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    Mission Inn Museum

    4.0 (54 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 7:00 pm
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    Mission Inn Museum Photos

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    Stewart L.

    The Mission Inn Museum is run by the Mission Inn Foundation, a non-profit organization founded in 1976 to help restore and preserve the then decrepit Mission Inn. It is a separate entity from the hotel itself, which has been owned since 1992 by Duane and Kelly Roberts. The hotel first opened in 1876 as the Glenwood Hotel by Christopher Columbus Miller, but it was his son Frank Miller who greatly expanded the hotel, then called the Glenwood Mission Inn, which eventually added 3 wings between 1903 and 1931, all done by different architects, contributing to the many different styles of the hotel, all under the Mission Revival umbrella. The docent-led tours are an essential way to learn about the Inn's history, plus provide access to parts of the hotel not always open to the public. I was fortunate to tour on a day when no events were planned, so we were able to see rooms sometimes closed for weddings and private events/parties/meetings/banquets, etc. The one caveat for tours is that photos are not allowed. However, since I was staying at the hotel, I did see at least one tour later on where the docent had a blind eye to photo-taking. Also, it seems all docents are accompanied by another docent on the tour who is the key-holder and runs ahead or stays behind to open/close/lock rooms as they are entered and exited. The rooms were saw that are sometimes inaccessible/locked were the Grand Parisian Ballroom, the Spanish Art Gallery, the Galleria, Ho-O-Kan and the Oriental Courtyard, St. Cecelia Chapel and St. Francis of Assisi Chapel. The Inn is a warren of corridors, stairways and levels, so it is very easy to get confused as to your whereabouts. We also saw the entrance to the "hotel room where macaws Napoleon and Josephine stay when not in their cage at the Inn's entrance. Overall an essential experience to learn about this fascinating Inn. I would consider taking more than one tour, since docents have such a wealth of knowledge and facts that tours surely are not exactly the same.

    Mission Tower
    Ted E.

    We had an amazing tour of the center of downtown Riverside by our docent , Nancy. Her description of the history of Riverside and the Spanish Mission Revival architecture that dominates city center was fascinating and informative. I came away with a better appreciation of all the buildings that I would pass without any previous thought of their history and origin. Of particular note is the mission tower that looks very similar to the mission tower in Balboa Park in San Diego,, our hometown. which Nancy kindly pointed out. Her enthusiasm was endearing. Thank you for a wonderful tour.

    Peter T.

    We took the tour hosted by Edward around downtown Riverside. This tour took about an hour and covered much of the historic parts of downtown. Edward was a wealth of knowledge. He made the tour an interesting and fun adventure. With a start of 4:00pm we beat the hordes of people that would later take over downtown. The tour was defiantly worth the price and a good way to start your festival of lights evening.

    Downtown tour a MUST! I learned so much on this walking tour! I didn't know that the Mission Inn isn't one of the California Missions. The architecture of Mission Inn is in the style of the California Missions, but it is a historic hotel. The docent was knowledgeable and had a lot of information about the downtown buildings and knew the difference of architectural styles. It was my first time hearing about Brutalist architecture! Be prepared with comfortable walking shoes.

    Janelle F.

    I hate to do it, but I left a bit meh here. It wasn't the worst, but not the best either. The museum itself felt more like a gift shop to me. So many items for purchase. Souvenirs galore. While they did have some really cool items on display I left fast and bored. They do have some tours for purchase that can get you into the Inn, but no photography is allowed on the tour. I did not go in the tour so I can't review that part, but I myself was in and out of the museum in under 20 minutes. I was greeted on entry, but other than that the employees just sat and talked amongst themselves.

    Display
    Debra R.

    My husband and I have visited this museum and gift shop many times, and taken their fascinating walking tour of the Mission Inn hotel. The exhibits are enlightening, plus I bought a beautiful pint glass, stickers, and etched highball glass at a reasonable price in the gift shop. I loved the story about the elf now on display that was stolen in the 40's and returned to the museum in 2012 after the thief's death as required in his will. Great bits of Americana and very entertaining, I hope it survives its lease dispute with the Mission Inn. It is an integral part of the Mission Inn experience.

    Joyce G.

    After our stay at the Mission Inn, we made sure to check out this museum for souvenirs. It's free to enter and there are some old artifacts and many interesting pictures. It doesn't take long to check out this place. There's a neat looking model of the Mission Inn that you should check out as well. Thankfully, they had a magnet that I wanted to purchase. BTW, this is also the place where you can purchase tickets for the tour of the Mission Inn. You also meet here for the tour.

    Resembling the Great Buddha of Kamakura, Japan at Ho-o-kan, Phoenix Mansion
    Gary I.

    We took the 4pm 75 minute tour of the Mission Inn during the Festival of Lights that runs from November 23rd to January 6 that marks epiphany. Since it just begins to get dark around 5pm, be aware that the lights are not at their full glory while on tour. Also the tour doesn't include the walkway that features lighted displays on the grounds of the hotel so at the end of the tour we had to get in a separate long time. If local history is interesting to you, this tour has nuggets of information about the founders & founding of this Riverside institution, the famous who have stayed here, architectural styles & features, etc. Those bored by history and so are doomed to make the same mistakes over & over again, stay away from this tour since you'll only be complaining. Michael Bosée is a native and long time resident of Riverside, who is a volunteer docent, and has researched deeply into the history & lore of Mission Inn w/ a fine toothed comb. Not only is he knowledgeable, but he brings this hotel's stories back to life in an amusing, avuncular manner. You can tell he takes great civic pride in the Inn in particular and the city of Riverside in general. 75 minutes went by quickly. Some fascinating sites: Surprisingly in the back, there is a courtyard dedicated to a mishmash of Sino Japanese architectural style seen through an American filter. It's similar in feel to Indo-Saracenic Royal Pavilion with its Long Gallery full of faux chinoiserie in Brighton, England. Ho-o-kan is Japanese for Phoenix Mansion, a hall featuring a seated Buddha in lotus position that looks similar to the Great Buddha in Kamakura, Japan. All this was inspired on a trip to the Orient by the founder Frank Miller. We could only peek at the outside of the elaborate Saint Francis of Assisi Chapel since a wedding was taking place. Rotunda was a large cylindrical shaft in the building which serves as an ornate opening for light & air. Too many other places to mention, but I found this tour worthwhile. 4pm tour during Festival of Lights: $20 Other tours during F of L: $18 All other times: $13 Presently no online reservations. Call Mission Inn Museum during office hours at (951) 788-9556. Credit cards are accepted. For more detailed tour information: https://missioninnmuseum.org/visit/take-tour/

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    Very nice and friendly. Unfortunately I didn't have the time to do the tour. I hope to next time.

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    Page 1 of 2

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    Review Highlights - Mission Inn Museum

    Rubidoux walking tour conducted by several members of the Mission Inn Foundation was excellent!

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    Rubel Castle

    Rubel Castle

    4.8(58 reviews)
    29.9 mi

    I cannot say enough wonderful things about our experience here at Rubel Castle. Our host, guide,…read moreand local "Rubelligent" volunteer, Ms. Kathleen had all the intel about this historical property. She was so knowledgeable and helped set the stage for us to slip into a forgotten era and get a glimpse of how imagination met inventiveness with a DIY charm. ~ A LITTLE BACKSTORY FOR YOU ~ It's not pronounced Rubel as Barney from Flintstones. Rather, it's like Target is to Targét when we are trying to be fancy. So that's Rubel as in "Roo-bell." Unlike modern-day construction, Rubel Castle wasn't built overnight. It was made of collected recyclables and construction rubble that spanned many decades and took several friends and volunteers to build it. For Michael, however, the lifetime inspiration was first sparked at the age of 9. His love for canons was where it started and the rest is history you can hear about on the tour. But don't just show up like we did randomly one day. To book, visit RubelTours.org and make a reservation. ~ OUR TOUR EXPERIENCE ~ It's as if Michael Rubel, the creator and mastermind of this enchanted dominion had intended it to be--magical. Built in the castle period of wood and tin, every corner captured our interests, from antique cars to the 1890's Seth Thomas Tower Clock with a unique backstory (and only six in existence today). There were old vending machines, tools, trinkets, and machinery that time had long forgotten. Did I mention there was a drawbridge? Yes, and a dungeon too. I was just waiting for a dragon to come swoop down on us next. Walk in the footsteps of famous visitors like Alfred Hitchcock, Dwight Eisenhower, Jack Benny, and Bob Hope. It's a feast for the eyes no matter where you glance. I particularly enjoyed the bottle house that Michael built in 1968 as his "home" as a kid. That independent spirit was quite charming to see. ~ WATERCOLOR NATURESCAPE ~ We were fortunate to have our gracious host lead us on a tour and organize a special art crafting experience outdoors. It was absolutely lovely beneath the trees and between rusted vintage cars from the turn of the century. We each got a small canvas to paint our flowers in watercolor. (This particular experience takes place in the Spring and Fall, weather permitting.) We heard the squirrels rattling in the leaves and birds chirped and sang in the trees above. We discovered that peacocks apparently originated from this property, compliments of Michael Rubel. And did I mention that on the far side of the property, a custom garden was in full bloom? BOOK A TOUR Help support the Glendora Historical Society and keep this magnificently unique city-castle maintained. It's worth it.

    A castle in Glendora? Yes, your eyes aren't deceiving you--Rubel Castle is real, it's magnificent,…read moreand it's gloriously eccentric. Thanks to the sheer persistence (and probably delightful stubbornness) of Michael Rubel, we now have this quirky, towering State Treasure sitting right in the middle of Glendora like a fairy tale that accidentally took a detour through a hardware store. This place is beautifully done, and part of its charm is that it's a full-on hodgepodge of relics, antiques, crystal trinkets, and "wait... what is that doing here?" moments tucked into every nook and cranny. You'll marvel, you'll laugh, you'll squint in confusion--honestly, it's everything you'd want in a castle built with love, imagination, and a dash of madness. And let's talk about the makeshift cemetery. Quirky? YES. Fun? Absolutely. Slightly spooky? Only if your imagination is over-caffeinated. But it fits the vibe perfectly--like the castle whispered, "You know what I'm missing? A tiny cemetery." The tours are fantastic, the guides are passionate, and the whole experience feels like you're stepping into a living scrapbook of California history and charming chaos. Overall: Amazing, amazing place. Book your tour. They only do tours every first Sunday of the month, so set your alarms, mark your calendars, tie a string around your finger--just don't miss it. Rubel Castle is truly a California State Treasure, and an absolute must-see for anyone who appreciates creativity, history, and a little eccentric sparkle.

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    Rubel Castle
    Rubel Castle
    Rubel Castle - Roots!

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    Roots!

    Bembridge House - Front of Bembridge House

    Bembridge House

    4.4(10 reviews)
    49.5 mi

    My husband and I got married at the Bembridge House in November 2021. We remember seeing photos of…read morethe property and feeling amazed, but the price of the location wasn't online at the time and we thought for sure that it was going to be way out of our price range. However, we wanted to go to see the location since it was so beautiful - even if we couldn't get married there, it would be a cool experience to get to see such a historical location. To our absolute surprise, we met with Anthony Barr and not only was the location affordable, he was willing to work with us on absolutely EVERYTHING on our list. With Anthony's help, we not only had a historic and gorgeous location (which included a bridal area and space for our whole party), but he helped us to find all of our vendors, negotiated with various vendors on our behalf at times, took care of our decor requests... I could go on. I honestly don't know how I would have managed the wedding procedure without the help Anthony gave, but we also just adored the Bembridge property. Picturesque, cozy - we are so grateful.

    I attended a great community event here today thanks to the #willmoreassociation for a fantastic…read morebreakfast. The Bembridge House is a hidden gem in Long Beach if you haven't visited , it's totally worth it. The only thing is that parking is very impacted in the area, I was lucky today to secure a parking spot. I was told by a very nice lady there will be a Halloween party here this year. Put on your list for a place to visit check the website for tour info....

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    Bembridge House - The happy bride with Anthony Barr.

    The happy bride with Anthony Barr.

    Bembridge House - Side of the house

    Side of the house

    Bembridge House - Little Free Library by the house

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    Little Free Library by the house

    San Andreas Fault - FAULT LINE

    San Andreas Fault

    4.5(2 reviews)
    39.9 mi

    Great memory ! Wonderful place Unbelievable to get so close…read moreto natural spectacle of Mother Earth Keep hold on for us please ! We don't want to loose you soon

    The San Andreas fault runs 800-miles throughout most of California. It's formed by the interaction…read moreof the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate. It has been described as "a slow motion crash between continents." The plates glide and compress against each other, transforming the landscape and shaking the earth. The Devil's Punchbowl Natural Area offers a San Andreas Fault tour every Sunday at 1 p.m. You get to view how the fault has lifted large sandstone rocks to their current upright position. The park ranger leads a short discussion on the famous fault and even passes out photos. After the talk you get can follow him in your car, a couple miles outside of the park, where he takes you to the center of the fault and then to Pallett Creek Trench. Pallett Creek Trench is the site that launched the science of studying earthquakes. In the late 1970s Kerry Sieh was a Stanford Ph.D. student when he used backhoes to dig large trenches through old pond deposits to unearth different layers of soil. Like rings of a tree, the various layers revealed the geology of it's time. The black lines represent soot from past fires. You're are able to see how the various shifts in the soil represent the movement of the fault. It's pretty fascinating. Another good location to view the fault from a different perspective is located off the 14-fwy in Palmdale. The site is called the Palmdale Road Cut. It is a section of the fault that has been blasted away by construction crews in order to make way for the 14 freeway. It offers a window into the million-year tango of the two sides. Park at Pelona Vista Park in Palmdale and walk to the top of the hill where you can observe the slow motion action taking place.

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    San Andreas Fault - Pallett Creek Trench

    Pallett Creek Trench

    San Andreas Fault - The Palmdale road cut

    The Palmdale road cut

    San Andreas Fault

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    Mission Inn Museum - museums - Updated May 2026

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