Museum of Riverside

About the Museum of Riverside

About the Museum

The Museum of Riverside, a department of the City of Riverside, stewards artifacts, archives, and historic sites owned by the City of Riverside. The Museum is responsible for three historic sites: National Historic Landmark Harada House, and the National Register-listed Museum, and Victorian House Museum Heritage House.

The Museum houses more than 200,000 artifacts in its collections and 2,000 linear feet of archives in the disciplines of Natural History, Indigenous Resources, and History. Special exhibitions are on view seasonally at Heritage House while the downtown site remains closed. The Museum also offers educational programs, special cultural events, and school programs.

Mission

As a center for learning, the Museum of Riverside interacts with the community to collect, preserve, explore and interpret the cultural and natural history of Riverside and its region.

Land Acknowledgment Statement

The Museum of Riverside is grateful to stand on the traditional and ancestral lands of the Cahuilla, Gabrielino-Tongva, Luiseño, and Serrano peoples.  The Cahuilla, Gabrielino-Tongva, Luiseño, and Serrano continue to live and thrive in Southern California.

Background

Originally called the Cornelius Earle Rumsey Indian Collection, the Museum opened in the basement of old City Hall in 1924, when the widow of NABISCO magnate Cornelius Earle Rumsey donated her late husband’s collection of Native American artifacts to the City of Riverside. In 1948, the Museum was relocated to its current facility, a former U.S. Post Office built in 1912. Nine volunteer Riverside citizens are appointed as Board Members serving in an advisory capacity to the Museum. More history of the Museum

Stewardship and Historic Preservation

The Museum provides professional stewardship of the collections and historic sites held in trust by the City of Riverside for the public. Through application of best practices, the Museum ensures the preservation, documentation, interpretation, and accessibility of the collections and historic structures at or above museum standards.  The Museum's stewardship responsibilities include the National Register Main Museum, the National Register Heritage House, and the National Historic Landmark Harada House.

Museum of Riverside Board

Meets the fourth Wednesday of every month | 3:00 p.m. 
(In Council Chambers and via Microsoft Teams)
Current Agenda and Board Meeting Information
Nine members serve in an advisory capacity to the Mayor and City Council in matters pertaining to museum scope, growth and development, care, maintenance, daily operations, and activities. The Museum Board meets at 3 p.m. the fourth Wednesday of every month. Meetings are open to the public. A Board member's time commitment may be 4-8 hours per month. For more information or to leave messages for Board members, call Toni Kinsman at 951-826-5273. For current agenda and board meeting information, visit: https://riversideca.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx

Museum of Riverside Board General Information

Museum Support

The Riverside Museum Associates (RMA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports the activities and growth of the Museum through gifts; memorials and bequests; and volunteering through special projects and programs. Join the RMA.  The Harada House Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports the National Historic Landmark Harada House.  Learn more here https://www.haradahousefoundation.org/.