Museum of Riverside

Programs and Events 

COVID 19: The City of Riverside currently requires all members of the public to wear a mask indoors at city facilities and outdoors on city property when social distancing is not possible, and REGARDLESS of vaccination status. These rules are subject to change.


Upcoming Events at Main Museum (3580 Mission Inn Ave., Riverside, CA 92501) 
                 

First Sundays 2021-2022 |  First Sundays will be back on our front steps staring in October 2021! All First Sunday events are from 1-4 p.m. and free of charge.

Oct. 3 – Indigenous People’s Day – Welcome back!! Special guest Jacque Nunez (Tongva) will share stories about the first people to live in Southern California. We’ll learn about Native Californian games and make one to take home!

Nov. 7 – Poppies! – Did you know November is the best month to plant in Southern California? One seed that really likes the fall is the state wildflower, the California Poppy. Take home seeds to try in your garden. Poppies are the symbol of Remembrance Day, another name for Veterans Day. Make a special poppy badge to remember the veterans who have served our country.

Dec. 5 – Lino-What? Linocut! – Local linocut artist Jesus Cruz will demonstrate his special kind of art. Learn his process of carving designs, make a holiday card with one of his original designs, and create your own stamp to make creations over and over again!

Jan. 2 – Hibernation – Wake up, sleepy heads!! Why do animals hibernate? Did you know some animals in Riverside estivate? That means they “sleep” through the summer heat! Come learn about these winter and summer sleepers!

Feb. 6 – Game On! – What if you didn’t have video games? What would you play? Learn about games children have played in the past and around the world. Learn the secrets of good game design and create your own boardgame. Giant Jenga, anyone?

Mar. 6 – Reptile Round-Up! – Join Riverside's own Reptile Joe who will bring some of this favorite snakes and lizards to share and talk about how these creatures adapt to their environments. Create youw own scale pattern with paints and upcycled bubble wrap for a paper snake or lizard to take home.

Apr. 3 – Captain Carl and His Mobile Tidepool – Be here for the return of Captain Carl and his amazing sea creatures! You'll be able to hold a starfish, squeeze a sea squirt, and touch an urchin as we bring a bit of the shore to Riverside. Learn about how you can reduce your use of plastics and make a sustainability pledge to help keep our oceans clean!

May 1 – Koinobori, Children's Day – May 5th is Kodomo no Hi, or Children's Day, in Japan! On this day, once known as Boys' Day, families fly carp banners called koinobori to represent all the members of the family. We’ll celebrate this holiday by making our own koinobori inspired by the art of Miné Okubo who was born and raised in Riverside.

Upcoming Events at Heritage House (8193 Magnolia Ave., Riverside, CA 92504)

Friday, Sept. 10, 2021
Heritage House Reopens | Book Your Tour Now!
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, reservations via Eventbrite are required.
To make a reservation, please visit: Eventbrite.

Friday, Sept. 10 – Sunday, Nov. 21
Exhibition: Catharine’s Closet  | Book Your Tour Now!
Join us for the re-opening of Heritage House and a special exhibition from the Museum’s permanent collection, called Catharine’s Closet. The exhibition highlight fashions current during the lifetime of Catharine Bettner (1845-1928). Due to COVID-19 restrictions, reservations via Eventbrite are required.

In the 1890s, Bettner oversaw the design and building of what is now known as Heritage House, a richly furnished reimagining of a Riverside citrus magnate’s home environment. During Bettner’s life, women’s fashions changed dramatically. Catharine’s Closet will offer examples spanning seven decades of the types of garments similar to those Bettner may have worn. From fashionable dress in the 1860s to the attention-getting bustle of the 1870s to the beaded splendor of the 1920s, these beautiful garments will be on exhibit in different rooms throughout Heritage House.

Sunday, Sept. 12
Catharine's Closet Presentation and Family Activities | Register Now!
1:30 p.m. Costume historian Philip Livoni will exhibit additional examples of vintage garments from his own collection and speak about changing fashions. Family activities will follow beginning at 3:00 p.m. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, reservations via Eventbrite are required.

Two weekends: Sept. 17-19 and Sept. 24-26
“Time Warp Weekends” | Book Your Tour Now!
Visitors are encouraged to dress from any time period or as their favorite historic person (Queen Victoria, Frederick Douglass, Nikola Tesla, Eliza Tibbets, or any favorite you may have).  To protect fragile furnishings in Heritage House, no hoop skirts will be permitted inside the house. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, reservations via Eventbrite are required.

Tuesday, Sept. 21, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Moon Festival | Register Now!
Celebrate Asian culture under a full moon! Moon festivals are celebrated throughout Asia with moon cakes, lanterns, and gratitude for friends and family. The festivals originated with the ancient tradition of honoring the moon in autumn for harvest. The Moon Festival at Heritage House honors the importance of Chinese Americans in building the citrus empire in Riverside's early history as a city. Join us for an evening of storytelling by Barbara Wong, performances by Tiger Crane Lion Dance Troupe, and a fun lantern craft for all ages. Moon Cakes and tea will be available for purchase. Hope to see you there! Event is free! Due to COVID-19 restrictions, reservations via Eventbrite are required.