Rose Garden History

Since its inception the Rose Garden has been an iconic location of the land it sits on and has a fascinating history that transcends Cal Poly Pomona. Below are historical highlights about the Rose Garden.

The garden was built in the mid-1920s, when the campus was still owned by the Kellogg Family, and the land was known as the Kellogg Ranch. While the property was under construction, it was decided that a Rose Garden was to be added. Kellogg hired esteemed landscape architect Charles Adams, of Herst Castle notoriety. The garden’s design consisted of concentric circles, allowing guests to admire the exotic roses from every angle (Correspondence from Dec 3, 1926). At this point, the gazebo had not been added to the garden, and would still be over half a century from being constructed.  The garden became a favorite location for tourists who would tour the Kellog Ranch. Seeing the popularity of the location, Kellogg added a cactus garden and trellis structure around the garden, creating an idyllic location to picnic and relax.

On June 14^th, 1956, the University held the first ever Kellog-Voorhees graduation was held around the rose garden (The Kellogg Arabian Ranch : the first sixty years : a chronicle of events, 1925-1985, Jane. M., 423). The graduation ceremony would be held at this location for years, until the university outgrew the venue. Various other events would be held at the rose garden, cementing it as one of the icons of the Cal Poly Pomona campus. The gazebo was erected in 1994 and opened in 1995 alongside other improvements in the area such as: a new picnic area, landscape, irrigation and drainage improvements, the Alumni walk of fame, the Kellogg Memorial Plaza, and a new picnic (Poly Post, Oct 2, 1995). This improvement project was a gift from the graduation class of 1995. Today the Leacy of the Rose Garden lives on, continuing to be a desired located to stop and smell the roses for students, faculty, and visitors alike.

Graduation in the Rose Garden c. 1962
(California State Polytechnic University, Pomona : a legacy and mission, 1938-1989. 1999. Pflueger. D., 106)

Graduation in the Rose Garden c. 1962
(California State Polytechnic University, Pomona : a legacy and mission, 1938-1989. 1999. Pflueger. D., 105)