After a two-year-long application process, the Tyler Municipal Rose Garden will be celebrating having been listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

The ceremony will take place October 17th at 2 p.m.

Attendants will be able to observe the blooming garden, enjoy speakers and live music, a plaque presentation and refreshments. All attendees will receive hand-cut single roses.

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the country’s historic buildings, districts, sites, structures and objects worthy of preservation. It was established as part of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and is overseen by the National Park Service. The National Register recognizes more than 90,000 properties for their significance in American history, architecture, art, archaeology, engineering and culture.

While work on the property began as early as 1912, construction really took off in 1938 when the project was awarded a federal grant by the Works Project Administration. The Tyler Municipal Rose Garden officially opened to the public in 1952. Nearly 3,000 rose bushes donated from local nurseries were used in the first planting.

Today, the Rose Garden features more than 32,000 bushes and 600 cultivars. It is the largest public collection of roses in the United States and one of the reasons Tyler is known as the “Rose Capital of America.”

“This rose garden is the number one attraction in our community, but more than that, it represents our heritage,” said Sr. Parks Manager Leanne Robinette. “This designation will go a long way to ensure it remains preserved for future generations.”

The Tyler Rose Garden is located at 420 Rose Park Drive in Tyler, Texas.

The Rose Garden is open 7 days a week and it’s completely free to visit.

You can learn more about the world-famous Rose Garden by clicking here.