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

Jackson Building

Circa 1886

— Cultural Heritage Board Landmark —

Jackson Building Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Volt Craft, June 29, 2026

1. Jackson Building Marker

Inscription. This building was an important place for Japanese immigrants in Riverside, with offices and mostly Japanese lodgings above various specialty shops. The Japanese-owned Washington restaurant (1905-1942) operated here until 1925, offering American fare and patriotic decor. Jukichi Harada became proprietor in 1911, and soon the Harada family was internationally known over their purchase of a house on Lemon Street, which challenged the 1913 California Alien Land Law. The Washington restaurant was permanently closed in 1942 with the World War II internment of the Haradas.

Erected by Cultural Heritage Board, City of Riverside. (Marker Number 114.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Immigration. In addition, it is included in the Riverside Cultural Heritage Board Landmarks series list.

Location. 33° 58.903′ N, 117° 22.423′ W. Marker is in Riverside, California, in Riverside County. It is in Downtown Riverside. It is on University Avenue, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3643 University Avenue, 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: The Roosevelt Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Arcade Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Dosan Ahn Chang-Ho Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); E. M. Bonnett Building

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(about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Old City Hall (about 300 feet away); Downtown Riverside Mahatma Gandhi Monument (about 400 feet away); Former Rouse's Department Store (about 400 feet away); The Nanjing Bell (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Riverside.

Also see . . .
1. Landmarks of the City of Riverside (#114). This two-story brick building built in 1886 was once the site of the Washington Restaurant, operated by the Harada family. Jukichi Harada, the head of the household, made international headlines when he bought a Riverside home in the names of his three American-born children in 1915, which challenged the California Alien Land Law prohibiting aliens from owning property. In 1916, Riverside Superior Court ruled that American-born children of aliens were entitled to all the constitutional guarantees of citizenship including land tenure. (Submitted on June 30, 2026, by Volt Craft of Riverside, California.)

2. Allard Real Estate - May 27, 2020 - Riverside walking tour.

Also of interest inside is the old bank vault still intact from when the building was used by Riverside’s Provident Bank.

(Submitted on June 30, 2026, by Volt Craft of Riverside, California.)

Photographed by Volt Craft, June 29, 2026

2. Jackson Building Marker

Photographed by Volt Craft, June 29, 2026

3. Jackson Building Marker

Jackson Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Volt Craft, June 29, 2026

4. Jackson Building

Jackson Building and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Volt Craft, June 29, 2026

5. Jackson Building and Marker

The Harada Family Washington Restaurant ca. 1920 image. Click for full size.

courtesy Cultural Heritage Board, Riverside - City assessment report (2004)

6. The Harada Family Washington Restaurant ca. 1920

Credits. This page was last revised on July 2, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 30, 2026, by Volt Craft of Riverside, California. This page has been viewed 10 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on June 30, 2026, by Volt Craft of Riverside, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.