Historic Rose Park
BeauGOLB@gmail.com
In Southern California it seems that the new has always won over the historic, but over the past several years that mindset has begun to change in the city of Long Beach. You may have noticed Historic District signs popping up around the city over the last several years. This designation not only showcases the history of domestic architecture in our city, but the designation will help preserve these areas for the future. Historic districts are usually areas that have a substantial number of homes that have remained intact and unchanged. In other words, someone hasn’t bastardized the original style of the homes in the area. Original streetlights, tree-lined streets and parks can add to the historic status of an area.There are numerous historic districts in our city, so why not take a walking tour or a bike tour through some of them and get to know more about this Historic Long Beach.
Photography by Sarah Vinci
Rose Park is a good starting point. It is one of the hidden gems of Long Beach, located between Cherry and Redondo and 4th and 10th Streets. The district boasts many homes built between 1910 and the 1920’s. Craftsman Bungalows, Mission Revival and Spanish Colonial Revival homes are among the many styles of early 20th century architecture that inhabit the area. It truly feels like a visit to the past when you enter the beautiful tree-lined streets of this historic district. Of course the center of this neighborhood is Rose Park, located at 8th Street and Orizaba. I recommend the park as the starting point for your tour.
The neighborhood has not always been as visually appealing as it has become in the last few decades. Rose Park has had a rebirth, thanks to the dedication of homeowners, who began to restore and conserve their own homes, and a very strong neighborhood association. The Rose Park Neighborhood Association (RPNA) was formed in 1999 and is responsible for the historic street signs in the area, as well as the ongoing restoration of Rose Park itself. The beautiful Rose Park Craftsman Gazebo was restored this year, as well as the rose garden. RPNA is continuing to raise funds to complete the restoration of the park.
If you are a Guinness Book of World Records fan, you might be interested to know that Rose Park is home to the skinniest house in the United States. The story is that in 1932 Nelson Rummond was given the narrow lot of land as repayment for a $100 loan. He built the house in response to a bet that he could not build a livable house on the 10-foot wide lot. The house is located on Gladys Ave. and is a designated Historic Landmark.
The neighborhood is as diverse as our city, with residents from many cultural backgrounds, including many GLBTQ homeowners. They are neighbors first, joined in the common goal of improving and preserving their beautiful district. Second District City Councilmember Suja Lowenthal make her home in Rose Park as well.The residents of Rose Park like to share their neighborhood and this is a good time of year to visit. On December 17th Rose Park will host their Annual Tree Lighting and Trimming event in the Park and the community is invited. You can find more information on the event and the neighborhood on the Association’s website at http://rpna.org/.
Rose Park is definitely worth your time to visit. Please remember, when you take your walking or bicycle tour of Rose Park, respect the neighborhood and the residents.
The neighborhood has not always been as visually appealing as it has become in the last few decades. Rose Park has had a rebirth, thanks to the dedication of homeowners, who began to restore and conserve their own homes, and a very strong neighborhood association. The Rose Park Neighborhood Association (RPNA) was formed in 1999 and is responsible for the historic street signs in the area, as well as the ongoing restoration of Rose Park itself. The beautiful Rose Park Craftsman Gazebo was restored this year, as well as the rose garden. RPNA is continuing to raise funds to complete the restoration of the park.
If you are a Guinness Book of World Records fan, you might be interested to know that Rose Park is home to the skinniest house in the United States. The story is that in 1932 Nelson Rummond was given the narrow lot of land as repayment for a $100 loan. He built the house in response to a bet that he could not build a livable house on the 10-foot wide lot. The house is located on Gladys Ave. and is a designated Historic Landmark.
The neighborhood is as diverse as our city, with residents from many cultural backgrounds, including many GLBTQ homeowners. They are neighbors first, joined in the common goal of improving and preserving their beautiful district. Second District City Councilmember Suja Lowenthal make her home in Rose Park as well.The residents of Rose Park like to share their neighborhood and this is a good time of year to visit. On December 17th Rose Park will host their Annual Tree Lighting and Trimming event in the Park and the community is invited. You can find more information on the event and the neighborhood on the Association’s website at http://rpna.org/.
Rose Park is definitely worth your time to visit. Please remember, when you take your walking or bicycle tour of Rose Park, respect the neighborhood and the residents.
Sarah Vinci
Photgraphy by Sarah Vinci
I became acquainted with Rose Park through Sarah Vinci who is currently the Vice President of the neighborhood association. She is also a well-respected photographer and has provided the stunning images of Rose Park houses for this article. In 2008, Sarah received an Arts Council for Long Beach Professional Artist Fellowship, which helped her with this project. She continues to work on the endeavor and is planning a future publication. A portion of the proceeds from the publication will be donated to the Rose Park Neighborhood Association for the continued beautification and sustainability of Rose Park.
Sarah received an M.F.A. in photography from the San Francisco Art Institute in 2002 and a B.A. in art history and photography from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 1991. Her work has been exhibited at the Photography Gallery at Notre Dame University, IN; SCWCA Gallery, Brewery Art Colony, Los Angeles, CA; Brooklyn Museum of Art; Sonoma Museum of Visual Art, Santa Rosa, CA; Texas Woman's University West Gallery, Denton, TX; the Nevada Museum of Art, Reno, NV; and many others. She has also curated exhibitions for the University Art Museum, California State University in Long Beach; the Diego Rivera Gallery in San Francisco; the Reed Whipple Cultural Center in Las Vegas; and the Society of Photographic Education.
Sarah received an M.F.A. in photography from the San Francisco Art Institute in 2002 and a B.A. in art history and photography from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 1991. Her work has been exhibited at the Photography Gallery at Notre Dame University, IN; SCWCA Gallery, Brewery Art Colony, Los Angeles, CA; Brooklyn Museum of Art; Sonoma Museum of Visual Art, Santa Rosa, CA; Texas Woman's University West Gallery, Denton, TX; the Nevada Museum of Art, Reno, NV; and many others. She has also curated exhibitions for the University Art Museum, California State University in Long Beach; the Diego Rivera Gallery in San Francisco; the Reed Whipple Cultural Center in Las Vegas; and the Society of Photographic Education.
Photography by Sarah Vinci
Rose Park Neighborhood Association
http://rpna.org/
City of Long Beach Historic Districts
http://www.lbds.info/planning/historic_preservation/historic_districts.asp
