The Raleigh Municipal Rose Garden

From its very beginning the Raleigh Rose Garden has been the embodiment of community collaboration and pride. Once a “a very large hole in the ground [that was] an eyesore to the citizens”, the garden was created in 1940 as part of a WPA project to build an outdoor amphitheater and indoor auditorium for the Raleigh Little Theatre. Although funded in part by the federal government, the local community was called upon to provide a portion of the funding for the project. The garden began and succeeded because of the efforts of many hands, including the Raleigh Rose Society, the Raleigh Garden Club, the Raleigh Women’s Club, the Men’s Horticultural Club, the City of Raleigh, but especially through the tireless efforts of Cantey Venable Sutton (who was a Raleigh Garden Club member).

Under the supervision of one of Raleigh’s most famous gardeners, Elizabeth Lawrence (also a Raleigh Garden Club member), the front of the theatre building was graded, and the area was planted with trees, bulbs and shrubs (given by the Raleigh Garden Club). The “sunken garden” was later enhanced (1950) with the roses that are now the prominent feature of the grounds. The project led largely by Mrs. Sutton.

The garden continues to evolve along with the community it serves with the Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department maintaining and upgrading the Rose Garden complex often with the assistance of volunteers and non-profits including the Raleigh Garden Club. 

The RLT complex and Rose Garden offers a perfect location for outdoor drama, concerts, and movies; inspiration for artists; family celebrations; weddings; proposals, and even the backdrop for the best prom photos.

Following in the tradition of Cantey Sutton, the Raleigh Garden Club is organizing a new fund-raising drive to provide resources for the City Parks to renovate the shade garden adjacent to the rose garden.  We welcome you to join us in this community collaboration in any way you can – monetary donations, volunteer labor, or In-Kind gifts to enhance this city legacy of beauty, artistry, and civic pride.

The Raleigh Municipal Rose Garden is located on the Raleigh Little Theatre Campus, 301 Pogue St., Raleigh.

References:

Shelly Crisp, A History of the Raleigh Rose Garden. https://raleighlittletheatre.org/about/a-history-of-the-raleigh-rose-garden/

Shelly Crisp, Then and Now: Raleigh Rose Garden Walter Magazine, https://waltermagazine.com/community/people/raleigh-rose-garden/

Guy Munger, 1985. Curtains Up RLT First 50 Years, https://raleighlittletheatre.org/about/curtain-up-rlt-first-50-years/

RLT. The Raleigh Rose Garden. https://raleighlittletheatre.org/visit-us/rose-garden/