Our tour regulars have been asking us for more all-day, immersive Southern California adventures, and it is our pleasure to oblige!
Join us on Saturday, May 9 for a deep dive into the architectural and cultural history of Riverside, California, scheduled to coincide with the 3rd annual Doors Open event, a city-wide celebration of historic architecture and heritage, when the community is invited to tour architectural landmarks not usually open to the public. Doors Open programs began three decades ago in France and have spread across the world, with Riverside the only California participant. We think that’s something worth celebrating!
Riverside grew up in the 19th century with the national rail system, earning citrus fortunes as box cars churned east with their golden cargo. Frank Miller made hospitality history, and popularized the Mission Revival style with his sprawling Mission Inn compound. In the mid-century, hometown architect Clinton Marr pioneered a sensitive redevelopment philosophy that harmoniously brought state-of-the-art new structures into the historic heart of town, while respecting and sometimes adding to beloved local landmarks. The result is a charming small town that thinks big when it comes to historic preservation, home to structures of local and national significance that are also a treasured part of the lived experience.
Although the locations for Riverside Doors Open have not yet been finalized, you can count on Esotouric to curate visits to a fascinating mix of architecturally distinguished commercial, civic and spiritual landmarks, with some special surprises that you’ll only get when you explore with our group. We’ll wrap up the day’s touring with a visit to Evergreen Cemetery, where members of its non-profit preservation board will walk us through the Egyptian Revival mausoleum and introduce us to notable early Riverside characters who make their forever home in the historic burial ground.
Included in the ticket price is a three-course Italian lunch (with vegan and vegetarian options) at The Old Spaghetti Factory, located in the antique-filled National Register Mission Revival-style Sutherland Fruit Company Packinghouse (1912).
We look forward to sharing the Architectural Gems of Riverside with you!