From the 1970s through the late 1980s a controversial mural adorned the north facade of The Hotel Carver . It was a simple quotation , painted in tall , dark green letters on a cool gray background . It said , ' '' " My people are the people of the dessert , " said T.E. Lawrence , picking up his fork . ' '' It was partially destroyed in the 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake , and later painted over after the building was repaired . It had been painted by Paul Waszink , and was the subject of much speculation thereafter . In the early 1980s The Hotel Carver changed owners twice . Then in mid-April , 1985 , all tenants entering the building encountered 30-day eviction notices nailed into every entrance door . The remaining tenants immediately organized a final art exhibit titled " The End of the Hotel Carver , " that filled the ballroom , the old Blue Room , and most of the vacant spaces throughout the building . It included works by over 40 artists who had worked in the building over the years . By June , 1985 The Hotel Carver was empty . The building was later remodeled and earthquake retrofitted . The interior was gutted of its redwood framing to install an elevator and more modern steel framework . The massive ornate wooden staircase with turned wood balustrade was removed . The original lath and plaster was replaced with plaster board . The steel fire escapes on three sides of the building were all removed . Eleven years later , as part of a large art festival in Old Pasadena sponsored by Newtown Pasadena , a group of artists from the Carver came together for a one-evening reunion art show on the sidewalk in front of the building called " A Brief Re-birth of The Hotel Carver . "
1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake
1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake
The Hotel Carver