Tournament of Roses through the years

The first Rose Parade was held January 1, 1890, as a promotional effort to showcase Pasadena’s Mediterranean-like paradise to East Coast neighbors. Horse-drawn carriages decorated with flowers were the main attraction of the parade. In the years following, marching bands and equestrian units were added and the carriages were soon replaced with motorized floats that were bigger and more elaborate. From the outset, the Tournament of Roses has grown in size and numbers. What began as a local festival to bring in Easterners has since become an international event that draws thousands of people from all over the world to Pasadena. This collection shows the Rose Parade through the years, from the early days up to the 1980s. If you have photos of the Rose Parade and would like to see them in this collection, please contact Pasadena Digital History.

Created by Pasadena Digital History Collaboration