Agriculture has always been a major part of the economy around Tyler, Texas. In the late 1800s cotton and corn were grown. Fruit orchards became profitable in the 1900s, but when blight, drought, and winter freezes killed the fruit trees the farmers tried roses. By 1940 more than half of the rose bushes sold in the US came from Tyler. Out-of-state competition and poor weather has hurt Tyler's rose industry however there are still a handful of growers.
Even though roses were grown all around Tyler people couldn't visit the working farms so the Tyler Rose Garden was established 1952,
building on a federal Work Projects Administration project started in
1938. It covers 14 acres and has over 38,000 bushes. The garden features
walking paths, fountains, and a pond. A Botanical Garden and IDEA Garden
are located on the sloped ground at the south end of the rose garden.
The first rose festival was held in 1933 as a way to publicize the rose industry. It's become a three day event with a parade and elaborate themed costumes for the Rose Queen and her court. The Tyler Rose Museum, which over looks the gardens, has a few exhibits about the history of rose growing but the main focus is on the festival and the costumes. Some of the themes are a little over the top. There's a small charge for the museum and the gardens are free.
The rose garden has numerous obstacles such as steps, steep ramps, and grassy paths but most of it can be seen by staying on the main paths and backtracking. The Botanical Garden and IDEA Garden are on a hill so visitors in wheelchairs may need assistance.
The museum is accessible except for one of the theaters which isn't large enough for wheelchairs. There's a high transition between different floor surfaces in one section. An elevator goes down from the museum porch to the rose garden level, It was not working when we visited so we took a winding path downhill through the Botanical Garden and IDEA Garden then to the rose garden.
We parked in the museum lot because it was not a busy day but the museum website recommends parking in the CHRISTUS Rose Stadium lot.
Museum Garden 32.34334, -95.32484
Agriculture has always been a major part of the economy around Tyler, Texas. In the late 1800s cotton and corn were grown. Fruit orchards became profitable in the 1900s, but when blight, drought, and winter freezes killed the fruit trees the farmers tried roses. By 1940 more than half of the rose bushes sold in the US came from Tyler. Out-of-state competition and poor weather has hurt Tyler's rose industry however there are still a handful of growers. 
Sounds like a place that is worth putting "on the list"!
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty and the fact that the garden is free makes it even better!
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