This year, 2025, marks the 33rd year for the annual Festival of Lights surrounding the Mission Inn in downtown Riverside. It also marks the first Festival following the death of Mission Inn owner, Duane R Roberts, who passed away on November 1. The Festival, which began as a modest hotel-only event in 1993 with only…
When gazing upon the skyline of downtown Riverside from atop Mount Rubidoux, two office buildings tend to stand out: Riverside County Administrative Center (the “glass box” and city’s tallest building) and Riverside City Hall (seven-story, chocolate brown building with low-slung arches). Both buildings were designed by the Riverside-based architectural firm founded by Herman O. Ruhnau….
A ceremonial groundbreaking was held June 27th for the long-awaited and oft-delayed expansion for the Museum of Riverside, which has been shuttered for nearly eight years. Between 150-200 members from the community joined city leaders to mark the event in front of the museum’s historic 1912 building. Speakers included Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson, Ward 1…
Where is George Washington Gale Ferris Jr.? The final resting place for the inventor of one of the world’s best-known amusement rides — the Ferris Wheel — remains a mystery nearly 130 years following his 1896 death. One of the more intriguing histories at Riverside’s Olivewood Memorial Park is the extended Ferris family of Ferris…
Almost exactly forty years after a fire that destroyed the iconic Arlington / Tetley / Riverside hotel, the northwest corner of University and Lime is again occupied following the dedication of Riverside’s new Downtown Fire Station. Built at a cost of $12 million as part of the Riverside Renaissance capital improvement program, the station’s opening…
This year (2013) marks the 125th year for Olivewood Memorial Park cemetery in Riverside. The cemetery is hosting a day of historic walking tours on Sunday, October 20th (2013), which we’re glad to be assisting them with organizing and presenting. For now, enjoy this circa 1925 image looking west along the roadway dividing sections G…
Saturday May 18th, 2013, marks the date for Old Riverside Foundation’s 22nd annual Vintage Home Tour and Restoration Fair. This year’s tour will showcase five historic homes located in three neighborhoods — the Wood Streets, Palm Heights, and downtown’s North Hill area (near Fairmount Park). The five homes on the tour are: Stephen Magee house…
The historic Serra Cross atop Mount Rubidoux in Riverside is set to remain in perpetuity following the winning bid by a local non-profit alliance. Totally Mt. Rubidoux (TMR) — an alliance comprising Friends of Mt. Rubidoux, Mission Inn Foundation and Riverside Land Conservancy — won the April 11th public auction held in front of Riverside…
For nearly 85 years, national retail giant Sears has operated a “brick & mortar” store at three different locations in Riverside, with almost 50 of those years spent at its current Arlington Avenue location. However, the first two Sears stores were both located downtown, with the original store opening in February 1929 on the northwest…
As most residents of Riverside (and the region) are aware, a controversy developed late last year over the Serra Cross atop Mount Rubidoux. Last August, Americans United for Separation of Church and State sent a letter questioning the constitutionality of the cross on account it was a religious symbol on public land. (Mount Rubidoux was…
