From 1871 to 1911, the site of the rose garden was part of the city's Agricultural Park. The rose garden area was then used for horse, camel, dog, and later automobile racing; it also reportedly housed the city's longest bar and "one of its most stylish brothels."[3] In 1914, the city announced plans to construct a wildflower garden at the park,[4] but the rose garden was not built until 1927 with the planting of 15,000 bushes of more than 100 varieties.[5][6] When the garden was announced, the Los Angeles Times applauded the project: "No more fitting tribute could be paid to the spirit of Southern California than to erect in the center of her largest city the greatest rose garden in the world."[7] During the Great Depression, the lack of funding threatened the closure of the rose garden, then [erroneously] described as "the largest rose garden in the world."[8]
In 1936, four large marble statues by Danish sculptor Thyra Boldsen were installed on pedestals at the four corners of the garden. The statues were titled "Nymph Finding Pipes of Pan," "The Blessing" (dedicated to the mothers of the world), "The Start" (awarded first prize by the Danish Academy of Fine Arts), and "Terpsichore" (or "Melody of Life").[9] The sculptor explained her intent with the statues this way: "In conceiving and executing these four figures dedicated to womanhood and motherhood, I have had in mind that men for centuries have erected statues symbolizing bravery—these symbolize love, life and joy."[10]
In the 1950s, the annual pruning demonstration drew thousands of rose enthusiasts to the park.[11][12][13] By the mid-1980s, the garden had more than 20,000 rose bushes and more than 200 varieties of roses.[14][15] The All-America Rose Selection, a rose growers organization, began donating its Rose of the Year to the garden in 1940.[15] The garden is reportedly visited by more than a million people a year and is a popular location for weddings, reflection, and other events.[16] The garden also has four gazebos, several statues, and a central fountain. The garden is located adjacent to the University of Southern California campus, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, and the California Science Center.
Threat to the Rose Garden and historic designation
In 1986, plans to dig up the garden to build an underground parking garage led to protests in the media.[15][17] The Los Angeles Times ran an editorial opposing the plan: "There are times when the leaders of Los Angeles seem perversely intent on living up to the image that many outsiders have of them—insensitive and uncouth rabbits who would, say, dig up a garden to put in a parking lot."[18] The garden had also been threatened by an earlier proposal by the Los Angeles Raiders football team to convert the garden into a practice field for the team.[16] In order to protect the garden from such threats, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.
The exterior of the Old Armory Building, abutting the eastern edge of the Rose Garden, is used in establishing shots of the fictional Jeffersonian Institute, in the TV series Bones.
The gardens were used also for The TV show “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” in the Season two episode “Inca Mummy Girl”.
^Laurie K. Schenden (April 19, 2001). "Family; The Bloom Is On; Exposition Park festival promises you a rose garden and a chance to rediscover a beautiful L.A. oasis". Los Angeles Times.
^Cecilia Rasmussen (January 9, 1995). "Turning an Odor of Sin Into the Smell of Roses". Los Angeles Times.
^"Highways to Be Lanes for Roses: Supervisors Accept Bids for Wire Trellises; Seventy-five Miles of Climbers to Be Planted; Wildflower Garden Planned for Exposition Park". Los Angeles Times. May 24, 1914.
^"Thousands of Roses Thrive in Sunken Garden". Los Angeles Times. March 27, 1927.
^"Plan Finest Rose Garden: Planting in Exposition Park to Begin July 1; Electric Color Fountain to Be Part of Display; Thousands of Bushes Ready for Great Project". Los Angeles Times. May 10, 1926.
^"Lack of Funds Perils Roses: City Park Department Asks County for $7500 to Save Exposition Gardens". Los Angeles Times. September 18, 1933.
^"Statues to Be Unveiled: Works of Danish Sculptor Will Be Dedicated in Park Tuesday". Los Angeles Times. February 17, 1936.
^"Marble Statues Accepted at Exposition Park Rites". Los Angeles Times. February 19, 1936.
^"Rose Pruning at Park Draws 2500 Growers; Demonstrations by Experts Also Include Planting, Maintenance and Control of Pests". Los Angeles Times. January 6, 1952.
^"3000 Rose Fanciers at Pruning Demonstration; Expert Growers Offer Advice on Culture; Cuttings Distributed by Park Department". Los Angeles Times. January 10, 1954.
^"3000 See Annual Rose Pruning Demonstration; Gardens at Exposition Park Display 15,000 Bushes, 155 Different Varieties". Los Angeles Times. January 5, 1958.
^Joan Drake (April 30, 1987). "10 Places to Stop and Smell the Roses". Los Angeles Times.
^ abc"Gloom in the Rose Garden Parking Garage Planned Under Exposition Park". Los Angeles Times. November 7, 1986.
^ abEdward J. Boyer (November 20, 1986). "Parking Facility to Go Elsewhere: Rose Garden Will Be Spared". Los Angeles Times.
^"Uprooting Exposition Park's Rose Garden (numerous letters to the editor)". Los Angeles Times. November 15, 1986.
^"To Kill a Rose Garden". Los Angeles Times. November 10, 1986.
