Grand Lake in Oakland in Alameda County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Morcom Amphitheater of Roses
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, October 4, 2020
1. Morcom Amphitheater of Roses Marker
Welcome to the Morcom Amphitheater of Roses, originally the Morcom Rose Garden. This Jean Street entrance is wheelchair accessible. This map uses icons to indicate such accessible features, including the Sensory Garden.
The Morcom Amphitheater of Roses belongs to Oakland history and it's residents. The city acquired the land for public open space in 1911, and in response to a culture shaped by The Great Depression, the garden was constructed in 1932 under the Works Progress Administration. The formal gardens set into the rugged natural environment were designed by landscape architect Arthur Cobbledick to highlight heirloom rose varietals, many of which exist today only in this park.
Throughout the years, the Morcom Amphitheater of Roses has provided citizens with a stimulating and peaceful public space. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is consistently ranked among the top 10 most important public rose gardens in the United States.
For more information about the Rose Garden, please visit the Office of Parks and Recreation at www.oaklandnet.com.
Erected by Office of Parks and Recreation.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Parks & Recreational Areas
this page online
Location. 37° 49.176′ N, 122° 14.778′ W. Marker is in Oakland, California, in Alameda County. It is in Grand Lake. Marker is on Jean Street west of Grand Avenue, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 700 Jean Street, Oakland CA 94610, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Key Route Train Station (approx. 0.6 miles away); The Maze (approx. 0.7 miles away); Eucalyptus Amphitheater (approx. 0.7 miles away); Sulphur Springs Grotto (approx. ¾ mile away); El Camino Rancho San Antonio (approx. ¾ mile away); The Cascade (approx. 0.8 miles away); Faux Bois Benches (approx. 0.8 miles away); Connell Motor Company (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oakland.
Also see . . . Morcom Rose Garden. Oakland Wiki entry (Submitted on October 5, 2020.)
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, October 4, 2020
2. Morcom Amphitheater of Roses Entrance and Marker
The marker is visible here, in the shadows on the left side of the right-hand set of columns.
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, October 4, 2020
3. Morcom Amphitheater of Roses reflecting pool
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, October 4, 2020
4. Mother of the Year Walk
One unusual park feature (albeit probably much lovelier in May than as depicted here in October), is the garden's Mother of the Year Walk, which was placed in the park in 1954. Every year a local mother is honored with a plaque set into the sidewalk. The plaques are set in bands of 10 by decade, with decadal bands already set into place for the years all the way out through 2059. It is perhaps worth noting that the ever-so-appropriately named Mrs. Virginia C. Rose was mother of the year in 1982.
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, October 4, 2020
5. Morcom Amphitheater of Roses Dedication Plaque
Credits. This page was last revised on April 8, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 5, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 264 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on October 5, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
