The Kelleher Rose Garden, located in Boston’s Back Bay Fens, was originally wetlands. In the late 1880s, Frederick Law Olmsted transformed what had become a foul tidal marsh into a clean, scenic estuary. The 1910 damming of the Charles River blocked the tidal flow, changing the ecology of the area and requiring a new design by landscape architect Arthur Shurcliff.

A passion for public rose gardens swept the country in the early 1900s. In 1931, Shurcliff designed a circular formal rose garden opposite the Museum of Fine Arts where the general public as well as rose enthusiasts could learn about rose culture and enjoy the flowers. The garden was an instant success.

The garden was expanded in 1932, when the rectangular section was built. In 1975, the garden was named the James P. Kelleher Rose Garden to honor the Boston Parks and Recreation Department’s Superintendent of Horticulture.

By the late 1900s, The Kelleher Rose Garden was in decline. In 2001, the Emerald Necklace Conservancy, in cooperation with the Boston Parks and Recreation Department, convened landscape architects, horticulturists, and rosarians to develop a master plan for its renewal. Paths and planting beds were recut according to the original plans; the soil was rejuvenated, and new turf laid. An irrigation system was installed, hundreds of roses were planted, and new signs were placed to help visitors learn from the garden.