Pasadena in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Tournament of Roses History Walk

By Andrew Ruppenstein, November 22, 2020

1. Tournament of Roses History Walk - founders panel

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

First Tournament of Roses
Dr. Charles Frederick Holder and Dr. Francis F. Rowland, Founders
1890

First Rose Queen
Hallie Woods
1905

Completion of Rose Bowl Stadium
William L. Leishman
1923

First Telecast of Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game
KTLA
1948

100th Tournament of Roses Parade and 75th Rose Bowl Game
John H. Biggar III, President
1989

Erected 1990 by Gateway Plaza.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Sports. A significant historical date for this entry is January 1, 1890.

Location. 34° 9.041′ N, 118° 7.933′ W. Marker is in Pasadena, California, in Los Angeles County. Marker is at the intersection of North Lake Avenue and Locust Street, on the right on North Lake Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 300 North Lake Avenue, Pasadena CA 91101, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. George Ellery Hale (approx. 0.4 miles away); Pasadena Playhouse College of Theatre Arts (approx. half a mile away); Pasadena Playhouse

Tournament of Roses History Walk - first Rose Queen panel image. Click for full size.

By Andrew Ruppenstein, November 22, 2020

2. Tournament of Roses History Walk - first Rose Queen panel

Click or scan to see
this page online

(approx. half a mile away); Pacific Asia Museum (approx. 0.6 miles away); Pasadena Central Library (approx. 0.7 miles away); Pasadena City Hall (approx. 0.7 miles away); Pasadena Memorial for Fallen Officers (approx. ¾ mile away); Pasadena Robinson Memorial (approx. ¾ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pasadena.

More about this marker. The Tournament of Roses History walk consists of five plaques set in the sidewalk running northward along North Lake Boulevard.

Also see . . .
1. Rose Parade History (Pasadena Tournament of Roses). In 1890, Valley Hunt Club members, led by Charles Frederick Holder, sponsored the first Tournament of Roses. The abundance of flowers, even in the midst of winter, prompted the club to add a parade before the competition, where entrants would decorate carriages with hundreds of colorful blooms....“In New York, people are buried in snow,” announced Professor Charles F. Holder at a Club meeting. “Here our flowers are blooming and our oranges are about to bear. Let’s hold a festival to tell the world about our paradise.” (Submitted on November 28, 2020.)

2. Rose Parade (Wikipedia). "The Rose Parade, also known as the Tournament of Roses Parade (or simply the Tournament of Roses), is an annual parade to mark the

Tournament of Roses History Walk - stadium completion panel image. Click for full size.

By Andrew Ruppenstein, November 22, 2020

3. Tournament of Roses History Walk - stadium completion panel

start of the Rose Bowl Game, held mostly along Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena...on New Year's Day...and includes flower-covered floats, marching bands, and equestrian units. The parade is followed in the afternoon by the Rose Bowl, one of the major bowl games in college football. It has been uninterrupted except during World War II in 1942, 1943 and 1945, and the upcoming parade in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic....First held on January 1, 1890, hundreds of thousands of spectators watch the Rose Parade. The Rose Bowl college football game was added in 1902 to help fund the cost of staging the parade...." (Submitted on November 28, 2020.)

3. Tournament of Roses History Highlights (YouTube, 6 min.). (Submitted on November 28, 2020.)

Tournament of Roses History Walk - first telecast panel image. Click for full size.

By Andrew Ruppenstein, November 22, 2020

4. Tournament of Roses History Walk - first telecast panel

Tournament of Roses History Walk - 100th parade panel image. Click for full size.

By Andrew Ruppenstein, November 22, 2020

5. Tournament of Roses History Walk - 100th parade panel

Tournament of Roses History Walk - wide view, looking north along North Lake Avenue image. Click for full size.

By Andrew Ruppenstein, November 22, 2020

6. Tournament of Roses History Walk - wide view, looking north along North Lake Avenue

Only the first two panels are (sort of) visible here; about 3 yards separates each of the panels from the others.

<i>Tournament of Roses, New Year's Day, Pasadena, Cal.</i> image. Click for full size.

circa 1910

7. Tournament of Roses, New Year's Day, Pasadena, Cal.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 28, 2020. It was originally submitted on November 28, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Sacramento, California. This page has been viewed 35 times since then and 4 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on November 28, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Sacramento, California.