See why Portland’s called the ‘City of Roses’ at Oregon Historical Society exhibit

Roses were once so abundant in Portland that almost a half million of the home-grown flowers filled an auditorium at the 1905 Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition. A decade later, the still young but booming city had 200 miles of rose hedges lining curbs, long before shade-producing trees, wider streets and the desire for easier access to cars made them fade away.

An exhibit at the Oregon Historical Society through June 17 colorfully explains how Portland became known as the “City of Roses.” Part of the story includes city boosters and volunteers giving away thousands of rose cuttings named after mysterious French dressmaker Madame Caroline Testout.

Curator Laura King created the exhibit, “Madame Caroline Testout: The Rose That Made Portland Famous,” based on her years of research and personal dedication to keeping Portland’s rose culture thriving.

See why Portland’s called the ‘City of Roses’ at Oregon Historical Society exhibit

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