Marvelous Tournament House isn’t it? This magnificent Italian Renaissance-style mansion wasn’t always home to the Tournament of Roses. It began life in 1906 as the family residence of real estate and dry goods tycoon George Stimson. His architect son G. Lawrence Stimson designed it. Construction took eight years. It was quite the undertaking!
Imagine the Stimsons in their grand new home on “Millionaires’ Row”. But the house proved too large. In 1914 they sold it to chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr for a whopping $170.000. Wrigley added the adjacent gardens a year later for another $25.000. Mrs Wrigley loved it. She especially enjoyed watching the Tournament of Roses parade from her front yard.
After Mrs Wrigley’s death in 1958 the property was gifted to the City of Pasadena. The stipulation was that the house become the permanent headquarters of the Tournament of Roses Association. Today the five second-floor bedrooms are used for committee meetings and as a dressing area for the Rose Court. They are also home to displays celebrating Tournament of Roses history. There are trophies. There are exhibits about past Rose Bowl Games. There are even pictures of past Grand Marshals Presidents Queens and Courts.
One intriguing exhibit is an original Peanuts comic strip. It’s from January 1 1974 when Charles M Schulz served as Grand Marshal. In the strip Lucy watches the parade on TV. She tells Linus “They have some of the most beautiful floats this year I’ve ever seen.” Linus asks about the Grand Marshal. Lucy replies “Yeah you missed him but he wasn’t anyone you never heard of!”
The Tournament of Roses Association maintains the grounds. Volunteers from the Pacific Rose Society tend the rose gardens. Hundreds of varieties of roses camellias and annuals thrive here. The All-America Rose Selections test gardens are particularly impressive. They are open to the public most of the year. Except for a brief closure between December 31 and January 2.
Tournament House is more than just a building. It’s a living testament to Pasadena’s history and the enduring spirit of the Tournament of Roses. It’s a place where flowers football and community spirit converge. A place where history unfolds before your eyes. A must-see for any visitor to Pasadena.