and the docents are extremely knowledgeable. I highly recommend scheduling a tour and peppering them with all of your questions. read more

The house is built in 1908, almost all wood! Really incredible the work inside. The details of flooring, furniture, system of ventilation in the house are meticulously. Also, if you are fan of The Back to the Future, it is a set, house of Doc Brown. The ticket is $15. Please, go with no hills shoes. My husband and I loved this tour. read more

See all

Gamble House is a great landmark of Historic Pasadena, nice place to visit if you want to dive into local history. I got the chance to visit it during MOTA since it's so close to Pasadena Museum of History, right around the corner. It's cool to have two wonderful places to visit so close to each other! The lines to tour the Gamble House were crazy, but they made up by offering nice cookies and lemonade in the back gardens. They used the exterior in "Back to the Future" as Doc Brown's house, so they brought out a Delorean for the day and had a book signing dedicated to the famous movie. So that was another plus! For the movie fans out there! The grounds are nice, well manicured, lush with cute ponds, flowers, water lilies, it's an adorable place. The gift store is very nice to browse, full of fun merchandise. So, if you want to visit a Craftsman Style house, designed by famous architects Greene&Greene, the Gamble House should be on your list (it did belong to the Procter&Gamble family). Check their site for hours, it's closed on Mondays and Wed. One hour tours are $15, bit high - regular admission. $12,50 for students and seniors. They also do more in depth tours, check for pricing and reservations ahead of time. Gamble House is a charming, unique historic house. Visiting it, takes you to another time period, another world. Another nice spot that Pasadena has to offer. read more

See all

Are you a big fan the 1985 flick Back to the Future? Well, you won't want to miss the Gamble House, which was the home of eccentric scientist Doc Brown in the classic movie. The Gamble House, located in a residential stretch of Pasadena, was designed in 1908 by Pasadena architects, Greene & Greene as the winter residence for David and Mary Gamble (of the Proctor & Gamble conglomerate bringing you everything from Old Spice to Oral B). We joined one of their 1-hour tours ($15 per person), which gives a basic overview on how the family ended up in Pasadena and built what's considered the finest example of early 20th-century craftsman architecture. After the tour, I highly recommend exploring the nearby neighborhood and drive towards the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Millard House. You might think you accidentally stumbled upon some ancient Mayan ruin. Just note, this is a private residence, so no trespassing allowed (even if you're really nice!). read more

See all

This is Doc's house from Back to the Future! But don't mention it during the tour because the guide wants to surprise you at the end. I couldn't contain my excitement and ruined it. The tour of the house is very well organized and thought out. The craftsmanship and detail that went into designing and building this house is amazing. Don't wear heels though because the floors are precious, too. I wore low wedge espadrilles and they let me in. Make sure to take time to walk around the garden and peruse the gift shop (where you pick up the tickets). I highly recommend touring the Gamble House if you're into architecture, design, or history. read more

See all

It's definitely a nice piece of art and a good example of craftsman architecture! the amount of craft detailing in both interior and exterior is amazing! I recommend visiting if you are interested in ART! brace yourself for an interesting experience where you can see a mixture of materials and textures in a historical building from the early 90's! There is a nice greenery area next to the house , and a church. Due to covid , you should reserve online using this website https://buy.acmeticketing.com/orders/127/calendar read more

See all

Arts & Crafts architecture at its best! Had been wanting to visit for years, finally came to be!! Was not disappointed! Docent was very knowledgeable, friendly, and kept to a great pace throughout the home. Was able to see the great detail of the house. Woodwork is AMAZING!!! Was surprised with the attic!! Much to see indoors and out! HIGHLY recommend!! read more

See all

I usually make it a goal to visit a historic house while on vacation. Gamble House has been a personal goal for me for years. I reserved a spot on their one hour tour last week. Nancy was our tour guide and she was great. She knew a lot about the house and since she noticed I liked taking pictures, she'd ask me if I needed a flashlight shone on a particular spot etc. For $15 an hour tour, I consider this pretty reasonable. You want to hear gouging try Filoli for $25 and self guided. Gamble House ran their tours like Filoli used to prior to their horrendous commercialization, for profit mantra. It was personable and ran by volunteers. This is the only intact Greene and Greene house with its original decorations. The workmanship is top notch. Stop by the bookstore after the tour to buy some tchotchkes. Unlike Filoli, GH does offer merchandise exclusive to their house and theme. Filoli got rid of their branded merchandise and offered made in China crap that had nothing to do with the house or owners. If you are in SoCal, do drop by and take a tour. read more

It was an interesting find as I was just driving around. Met a few interesting people whom educated me about the gamble house. The lawn was not or had not been kept up since covid19 hit and it had been closed. I was educated about the history of the filming here 9f Back to the future. A few people had different versions of what has truly been filmed but it is a beautiful home. read more

See all

Like most people who probably visit here, my interest in visiting the Gamble House started with the Back to the Future movies. Known cinematically as Doc Brown's mansion, the Gamble House is a shining example of the Arts and Crafts movement and a direct influence on structures like the Grand Californian Hotel at the Disneyland Resort. Although I initially balked at the $15 /ticket price tag, I still found the experience to be well valued although the verdict is still out if I'll ever come back here again because of that price. Because no one showed up at our tour group start time, we got almost a private tour from our guide, who definitely made sure our hour spent there was not absent of details and thoroughly explained historical tidbits. Although pictures are not allowed inside, the design nods to Japanese art, along with the handmade lamps that emanated brilliant warm lighting and carefully carved wooden interiors are impressive enough to be etched in your memory. The original owner of the house, David Gamble of Proctor and Gamble fame, hired the Greene Brothers, and they created a home that was not cavernous, but thoughtfully created for the close family that was to first live there. Besides our tour guide, we found the staff managing the grounds to be friendly. The garage building (that Doc Brown plotted his time travel related schemes with Marty in) is now a gift shop and ticket purchase center. You can purchase a custom made guide map here for other interesting homes of noteworthy architectural fame to be found in the neighborhood. The garage also has a small but beautiful garden in the back that is worthy of visiting - it would be worth noting the same goes for the house itself. Although more than 100 years old, the Gamble house still looks like a home that was built for the future - its thoughtfully placed windows, well designed corridors, and smooth wood stylings are all characteristics of a home that makes airflow and lighting efficient, even when compared to homes of today. I highly recommend anyone who has an inkling of interest in Californian history and architecture to come here. read more

See all

I grew up just down the street from the Gamble House and after 19 years of living on the Arroyo, I still had never taken a tour! This past weekend, we decided to take a tour as my father in law loves architecture. It was one of the best experiences ever! I love Pasadena so it was great to learn about some of the history. The house itself is so well preserved and well taken care of. Our docent, Cathy, was amazing! She knew the answers to all of our questions and knew a lot of cool facts about the Gamble family. I wish I had known they allow professional photography as I would have had my engagement photos taken there. It would've been right up my alley. I am proud to be from a city with so much history and I would love to come back and take some of the other tours! Parking: free street parking along Westmoreland Place read more

See all

I've been to to Gamble house before and I was amazed. This time our docent was so rude. I just wanted to take a picture the docent pretty much yelled at me and told me to stick to my group. read more

house was beautiful but the one star is for the docent who gave us our tour. the first question he asked us was if we spoke english. the group of us were talking amongst ourselves while waiting for the tour to start and it was obvious we spoke english but i guess since we were all Asian American he assumed otherwise. he continued to be short and slightly condescending when we would ask questions about the house including when we asked if we could bring in a wheelchair inside the house for my mother in law to access the first floor. he gave a short "no" and walked on. keep in mind that the lady at the check in said we could. read more

Nice piece of late 19th to early 20th century architectural achievement. Our docent could have been better but that the risk you take with volunteers. I was a little disappointed that they downplayed Back to the Futures history with the house, for most people that is why they check the place out. read more

Another site off my bucket list! I was delighted to learn that Doc Brown's house from Back to the Future was easily accessible in Pasadena, and tours were offered! I bought my ticket online a few days prior, which is generally recommended on their website to ensure you get a time that works for you without sellout. The tours are in very controlled groups of 10, and even on a rainy day my tour sold out so it's very likely. Plan ahead! Note that this is not a movie themed tour, it's 100% an architectural tour, with history of the Japanese style architecture, and the Gamble family who commissioned the house and a few residents who followed. It's a bit of a letdown that nothing about Back to the Future is mentioned on the tour, as it is now most certainly part of the house's history, so it's an opportunity missed. But quiet fans can absorb the place, while also learning about the beautiful house's structural style. There is also a small section of the gift shop (located in the nearby converted garage) dedicated to film goodies. The house is very easy to find, with plenty of parking a reasonable walking distance away. The 1 hour tour for $15 is well worth it if you are interested in architecture, and a fellow movie geek. Note that you are not given free reign of the house, and in most of the house photos are not permitted, but you are free to explore the grounds and gardens. Whether movie geekdom or architectural history are your motivations for visiting, you'll walk away happy! A great stop off the beaten path in SoCal. read more

See all

Stunning! I've lived here my entire life and can't believe I've never seen this. Yeah, I've passed by it, but have never explored the depths. What a magnificent piece of history! Please, please, please take the tour and immerse yourself in it, if you get the chance. You won't be disappointed. read more

See all

A gorgeous bit of architecture, on beautiful (relatively contained) grounds, which happens to be the house of Doc Brown in the Back to the Future films (something which clearly embarrassed the folks who run the store, who downplay it as much as possible). We did not take the interior tour of Gamble House, since it had been booked solid (reserve in advance!) read more

Gamble House - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Pasadena, California

See all

Last month we came here and had a fun time on the tour. We picked up tickets at the bookstore next to the Gamble House, got the 11:15 am start time and found front entrance parking too! :) It was a great day to hang out and explore this historic house with the other tourists too. Our guide seemed knowledgable and we were also in luck that day because they said we were allowed to take photos of the interior (since there was an art exhibit happening at the same time). Usually - you are not allowed to take photos of the interior! :) Be sure to check out the balcony area + backyard gardens. So quiet and peaceful. read more

Gamble House - Gamble House - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Pasadena, California