Rosecroft (San Diego) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Rosecroft
|
|
Rosecroft
|
|
 Location in San Diego
Location in San Diego County, California
Location in California
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 530 Silvergate Ave., San Diego, California |
|---|---|
| Area | 2.4 acres (0.97 ha) |
| Built | 1912 |
| Architect | Emmor Brooke Weaver |
| Architectural style | Italian Renaissance |
| NRHP reference No. | 03000472 |
| Added to NRHP | September 22, 2003 |
Rosecroft is a beautiful old estate with a large house and gardens in the Point Loma area of San Diego, California. It was built in 1912 by an architect named Emmor Brooke Weaver. A wealthy woman named Marion James Robinson and her husband, Alfred D. Robinson, had it built. Alfred used to sell medical tools before he retired. Rosecroft is now a special historic place listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Contents
Rosecroft: A Historic Home
The main house at Rosecroft is very big, about 15,000 square feet. It was built in the style of old Italian buildings, called Italian Renaissance. The house sits on about 2.5 acres of land, which is a very large piece of property in that area.
From Farm to Garden Paradise
The land where Rosecroft now stands was once a big field used for growing barley. In 1903, the Robinsons bought the land. They were interested in the ideas of Katherine Tingley, who was creating a special community nearby called "Lomaland." The Robinsons turned their fields into beautiful gardens, where they grew many different kinds of plants. Marion named the property "Rosecroft" because of her family's Scottish background.
Alfred Robinson: The Begonia Expert
Marion and Alfred Robinson helped start the San Diego Floral Association. This group was all about flowers and plants. Alfred was the first president of the association and also edited its magazine, California Garden.
Alfred taught himself about growing plants. He started by growing roses and dahlias. But he soon became very interested in begonias. He became known as the best begonia expert. He even created over 100 new types of begonias right there at Rosecroft! A famous plant explorer named David Fairchild said that Alfred's begonias were "the finest begonias to be grown anywhere in the world."
Rosecroft's Public Gardens and Famous Visitors
After Alfred Robinson passed away in 1942, a new owner opened the gardens to the public. They were called the Rosecroft Begonia Gardens. Many tourists visited these gardens through the 1960s. Later, in the 1970s, the property was sold. The garden area was divided into smaller pieces for new houses. Today, the main house is a private home. You can still see a stone wall along Silvergate Avenue that reminds people of the old gardens.
A Place for Special Events
The Rosecroft mansion was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003. It has been the location for some very important events.
- In 1966, Ronald Reagan announced that he wanted to become the Governor of California at Rosecroft.
- In 1984, the famous children's author Theodor Seuss Geisel had his 80th birthday party there.
- Former President Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter stayed at Rosecroft during a fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity.
- A famous winemaker, Robert Mondavi, visited so often that a room in the house was named after him!
Celebrating Rosecroft's History
Sometimes, the Rosecroft estate opens its doors for special events. These include charity fundraisers, garden tours, weddings, and even film shoots. In 2012, people celebrated the 100th anniversary of the estate and gardens. The San Diego Floral Association organized a tour. They even showed off a new type of geranium flower named after Anna Gunn Marston, whose husband, George Marston, was a friend of the Robinsons. That year, a charity group called Makua held a "Great Gatsby" themed party at Rosecroft to help a charity called Voices for Children.
Images for kids
-
Rosecroft
See also
In Spanish: Rosecroft para niños
