I agree, the roses are not extraordinary, and the house is a working venue; not a museum. The venue nevertheless has a history that will be special to many Southern Californians, devotees in all locales of the legendary Rose Parade and accompanying Bowl game. Mostly a volunteer effort the tradition of the parade is now ~136 years old, and for many synonymous with New Years (except when January 1 arrives on Sundays). The house and its artifacts are in many ways is the most tangible evidence of the tradition of the parade and the dedication of hundreds upon hundreds of its volunteers over the years. While surprisingly modest in many ways, the home was one of the earlier mansions in Pasadena’s coming of age as the playground of business moguls during the period 1910-1930. Tours of the home are held in the months of May through August, are free to the public (as of 2026), and led by well trained and enthusiastic docents. After a talk and movie, groups are generally split into 4 groups that rotate through sites in the home. The small group size is a luxury, and creates a a more intimate and homey experience than many of this type. As a Californian for over 42 years, former Pasadenan (now a resident of Rancho Cucamonga), I must admit that I left my tour with a totally unexpected sense of civic pride. If you live in SoCal, have attended the parade or enjoy watching it remotely, or are a college football fan, you probably owe it to yourself to visit this legendary venue.

I have visited the garden many times during Spring. It's easily accessible with street parking. You can meander around this Rose Garden then make your way to the Arbor and sit to take in the fragrance of the flowers, but then you can also walk around the grounds of the Historical Wrigley Mansion and enjoy the beautiful architecture, which is the Tournament House for the Rose Parade.

If you've come to see the house, understand that this is primarily a working environment for the Tournament of Roses Association. You will be seeing a few rooms of architectural interest but it's really more about the Association and it's activities. It reminded me of the tour the Scientologists give in Hollywood of their beautiful old property where you're forced to listen to a lot of stuff you don't really care about to hear the stuff you probably do care about. It's a marketing opportunity for the Tournament of Roses given by volunteers in the off season (summer). You also come to realize how long it took them to include people of color or women (apart from the pageant) in the organization.

We drove by at 8 pm and walked the grounds peacefully and enjoyed the rose garden and walked around the house. Lovely grounds to see in great neighborhood. Visit during business hours and you can visit the official Tournament of Roses office.

We can't wait to participate in the Mansion tour that is given on Thursdays. We walked around the garden and fantasized about hosting a party at this beautiful venue. Enjoy!