Rose garden

Peninsula Park became the city's first public rose garden in 1909 when it was purchased for $60,000 with funds raised in a 1908 bond measure. Designed by Emanuel L. Mische, the two-acre garden contains 8,900 plantings featuring 65 rose varieties. The official rose of Portland, named Mme. Caroline Testout, was cultivated at Peninsula Park. In 1913, the park was chosen as the location for an annual rose show, where it remained until Washington Park was selected as the location of the International Rose Test Garden in 1917.