Famous for the colorful floats of the annual Rose Parade, Pasadena has borne witness to a gradual blooming through the centuries. What began in the 1770s as a Spanish colonial mission eventually grew into the modern and colorful city that it is today. Tourists and locals alike flock to the San Jacinto Strawberry Festival and the city's annual rodeo. For those who are more into the intellectual side of things, the Historical Museum and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory are open to all inquisitive minds.