Pacific Asia Museum

USC Pacific Asia Museum is an Asian art museum located at 46 N. Los Robles Avenue in Pasadena, California. Founded in 1971 and now an integral part of the University of Southern California, the museum houses a collection of over 15,000 objects spanning more than 5,000 years of art and culture from Asia and the Pacific Islands. Its mission centers on creating inspiring encounters with the art, history, and culture of Pacific Asia to promote intercultural understanding. The museum is housed in a distinctive historic building designed in the style of a Chinese imperial palace, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The museum was founded in 1971 by the Pacificulture Foundation, which purchased the building then known as "The Grace Nicholson Treasure House of Oriental Art" from the City of Pasadena. Grace Nicholson, a dealer in Native American and later Asian art and antiques, had donated the structure to the city for art and cultural purposes in 1943. The building itself was constructed in 1924 as her home and gallery, with design completed in 1929 by the architectural firm of Marston, Van Pelt & Maybury. In 2013, the museum became part of the University of Southern California, integrating it into a major research university. The building underwent a seismic retrofit and renovation, closing temporarily from June 27, 2016 until December 8, 2017, when it reopened with new operating hours. The site is also recognized as California Historical Landmark No. 988.

The permanent collection has grown through generous donations from collectors throughout Southern California since 1971 and now numbers more than 15,000 objects, though some institutional sources cite over 13,000 objects. The collection spans East Asia, South and Southeast Asia, the Himalayas, and the Pacific Islands and their diasporas. Significant holdings include East Asian paintings, Chinese ceramics and jades, Japanese woodblock prints, Himalayan and Buddhist arts, Pacific Island objects, Orientalist graphic arts, and textiles from across Asia. The museum has increasingly focused on expanding representation of living artists and voices of the diaspora. Recent acquisitions include donations from contemporary Japanese printmaker Tsuruya Kokei, the Jim and Jeanne Pieper Collection of religious and ceremonial arts, and the Charles T. Townley collection of contemporary Chinese art.

Particularly noteworthy collections include the Harari Collection of Japanese paintings and drawings from the Edo period (1600-1868) and Meiji period (1868-1912), recognized as one of the largest collections of Japanese folk paintings outside Japan. The Lydman and Snukal Collections of Chinese ceramics form another cornerstone, alongside the Nancy King collection of Himalayan art. Southeast Asian ceramics from the Collection of Margot and Hans Ries and the complete prints of Paul Jacoulet are also significant. The museum has organized notable exhibitions including "China Modern: Designing Popular Culture 1910-1970" (2010-2011), "Japan in Blue and White" (2010-2011), "Following the Box" (2019-2020) based on found photographs from World War II India, and in 2024 "Another Beautiful Country" exploring Chinese American artists, curated by USC art historian Dr. Jenny Lin.

The museum building was constructed in 1924 and completed in 1929. Designed by the architectural firm of Marston, Van Pelt & Maybury, it is fashioned in the style of a Chinese imperial palace and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. California Historical Landmark Marker No. 988 identifies it as an outstanding example of 1920s revival architecture, unique for its use of Chinese ornamentation. The structure features a central courtyard with a garden, a small pool, and decorative carvings. The grounds include a traditional Chinese garden and a Japanese garden with a reflecting pool. The building originally served as Grace Nicholson's combination gallery and museum, and its historic character remains a centerpiece of the institution.

The museum is located at 46 N. Los Robles Avenue, Pasadena, California 91101. It operates Wednesday through Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm. Admission ranges from $9 to $15, with special free days offered throughout the year. Parking is free in the museum lot on the corner of Los Robles Avenue and Union Street. The museum is fully accessible to visitors with disabilities, with accessible entrances, restrooms, and elevators; wheelchairs are available upon request. Public transit access includes the Metro A Line to Memorial Park Station, approximately a 10-minute walk, and Foothill Transit line 187. Groups of 10 or more can book guided tours by calling 626.787.2680 or emailing info@pam.usc.edu. As part of USC, the museum continues to serve as a cultural and educational resource for the region.