The Columbus Park of Roses is located within the 149-acre Whetstone Park, land the City of Columbus purchased in 1944 to develop for recreational use. Once part of a horse farm, the land was used by area residents for victory gardens during WWII.

In 1951, members of the Columbus Rose Club, the Central Ohio Rose Society and city officials formed a committee to create a municipal rose garden in Columbus. The next year, Columbus City Council issued bonds to develop the garden, and in June 1953, the Columbus Park of Roses opened to the public. The picture above is from that era.

Six months later, as part of the original plan, the American Rose Society moved its national headquarters adjacent to the park and maintained test gardens for new roses where the Heritage Rose Garden is now located. The ARS remained at this location until 1974, when it relocated to Shreveport, Louisiana.

The Columbus Park of Roses is managed by the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department. The Columbus Park of Roses Foundation is a non-profit organization that partners with the city to promote the gardens as well as to provide support for the care and enhancement of the gardens through fund-raising and volunteer opportunities.