Rose City

Rose City, City of Roses are the official nickname of Portland Oregon. It was first mentioned by visitors for Episcopal Church convention in 1888. In 1889 Portland Rose Society was founded and promoted planting of 20 miles of Portland street with Roses before 1905 Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition. The nickname grew in to the culture of Portland and mayor Harry Lane suggested creation of Festival of Roses.The first Portland Rose Festival was held in 1907, and remains the city's major annual festival more than a century later. In 1917, the International Rose Test Garden was established, and it now features more than 7,000 rose plants of 550 varieties. It is the oldest continuously operating public rose test garden in the United States.