Downtown Riverside in Riverside County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Riverside History Walk

Photographed by Volt Craft, June 26, 2026

1. Riverside History Walk Marker

Inscription.

Riverside History Walk. . The United States Bicentennial celebrated the 200th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence which occurred on July 4, 1976. After years of debate, it was decided that celebrations would be local rather than central and that the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration would coordinate the activities. The celebration lasted from April 1, 1975 to December 31, 1976, with events held throughout the country. , Soroptimist International of Riverside (SIR) proposed the creation of a History Walk as a gift to the City of Riverside to celebrate the American Bicentennial. The History Walk would highlight Riverside's history in granite stones. Mayor Ben H. Lewis and the Riverside Bicentennial Commission enthusiastically endorsed the project. , The project was fueled by many volunteers. The most prominent participants were local historian, Tom Patterson, who wrote the descriptions for each stone and Bette Fauth, Assistant Professor at Riverside City College, who created the artwork for each of the 31 original stones. , SIR dedicated and presented the Bicentennial History Walk to the City of Riverside on December 7, 1976. It was located at Raincross Square, where the Riverside Convention Center is located today. SIR rededicated it on April 10, 1998 to celebrate the club's 50th anniversary. , When the City began renovating the Convention Center area in 2012, the History Walk stones were removed and held in safekeeping for over a decade. , Soroptimist members worked with City officials to ensure the History Walk found a permanent home. Stones were added for the Riverside National Cemetery and California Baptist University, commemorating events that transpired since the inception of the original History Walk. John Adkins, Dean of Fine and Performing Arts at Riverside City College, created the artwork and local historian. Steve Lech, wrote the descriptions for the two new stones. , In 2025, the stones were resurrected and placed along Main Street. Soroptimist International of Riverside rededicated the History Walk and presented it once again to the City in December 2025. , This QR Code takes you to the "History Walk Bicentennial Project" that includes a detailed description of each stone, the conception and development of the History Walk, and the History Walk sponsors. The stones are in chronological order, beginning at 10th Street.

The United States Bicentennial celebrated the 200th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence which occurred on July 4, 1976. After years of debate, it was decided that celebrations would be local rather than central and that the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration would coordinate the activities. The celebration lasted from April 1, 1975 to December 31, 1976, with events held throughout the country.

Soroptimist International of Riverside (SIR) proposed the creation of a History Walk as a gift to the City of Riverside to celebrate the American Bicentennial. The History Walk would highlight Riverside's history in granite stones. Mayor Ben H. Lewis and the Riverside Bicentennial Commission enthusiastically endorsed the project.

The project was fueled by many volunteers. The most prominent participants were local historian, Tom Patterson, who wrote the descriptions for each stone and Bette Fauth, Assistant Professor at Riverside City College, who created the artwork for each of the 31 original stones.

SIR dedicated and presented the Bicentennial History Walk to the City of Riverside on December 7, 1976. It was located at Raincross Square, where the Riverside Convention Center is located today. SIR rededicated it on April 10, 1998 to celebrate the club's 50th anniversary.

When

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the City began renovating the Convention Center area in 2012, the History Walk stones were removed and held in safekeeping for over a decade.

Soroptimist members worked with City officials to ensure the History Walk found a permanent home. Stones were added for the Riverside National Cemetery and California Baptist University, commemorating events that transpired since the inception of the original History Walk. John Adkins, Dean of Fine and Performing Arts at Riverside City College, created the artwork and local historian. Steve Lech, wrote the descriptions for the two new stones.

In 2025, the stones were resurrected and placed along Main Street. Soroptimist International of Riverside rededicated the History Walk and presented it once again to the City in December 2025.

This QR Code takes you to the "History Walk Bicentennial Project" that includes a detailed description of each stone, the conception and development of the History Walk, and the History Walk sponsors. The stones are in chronological order, beginning at 10th Street.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Education. A significant historical date for this entry is April 1, 1975.

Location. 33° 58.791′ N, 117° 22.544′ W. Marker is in Riverside, California, in Riverside County. It is in Downtown Riverside. It is

Photographed by Volt Craft, June 26, 2026

2. Riverside History Walk Marker

There is an identical information board each end of the walk

at the intersection of Main Street and Tenth Street on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3112 Main Street, Riverside CA 92501, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Los Angeles,

in the Inland Empire,

and in the Peninsular Ranges.

It is also in the American Southwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Staff Sergeant Ysmael R. Villegas (within shouting distance of this marker); Riverside Military Wall of Honor (within shouting distance of this marker); Riverside County Courthouse (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Riverside County Courthouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Riverside City Hall (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Lerner Building (about 300 feet away); M. H. Simons Undertaking Chapel (about 500 feet away); White Park Building (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Riverside.

More about this marker. 33 stone markers:
Introductory Stone · Rancho Jurupa Grant 1938 · La Placita Village 1845 · Founding of Riverside 1870 · First Public School 1871 · First Congregational Church 1872 · Navel Orange Planting 1873 · Magnolia Avenue Parkway 1876 · Incorporation 1883 · Chinatown 1885 · Refrigerated Fruit Shipment 1887 · Loring Opera House 1890 · First Black Church 1890 · Establishment of County 1893 · Cooperative Citrus Marketing 1893 · Citrus Machinery Manufacturing 1899 · Glenwood Hotel Becomes Mission

Volt Craft, compilation from City of Riverside website

3. Riverside History Walk Marker

33 stones in total pave the sidewalk

Inn 1903 · University of California Citrus Experiment Station 1906 · Mayor Council Government 1907 · Easter Sunrise Service: Mt. Rubidoux 1909 · Riverside City College 1916 · March Field 1918 · La Sierra College 1922 · Riverside Community Players 1925 · Co-Op Wholesale Grocery Distribution 1928 · Riverside Art Association 1931 · Riverside Opera Association 1932 · Air Quality Ordinance 1948 · Continuous Casting of Aluminum 1950 · Council-Manager Government 1953 · California School for the Deaf 1953 · Riverside National Cemetery 1976 · California Baptist University 1998

Also see . . .
1. Riverside Downtown History Walk [QR code from marker]. An interactive archive of Riverside's Bicentennial history walkway, this has pictures of each marker, and a write up on each marker with its history and what it depicts.

The United States Bicentennial celebrated the 200th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence which occurred on July 4, 1976.

Soroptimist International of Riverside (SIR) proposed the creation of a History Walk as a gift to the City of Riverside to celebrate the American Bicentennial. The History Walk would highlight Riverside's history in granite stones.

SIR dedicated and presented the Bicentennial History Walk to the City of Riverside on December 7, 1976. It was located at Raincross Square, where the Riverside Convention
Photographed by Volt Craft, June 26, 2026

4. Riverside History Walk Marker (other end)
Center is located today. SIR rededicated it on April 10, 1998 to celebrate the club's 50th anniversary.

When the City began renovating the Convention Center area in 2012, the History Walk stones were removed and held in safekeeping for over a decade.

In 2025, the stones were resurrected and placed along Main Street. Soroptimist International of Riverside rededicated the History Walk and presented it once again to the City in December 2025.

Much of the text in this webpage is taken directly from the 1998 History Walk Booklet, shared here to provide additional context to each stone. We invite you to explore Riverside's rich history as you navigate the Bicentennial History Walkway.

(Submitted on June 26, 2026, by Volt Craft of Riverside, California.)

2. Riverside History Walk Returns to Main Street After 13 Years in Storage.

After 13 years in storage, Riverside's History Walk is returning to Main Street — a collection of 33 commemorative stones that tell the story of the city's transformation from frontier settlement to flourishing California community.

The bronze medallions embedded in granite mark pivotal moments spanning more than a century of civic and cultural history, from the city's founding and agricultural heritage to the establishment of its educational institutions.

Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson will rededicate the walk at 11:30 a.m. Dec. 9 at the corner
Photographed by Volt Craft, June 26, 2026

5. Riverside History Walk Marker
of Main Street and 10th Street — exactly 49 years after the stones were first installed as a Bicentennial gift to the city.

"This was and is a significant project for the Soroptimists, one that they take very seriously," said Claudia Rodriguez, who led endowment fundraising. "As I understand it, they have an ongoing committee dedicated to the walk."

The original 31 stones were installed Dec. 7, 1976, in the Forest of Lights plaza at Main and Fifth streets in front of Raincross Square Convention Center. When the convention center was renovated in July 2012, the stones went into Museum of Riverside storage.

(Submitted on June 26, 2026, by Volt Craft of Riverside, California.)

3. High Resolution images of each marker. (Submitted on June 27, 2026, by Volt Craft of Riverside, California.)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 29, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 26, 2026, by Volt Craft of Riverside, California. This page has been viewed 11 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 26, 2026, by Volt Craft of Riverside, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.