Note:
The Tournament of Roses Parade has a long and rich history in Pasadena, CA. The first parade was held January 1, 1890, and was meant to promote Pasadena’s Mediterranean-like paradise to East Coast folks. 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 number of participants. 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. The Tournament of Roses programs and pictorials, extant copies of which date back to 1897 and published by the Tournament of Roses Association and local news publishers, are an important piece of the Rose Parade history. They contain photos, advertisements, and interesting stories about people, places, and events in Pasadena and the surrounding communities.
For additional information see
California Revealed.