For most of the year, the Italian Renaissance mansion on South Orange Grove Boulevard hums with closed-door work — Grand Marshal announcements, Rose Queen briefings and the logistics of staging the world’s most-watched parade. On Thursday, June 18 at 2 p.m., the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association opens those doors to the public for a free guided tour of the Wrigley Mansion, known locally as Tournament House.
The roughly 90-minute tour, led by volunteer members of the Tournament’s Heritage Committee, walks visitors through the residence and the stories behind it, from the home’s origins to the traditions of the Rose Parade and the Rose Bowl Game. Guests learn the history of the house alongside the hidden details and small bits of trivia that have shaped one of Pasadena’s most recognizable landmarks.
Built in the early 1900s, the mansion was the winter home of chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr. and his wife, Ada. In 1958, the Wrigley family gave the property to the City of Pasadena with the request that it serve as headquarters for the Tournament of Roses, a role it has filled ever since. Surrounding the house are the Wrigley Gardens, four and a half acres planted with more than 1,500 varieties of roses, camellias and seasonal blooms.
The free tours run every Thursday at 2 p.m. through late August. Reservations are required, with each guest registering a complimentary ticket at least a day in advance. Comfortable walking shoes are encouraged, and visitors are welcome to picnic on the grounds before or after.
The Wrigley Mansion House Tour will run on Thursday, June 18 at 2 p.m. at Tournament House, 391 S. Orange Grove Blvd., Pasadena. Admission is free; reservations required. For more information and tickets, call (626) 449-4100 or visit tournamentofroses.com.
