History of the TRM&G

The Tradescant Rose Museum and Gardens was founded when Mr. Richard Tradescant left his house and land in Watsonville, California, to found a museum dedicated to the history of rose breeding. Mr. Tradescant was a rose breeder in Bakersfield for fifty-five years before retiring at the age of 80 and leaving the business to his niece, Dona Bandeira. He purchased the Watsonville property in 1982 and established extensive gardens before his death in 1997 at the age of 95. The executors of his estate incorporated the museum as a 501(c)3 organization and formed the Board of Trustees.

The prominent architect Richard Neutra designed the house in 1942 in collaboration with his protégé Robert Alexander. It is surrounded by 40 acres of land, which includes 10 acres devoted to rose beds documenting the history of the development of the rose and 20 acres of seedlings resulting from Mr. Tradescant's hybridizing efforts.

The museum held a 'soft' opening in 1998 during the first year of operation the museum built exhibits and renovated portions of the garden.