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Founded in 1870 by John North and a group of Easterners who wished
to establish a colony dedicated to furthering education and culture,
Riverside was built on land that was once a Spanish rancho. Investors
from England and Canada transplanted traditions and activities adopted
by prosperous citizens: the first golf course and polo field in Southern
California were built in Riverside. |
| The first orange trees were planted in 1871, but the citrus industry
in Riverside began two years later when Eliza Tibbets
received two Brazilian navel orange trees sent to her by a friend
at the Department of Agriculture in Washington. The trees thrived
in the Southern California climate and the navel orange industry
grew rapidly. |
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Within a few years, the successful cultivation of the newly discovered
navel orange led to a California Gold Rush of a different kind: the
establishment of the citrus industry, which is commemorated in the
landscapes and exhibits of the California Citrus State Historic Park and the restored packing houses
in the Downtown's Marketplace district. By 1882, there were more
more than half a million citrus trees in California, almost half
of which were in Riverside. The development of refrigerated railroad
cars and innovative irrigation systems established Riverside as the
wealthiest city per capita by 1895. |
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As the city prospered, a small guest hotel designed in the popular
Mission Revival style grew to become the world famous Mission Inn, favored by presidents,
royalty and movie stars. Postcards of lush orange groves, swimming
pools. and magnificent homes have attracted vacationers and entrepreneurs
throughout the years. Many relocated to the warm, dry climate for
reasons of health and to escape Eastern winters. Victoria Avenue
with its landmark homes serves as a reminder of European investors
who settled here. |
| Riverside's citizens are proud of the city's unique character born
from a tradition of careful planning, from its carefully laid out
historic Mile Square to its 1924 Civic Center designed by the same
planner responsible for San Francisco's, Charles Cheney. Through
the City's Office of Historic Preservation, it is committed to preserving
the past as a firm foundation for the future. Over 100 City Landmarks,
20 National Register Sites and 2 National Landmarks have been designated
by the City Council, all offering enjoyment and education to city
residents and visitors. |
| Riverside is fortunate to have a wealth
of sites and buildings that
provide a link to the city's past and a strong sense of place. This
is the result of the hard work and careful planning of the city's
Historic Preservation Program. Created by the City Council in 1969,
it identifies and advances the preservation of Riverside's historic
neighborhoods, and civic and commercial resources. |
| Examples include the Mission Inn, the Chinatown site,
the National Packing House, Citrus Experiment Station and engineering
feats like the Gage Canal. Many of these landmarks are found in the
Downtown's Mission Inn Historic District. California's Mission Revival
style, born in Riverside, can be seen throughout the City, most notably
in the Mission Inn, the Municipal Auditorium, First Church of Christ
Scientist, and the Fox Theater, home of the Riverside Film Festival. |
