Riverside Metropolitan Museum (RMM): City of Riverside Landmark #11
Location: 3580 Mission Inn Ave.
Date Established: 1912
Date Visited: 10/21/2014
The Riverside Metropolitan Museum has been used for many things over the years.
The building that currently houses the Riverside Metropolitan Museum also known as the RMM has had various reincarnations. The building started it’s life in 1912 as a Federal Post Office. At the start of World War II it was taken over by the war department and in 1943 housed soldiers on temporary leave in Riverside. In 1945 the City of Riverside bought the building and used it to house the Police Department and the City Museum was housed in the basement. In 1965 the Riverside Police Department got it’s own building at 4102 Orange St. and the after a brief restoration the City Museum completely took over the space in December of 1966.
The RMM is City Landmark #11 and listed on the National Landmark registry.
If you look up at the museum façade you can see some emblems of it’s early post office days.
This design drawing shows the opening of the new Riverside Police Station in 1965. (Courtesy Ruhnau Ruhnau Clarke)
This picture shows the museum circa 1961 when it was still being used as a police station (courtesy City of Riverside Library)
Some decorated Native American artifacts.
The Riverside Municipal Museum, now known as the Riverside Metropolitan Museum (RMM). Started on December 12, 1924, when the widow of National Biscuit Company (NABISCO) magnate Mrs. Cornelius Earle Rumsey donated her husband’s collection of Native American artifacts to the city. In the beginning the museum was housed in the basement of the old city hall building and was really more of an archive that guarded prominent artifacts donated by various citizens. It wasn’t until the mid 60’s and early 70’s by the efforts of people such as world famous naturalist, and Riverside resident, Edmund C. Jaeger, that the museum would start to grow and expand into a traditional museum with both permanent and rotating displays.
Today the RMM is a very prominent organization within the City of Riverside. It also has associations with national museum organizations including the Smithsonian. Besides the downtown location the RMM also owns the Harada House and the Heritage House. The permanent collections of the museum include it’s original Native American artifact collection, some city artifacts, and various stuffed animals. When I went to the museum there was a display regarding the Cahuilla Indians and a display upstairs regarding John Muir and his visit to Riverside.
Denise and AJ in front of the Temperance Water Fountain.
At the bottom of the fountain it is interesting to note the “doggy bowls”.
The Temperance Water Fountain was donated to the City of Riverside in 1907 by the Women Temperance Society in an effort to promote clean water.
A picture of the fountain when it was still a fountain. (Courtesy Riverside Museum)
John Tortes Meyers was a Cahuilla Indian and a Riverside native who played in the major leagues from 1908-1917.
AJ and a friend imitate the Cougar roar.
An early bicycle from the “City of Riverside in 50 artifacts” display.
This 1915 portrait of the Riverside Police Department features Chief Kirk, his daughter, and the rest of the department.
In 1887 Hall’s railway weaved through 10th, Main, and Date street.
John Muir visited Riverside in the late 1800s and spoke about his many travels.
A crocodile skeleton from the John Muir exhibit.
A walrus head and artifacts from one of John Muir’s Alaskan trips.
If you have some time I would encourage you to go. The museum is open most days 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and admission is a suggested $2, but not required.
Our post office in Redlands has a one-room history museum in it. I think post offices and museums used to be a common combination. I like the walrus head. I’m guessing it’s got a good story!
Interesting—looks like this was a scout trip, eh? If so, a fun place to visit.
I write a blog about cast iron drinking fountains and would like permission to use the photos of the Temperance drinking fountain. I will, of course, credit and link back to your site. You can view my blog at http://memorialdrinkingfountains.wordpress.com
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I am trying to get information on the J. W. Fixe company. They manufactured statues in the late 1800s known as “faithful groomsman”. These were the forerunners to lawn jockeys. Any info on this company, these statues or catalogs would be a great help… Thanks
Rich