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Historic Landmarks in Riverside

Mission Inn (3649 Mission Inn Avenue) Owner Frank A. Miller’s Mission Inn epitomized his role as Riverside’s leading exponent of the Mission Revival style. Built between 1902 and 1932, the Inn’s architects included Arthur S. Benton, Myron Hunt and G. Stanley Wilson. The hotel originated on the site in 1876 as the home of Miller’s parents. Public tours of the Mission Inn are provided four times daily, Monday through Friday, by the trained docents of the Mission Inn Foundation. On weekends, the tours depart every half hour. The walking tour takes 75 minutes and begins at the Mission Inn Museum. Tour times and route are subject to availability. For reservations, call the Mission Inn Foundation (909-781-8241) or the Mission Inn Museum (909-788-9556).

Riverside County Courthouse (3050 Main Street) Designed by Franklin P. Burnham in the style of beaux-arts Classicism to duplicate the facade of the 1900 Paris Exposition's Grand Palace of Fine Arts. , the courthouse was completed in 1903. Contractor F. O. Engstrom used brick and concrete for this building, which features Ionic columns and classic sculpture.

Unitarian-Universalist Church (3525 Mission Inn Avenue) Architect A, C, Willard designed this 1891 Norman Gothic Revival style church building; which was constructed of Arizona sandstone in medieval English parish church style, a form of Gothic Revival. Reverend George H. Deere founded Riverside’s first Universalist congregation in 1881. Sunday morning services are enhanced by the picturesque restored interior lit by detailed stained glass windows.

Magnolia United Presbyterian Church (7200 Magnolia Avenue) Architect A. W. Boggs designed and built the Gothic Revival church in 1881. It is the oldest church building in the city of Riverside.

Heritage House (Bettner- McDavid House) (8193 Magnolia Avenue) This Queen Anne style house was designed by John A. Walls for Mrs. James A. Bettner, widow of an early citrus pioneer. Completed in 1891, it was purchased by the Riverside Museum Associates in 1969 and now operates as a historic house museum. Highlights include the staircase, gas lamps, and turn-of-the-century decor. Call for tour hours. Free admission, donation suggested. (909) 689-1333.

First Congregational Church (3755 Lemon Street) Designed by well-known architect Myron Hunt, and built by the Cresmer Manufacturing Company. This concrete building is in the Spanish Colonial Revival style with Churrigueresque elements. The first services were held on December 24, 1913.

First Church of Christ, Scientist (3606 Lemon Street) Designed by architect Arthur S. Benton and completed in 1901, this church is Riverside’s oldest surviving example of mission Revival style architecture. It is also the church that introduced Christian Science to Southern California.

Victoria Avenue (from Myrtle Avenue, southwest seven miles to Boundary Lane) One of California's great historic avenues, lined with palms, eucalyptus and old fashioned rose bushes. This landscape pattern dates from 1892 and has been a local showplace ever since. Bicycle paths run alongside this distinctive 7 mile divided avenue bordered by orange groves. This landscaped avenue was developed to connect the 1890 Arlington Heights subdivision to downtown. Grading was completed in 1892. Landscape architect Franz P. Hosp supervised the original planting; the avenue now includes over 90 species of trees as well as numerous shrubs.

Union Pacific Depot (3751 Vine Street) This Mission Revival style depot was built in 1904 by the San Pedro, Los Angeles, and Salt Lake Railroad, which became part of the Union Pacific in 1921. Passenger service was discontinued in 1971.

Bandshell at Fairmount Park (Market Street at Fairmount Blvd) The original bandshell was designed by Arthur S. Benton and constructed in 1920 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the founding of Riverside’s Military Band. It was destroyed in a fire in 1992 and rebuilt in 1995.

Benedict Castle (5445 Chicago Avenue) this Spanishstyle castle was designed by H.L.A. Jekel in the Spanish-Moorish style and built in two stages, 1922-1931. It is now headquarters for the Teen Challenge Program, For further information, call (909) 683-4241.

Buena Vista Drive & Park Principal entrance to Riverside from the west prior to the opening of the Pomona Freeway. The rustic-looking 1931 bridge of locally quarried granite is a favorite path for walkers, joggers, bicyclists, and the occasional slow-moving automobile. Landmark status includes Raincross lamp standards and balustrades, St. Francis fountain and waterfall, stone bridge and towers of former river bridge.

First Congregational Church (3504 Mission Inn Avenue at Lemon) Completed in 1913 as the third home of the city's first church congregation, the building was designed by architect Myron Hunt in Spanish Renaissance Revival style with Churrigueresque tower and details. The carillon was installed in the bell tower in 1989.

Fox Theater (3801 Mission Inn Avenue at Market) Opened in 1929, the Spanish Colonial Revival style theater served the community as a combination cinema/vaudeville house and attracted well-known performers including Bing Crosby and Judy Garland. Also popular as a location for motion picture previews, the theater was the site of the first public screening of "Gone with the Wind" in 1939. This grand old theater is now home to the Riverside Film Festival.

Parent Navel Orange Tree (Located on Magnolia at Arlington Avenue) One of two received from Brazil via Washington, D.C. about 1875. From them the premium table variety was propagated worldwide. The Parent Navel Orange Tree still bears fruit.

California Citrus State Historic Park: 780-6222
9400 Dufferin Avenue