Rose Walk will be a vibrant gateway into downtown, blending beauty and history. Stretching along Southbound Gratiot between the Anton Art Center and Cass Avenue (passing the Roskopp Municipal Parking Lot), this thoughtfully designed space will honor Mount Clemens’ legacy while offering visitors an engaging experience. It will include signage that educates visitors about the role of our rose growing industry, as well as the history of Japanese-American workers there.

A lush landscape of roses, trees, shrubs, and other perennials will create an inviting, harmonious environment, with colors complementing the stunning mural on the Anton Art Center, ensuring the garden is a seamless extension of its artistic presence.

This project has widespread support from our Downtown Development Authority, the mayor and city commission, and our citizens, many of whom were previously unaware of our history and legacy.

Levels of Support:

Petal: $50-99

Rosebud: $100-249

Tea Rose: $250-499

Short Stem: $500-999

Long Stem: $1,000-2,499

Bouquet: $2,500 or more

Donations at Short Stem level or above will be included on permanent signage. Donors at the Bouquet level will also be included in all marketing materials and honored with prominent placement. To donate at the Long Stem ($1,000) or Bouquet ($2,500) levels, please input the appropriate amount in the “Other” field. For questions about donating, or to donate by check, contact Phil Gilchrist at phil@advancingmacomb.com.

Although Mount Clemens was known as the Bath City, it was also renowned for roses, and was often called the Rose Capital. Mount Clemens (and nearby Clinton Township) was one of the centers for rose growing in the United States from 1880 until 2000, and the largest producer of roses in the state.

Their prominence included daily shipments to the White House, and inclusion in the Tournament of Roses Parade. Join us as we honor the legacy of the rose industry with the Mount Clemens Rose Walk!

After Pearl Harbor, over 127,000 people of Japanese ancestry were incarcerated in internment camps throughout the United States, simply because of fears that they might be a threat to national security. Many of these people were second and third generation Americans.

Like businesses all over the country, the rose gardens were losing valuable workers to the war effort. So in 1943, the Mount Clemens Rose Gardens received permission to relocate Japanese-Americans from the camps and give them jobs in greenhouses in Mount Clemens, which helped them regain their dignity.