Let us count the ways! With Valentine’s Day this week, we thought it would be fun to highlight all of the things we love about the quality of life we enjoy in Riverside.   We’ll be adding a new story each day for the next several days on this Blog Riverside! page.  The countdown starts today! We could not decide on our absolute FAVORITE thing about Riverside, so these are in no particular order.  (Although, you all know we love the Arts!)

Our First Love is Riverside’s Rich History

Riverside’s Fox Theater is one of our City’s finest historic landmarks.

Riverside has a long history – for California. More importantly, the people of Riverside have a willingness to preserve history. Native cultures, early Hispanic settlements, frontier immigrants from the Midwest and east as well as immigrants from Europe, China and Japan add to the fabric of Riverside.

The Gage and Riverside Canals were instrumental in setting our agricultural importance.  The first section of the Gage Canal was constructed in 1885 at the peak of our Citrus Industry boom.  Without the resources the Gage Canal offers our City, we would not be where we are today.  The City’s citrus boom would have been bust.

The Gage Canal Company building on Duffrin Ave.

Frank Miller, builder of, and keeper of, the Mission Inn, was a leader who invested in our infrastructure (canals and parks) and the notion of international relations. He championed the rights of minorities and immigrants.  His leadership still resonates today as the City fosters relationships with eight sister cities throughout the world.

The Municipal Auditorium was just given a facelift & a retrofit. This magnificent building was first built as a Veteran Memorial.

Riverside has been forward thinking regarding preserving the historic architecture as well as our agricultural history. Travel along Magnolia Avenue or Victoria Avenue and enjoy the changing seasons – the blossoming trees and roses.

The Julia Morgan designed YWCA is now home to our Riverside Art Museum.

Visit the Mission Inn, Heritage House, the Riverside Metropolitan Museum, the Harada House, the Riverside Art Museum or the Municipal Auditorium. These are only a few of the notable historic landmarks which have been preserved in Riverside.

The line of palm trees, and blooming roses along Victoria Avenue is loved by hikers, bikers, and commuters throughout the city.

We are proud of our city and the historic heritage that has been preserved here.  The rich history, and pride in our city’s historic roots is one of the things that we LOVE about RIVERSIDE.