California note
The Mission Inn gives Riverside a downtown landmark
Riverside's Mission Inn helps visitors picture downtown, connect local history with a walkable center, and understand a landmark shaped by Mission Revival style, tourism, art, and preservation.
Riverside’s Mission Inn is the downtown landmark many people use to picture the city. It began with the Miller family and grew into a full city-block building with gardens, towers, arches, art, and winding stairs.
The building’s story also says a lot about Southern California tourism. Frank Miller expanded the inn during a time when rail travel, Mission Revival style, citrus wealth, and ideas about old California shaped how visitors saw the region.
Preservation is part of the story too. The Mission Inn struggled through later owners and closures. It reopened after a long restoration. The museum now tells the landmark story, while the hotel remains part of downtown life.
For Riverside, the Mission Inn makes the city center easier to understand. Pair it with Main Street, civic buildings, restaurants, museums, or seasonal events. Downtown feels like a place to pause.
Where to see it
Mission Inn Museum and downtown Riverside visitor information.
Sources
Sources for this story
Reviewed July 1, 2026
Public sources for the places, events, and details above.
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