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Heritage House

4.8 (36 reviews)
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Updated 3 months ago

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Recommended Reviews - Heritage House

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My favorite feature of this house
Shawna C.

Great tour. Loved the moulding and beautiful woodwork. Lovely Chinese art and collector's pieces. Unique 1890s features and collectors pieces. Fascinating story of the original owner and her family, and society at that time. The grounds were very well kept and serene. Very nice gift shop. Knowledgeable docent volunteer on a beautiful Superbowl Sunday. Glad we made the impromptu decision to travel to see this gem in the middle of modern neighborhood.

I just had to visit again during the Victorian Christmas Open House event! Past the entrance of the gate, there was a gentleman handing out orange wedges. A beautifully dressed docent was at the front porch greeting each visitor. There was a short line for the tour of the first floor of the house. Each fireplace was adorned with garland. There was a docent, in Victorian attire, in each room. Onsite was live holiday music! Father Christmas was strolling the grounds! Behind the Victorian house, hot cider and cookies were being distributed. In addition to the gift shop (small and narrow), there was a booth outside with merch. There was also table setup with crafts (gift wrapping and orange decorations).

Front exterior of the Heritage House.
Amy C.

Sunday, May 5, 2024: My dear friend Nancy had kindly invited me to Queen Victoria's Tea at the Heritage House in Riverside, where she volunteered as a docent for years. All the tables were set beautifully. We sat at a table with some of the sweetest & friendliest women. Our server was Kelly and she was the absolute best! All the food served was delectable & presented in a quaint fashion! The host, who was in period dress, explained the history of this beautiful Victorian house in Riverside and the celebration of the Queen tea. We had so much fun as we took in the ambiance and the amazing weather! So grateful to have had this experience and can't wait to be invited again!

Meghan W.

I've never heard of Heritage House. I saw that they had an open house and I had to swing by on a Sunday afternoon. This is a yearly event with hundred of visitors. It was very well done. The Riverside museum had orange tasting, free cider, free cookies, kids art and a gift shop. They allowed visitors to go through the bottom part of the house for 5 minutes. Even though it was rushed, I felt it was very nicely done. They say on weekends it's 11/2 hour tour of upstairs and downstairs. I think it would be too much for me, 5 minutes was perfect!

Aaron W.

We went to the Christmas open house tour of the Heritage House in Riverside. It was great. There were refreshments, live music, samples of different oranges, and a short "teaser" tour of the house. It is a must see.

Tina I.

We were pleasantly surprised on what a lovely museum this is. So much to learn and be wow-ed by. Staff of volunteers are friendly and are proud of the house. They know so much! They ask for a $5 donation for a 45 minute tour which is nothing compared to what it takes to upkeep this house. They also do a lot of fun community events. It's worth a visit!

Heritage House
Jennifer J.

Beautifully preserved home with knowledgeable docents. The home itself is incredibly well preserved & furnished with authentic (But not the original) furnishings to the period. The docents are very well informed & enthusiastic to share the history of both the home & traditions of the period. The home is a look- don't touch (to be expected) but the rooms are not corded off so you're able & encouraged to walk about and see/experience it's beauty to an entirety that is a rare opportunity. I ordered a ticket on Eventbrite as the site informed was required, but it wasn't asked for. Admission is free, a donation is recommended (bring cash). Keep in mind the delightful docents are volunteering their labor! If you like watching things like house hunters or enjoy learning about historical living you should go!

Outside
Marisa T.

Beautiful Queen Anne style home that's been well preserved. We had a nice tour by one of the volunteers today. They don't mind you taking photos inside. You cannot sit or lean on anything. The house was hot, especially upstairs. Just be aware of that when coming. Masks must be worn inside regardless of vaccination status.

Michael Bosée , long tIme Riverside resident, great docent at Mission Hotel as well as at Heritage House, in sartorial Victorian ensemble.
Gary I.

Heritage House was built during 1891-92 for independent, strong willed Mrs. Catherine Bettner, widow of an early citrus pioneer and engineer back East who moved to Riverside at the suggestion of his doctor due to his failing health. It was designed & built after the death of her husband by architect John A. Walls of the Los Angeles firm of Morgan & Walls. This elegant, two-story, 4,000 square foot home is situated on Magnolia Avenue, a prominent thoroughfare at the time of the house's construction. Heritage House is restored to reflect the design and lifestyle of wealthy turn-of-the-century Riverside. Primarily Queen Anne in design, it includes Moorish, Georgian, & Chinese elements. We lucked out accidently when we fell into an old fashioned ice cream social à la 1890's. Many of the volunteers wore turn of the 20th century garb which was in recognition to the Victorian décor & architecture. It was like being time warped in a Twilight Zone TV episode. To make it even more surreal, there were American colonial "minutemen" with tricorn hats, muskets, and other 18th century gear for an interesting mishmash of history. Only the first floor of Heritage House was open to the public. The knowledgeable, informative docents wore sartorial dress appropriate for the rather formal setting in the parlour, dining & drawing rooms. I recognized one docent in the parlour as Michael Bosée who is a native and long time resident of Riverside and does an outstanding performance leading the tour of the Mission Inn Hotel in downtown Riverside. Family oriented fun where entertainment is geared to young & old alIke. The volunteers all were smiles and welcome at this festive event. 4+ Yelp stars. PS Not open during the torrid summer months. Refer to website below: https://www.riversideca.gov/museum/heritagehouse/default.asp

Master bedroom
Janna F.

The beautiful Queen Anne style home designed by architect John A. Walls of the Los Angeles firm Morgan and Walls in 1891 for Catherine Bettner whom was a widow of Mr. James Bettner. Mrs Bettner followed proper Victorian etiquette right down to making sure her ankles did not show in her full sized mirror in the master bedroom. She also wasn't very pleased after the home was built once she found out the home was not equipped with a servants staircase. She took the builders to court and they came to the agreement that she had to pay 50% of the cost of the servants staircase. After the servants staircase was finally built and finished she still wasn't pleased because the stairs covered a small portion of the window in the kitchens pantry. Loved all the details in the furnishings of the house and the pieces that were owned by Mrs. Bettner. Tons of great history with tour of home. Definitely recommend! Follow their Facebook page to see upcoming events.

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2 years ago

Absolutely gorgeous place to visit and photograph. Wonderful and knowledgeable docents and people around

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12 years ago

Hoped to check this piece of history out but just missed it! Hours are Friday, Saturday & Sunday 12-3:30pm. We will be back!

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Review Highlights - Heritage House

Mrs Bettner followed proper Victorian etiquette right down to making sure her ankles did not show in her full sized mirror in the master bedroom.

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The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art and Culture

The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art and Culture

4.7
(123 reviews)
4.4 mi

The art work in this museum is unbelievably amazing! I really admire the hard work these talented…read moreartists really put into their career. Alexa's work was truly fantastic and watching her talent has inspired me to keep working towards my dreams when I nearly gave up so many times on life and she's proven to me and I know to everyone else that the 'impossible' is always 'possible.' I've always wanted to get the chance to meet her because I admire her work so much and want to make her happy. I'm really impressed with her and everyone's passion in the arts. The art in the museum is an inspiration and I value the work here so much. Also special thanks to the ladies at the front desk for being so kind and friendly and I really admire the amazing service they gave me. I definitely recommend this museum to anyone and wouldn't mind coming back again for a visit.

We got in for free for being Bank of America members. We love the diverse collection and all that…read moreChicano art. The collections were nice but all in all, there is not a ton of things to see. Once you are done with the downstairs, there's not much on the upstairs except for an art center and a few other minor things from his collections. I wish they would expand it at some point, or if there was some sort of discount or benefit for someone else who doesn't bank with Bank of America. Something that keeps the admission price lower.

Photos
Park Ave, Riverside
Park Ave, Riverside
Retablo in response to the Uvalde shooting.
Retablo in response to the Uvalde shooting.
Cheech sculpture greets the visitors

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Cheech sculpture greets the visitors
Riverside Art Museum

Riverside Art Museum

3.9
(100 reviews)
4.4 mi

I've been to the RAM many times and it's a small art museum in Downtown Riverside. The Cheech…read moreMuseum is one stop light up and a larger museum. If you purchase a ticket to the Cheech, the RAM is included in your ticket price, or if you start at the RAM, the Cheech will be included that day. I came to the RAM this time around, specifically, for the 60 Miles East exhibit. This exhibit ends on 4/12, so make sure to swing by before then if you want to catch it. The exhibit contained many flyers, pictures, art, and even ticket stubs that brought me back to my childhood. It was in a clean and open space that made the experience enjoyable. This exhibit takes up only one room and there are other spaces to check out for additional art exhibits. I did notice less art, this time around, than in previous visits and many open spaces/walls were not taken up. Overall, I'm glad I got to enjoy this exhibit, before it ends, and it really highlights the Inland Empire's music scene as an important piece of diverse culture. Enjoy!

I recently visited the Riverside Art Museum and really enjoyed the experience. The museum is on the…read moresmaller side, but the collection felt thoughtfully curated and never overwhelming. What stood out just as much as the artwork was the building itself, which is beautiful and full of character. I especially loved the courtyard, which provided a peaceful space to slow down and take everything in. The gift shop was also excellent, with a great selection of unique items that felt carefully chosen rather than generic museum souvenirs. Between the art, architecture, and atmosphere, it was a wonderful way to spend an afternoon appreciating creativity in a truly beautiful setting.

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Bernard Hoyes exhibit
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Wedding Cake
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Riverside Art Museum

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Jurupa Mountains Discovery Center

Jurupa Mountains Discovery Center

4.3
(165 reviews)
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FINALLY had the chance to visit the Jurupa Mountains Discover Center! I always see the iconic…read moremammoth statue passing by on the freeway and finally got to visit. His name is Eddy and he's a Columbian mammoth. Crazy cool that it's a life sized replica too. At the entrance, you pay for parking and it's $10. PRO-TIP: If you spend $40 at the gift shop, the $10 counts towards it and altogether it's actually only $30, which is great if you're buying a lot of goods there to support OR if you're a fossil and/or gem/mineral enthusiast since they have a LOT of that there, which is pretty neat. There's 2 places you can park. One near the garden nursery where you can purchase plants or near the main parking where the gift shop is. The Critter Corner is in the gift shop where you can see lots of herps and aquatic critters as well. The volunteers are super informative and can answer all your questions about the critters they have there. Love that they have name tags and info about where they're from and information about the species. Love the monkey skink, emerald tree skinks, Argentinian tegu, and of course, the beardies. Gift shop also has a great variety of affordable gifts ranging from toys, to small knick-knacks, decor, gem stones and minerals of all varieties and displays (loose, as earrings or necklaces, carved, etc.), locally sourced honey, actual fossils (there's a section where you're not allowed if you're under 16 without a parent or guardian), books, stickers, and much much more. While we were there, there was also a fun little S.T.E.A.M. corner where you can work on artwork you can take home or on some days I think there's science activities there too. The mural on the walls are also quite impressive too. Great for photos and a nice personal touch. I recommend getting the $1 grab bag! Kids love gacha/blind boxes nowadays and mine had 2 small fossils, a sticker, and 2 mineral stones. Pretty nice and super affordable. There's a trail that goes through a cactus garden with lots of dinosaur sculptures, done by the local boy scouts which is pretty neat. It's $9 if you would like to go rock collecting. You get to meet all the dinos during this expedition as well. It's 12 rocks, minerals, or fossils which isn't bad. They also have guided tours that start at the gift shop, but my boyfriend and I were just there to free roam, which can kill a couple hours too depending on how in depth you are in reading and looking at everything. They also have a separate Museum of Discovery with lots of fossil specimens and models ranging from dinosaurs, prehistoric creatures (aquatic, mammals, reptiles, etc.), indigenous/Native American artifacts and artwork (local artwork too), minerals and other geological structures. There's taxidermy on the wall too. Lots to look at. Will definitely come back in the future. Super affordable way to learn and spend some time.

My family came here today with our charter school for a field trip. We had the absolute best guide,…read moreAlexis. She truly made our day so special. She was so enthusiastic about her job, and she really got the kids excited about everything. All of the children thoroughly enjoyed Learning about rocks, hiking up to the dinosaurs, and all that this center has to offer. We will definitely be going back on the weekends when they are open to the public so we can do more exploring. Again, we highly recommend Alexis as your tour guide because she was so sweet and kind and taught the children so much. Thank you for making our trip so special.

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Dino figures
Dino figures
Jurupa Mountains Discovery Center
Jurupa Mountains Discovery Center

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Heritage House - museums - Updated June 2026

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