Riverside past and present
In 1870, John North and a group of Easterners set out to establish a colony they could dedicate to furthering education and culture. What they found was land once belonging to a Spanish rancho along side the Santa Anna River. From then on, that land became known as Riverside.
Riverside has provided a list of firsts for Southern California since its beginnings. Investors from Canada and England incorporated traditions and activities resulting in the first golf course and polo field being built in the area. But, perhaps the most important event was in 1871 when the first orange trees were planted foreshadowing the blossoming wealth that was soon to come.
Eliza Tibbets- an early American settler among the founders of Riverside, CA
In 1873, Eliza Tibbets received two Brazilian navel orange trees from a friend working for the Department of Agriculture in Washington. Due to the climate in Southern California, the trees flourished and the citrus industry took off at rapid speed.
“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.” – Riverside, CA Gov
Picture of Frank Augustus Miller
As the city grew, so did the amount of visitors. Captain Christopher Columbus Miller, Riverside resident as 1874, built what was first known as the Glenwood Tavern to capitalize on the fortune. Years later Christopher’s son, Frank Miller whom had a lasting passion for arts and culture, took over the tavern and expanded it into what is now known as The Mission Inn Hotel and Spa.
The Mission Inn Hotel and Spa aerial view
“Over the years he [Frank Miller] embellished and expanded it into a unique resort known all over the world. It has played host to numerous movie stars, musicians and heads of state. Ronald and Nancy Reagan honeymooned there, and Richard and Pat Nixon were married on its grounds. Teddy Roosevelt planted a tree in its courtyard, and a special chair, built for President William Howard Taft when he visited, is still in the Inn’s collection.” – Riverside, CA Gov
Downtown Riverside, California
Today, Riverside is known as The City of Arts and Innovation due to the dedication those first settlers put into their vision and the continued progress from everyone then on. In the midst of all the hustle and bustle in this city, cultures from all around the world feel welcomed and at home. When you take a step back, you will come to realize that it’s more than just a city here- it’s a community.