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Overview

Constructed by crews funded by the Works Progress Administration between 1933 and 1937, the Berkeley Municipal Rose Garden occupied a 2.5-acre site that was prone to hillside creep, the gradual sliding of soil and rock down a gradual slope. The WPA constructed an ampitheatre facing west toward the Golden Gate, and developed the rose garden above it, with 3,000 varieties of roses and was an experimental plot for the All-American Rose Selection, an award program supervised by the American Rose Society.

Building History

Prior to being turned into the Rose Garden, the East Bay Municipal Utility District owned the property. The neighboring City of Oakland also maintained a municipal rose garden.

Building Notes

The garden stood at about 500 feet above sea level.

Alteration

According to historian Gray A. Brechin, "The rose beds were expanded in 1967 east of the pergola along the main entrance ramp." (See Gray Allan Brechin, "National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form: Berkeley Municipal Rose Garden," published 10/04/1977, accessed 02/19/2018.)

PCAD id: 21833