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

Fairmount Park Bandshell

- 1920 -

— Cultural Heritage Board Landmark —

Fairmount Park Bandshell Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Volt Craft, July 6, 2026

1. Fairmount Park Bandshell Marker

Located to left of bandstand

Inscription. Public open air concerts became a regular feature in Riverside before the turn of the century in 1908, the wooden bandstand was moved to Fairmount Park from White Park to accommodate growing audiences. In 1920 this permanent bandshell was built from a design by the primary architect of the Mission Inn. Restoration was completed by the volunteer Fairmount Park Citizens committee in 1986.

Erected by Cultural Heritage Board, City of Riverside. (Marker Number 10.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Entertainment. In addition, it is included in the Riverside Cultural Heritage Board Landmarks series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1920.

Location. 33° 59.672′ N, 117° 22.408′ W. Marker is in Riverside, California, in Riverside County. It is in Downtown Riverside. It is at the intersection of Locust Street and Banks Drive, on the right when traveling west on Locust Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2700 Locust Street, Riverside CA 92501, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in

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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: Piddington House (approx. 0.2 miles away); David and Miriam Bell House (approx. ¼ mile away); Irvine House (approx. 0.3 miles away); Civilian War Workers Memorial (approx. half a mile away); Famous Water Buffalo (approx. half a mile away); John J. Hewitt House (approx. half a mile away); Elmer A. Day House (approx. half a mile away); Casa De Anza Hotel (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Riverside.

Also see . . .
1. Cultural Heritage Board, City of Riverside #10.

(Fairmount Boulevard and Market Street) The original Band shell was designed by Arthur B. Benton and constructed in 1920 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the founding of Riverside’s
Photographed by Volt Craft, July 6, 2026

2. Fairmount Park Bandshell Marker
Military Band. It was destroyed in a fire in 1992 and rebuilt in 1995.

(Submitted on July 8, 2026, by Volt Craft of Riverside, California.)

2. Fiarmount Park, Riverside (2002).
Sulphur Spring Now capped over and lost, the sulphur spring was located near the Bandshell. It had a Mission Revival style gazebo, stepped down to lower than ground level, with a fountain for the sulphur water in the center. Tourists from all over the state came to visit it and sip the water for its medicinal value.

The Riverside Cornet Band, organized in 1876, had played its concerts first at the White Park bandstand, then at Fairmount Park where the bandstand had been moved in 1908. A more enduring musical group appears to have been the Riverside Military Band, which was organized in 1900 and played its first public concert in 1901. The Riverside Military Band remained a viable enlity through 1940. Its players were local volunteers, playing part-time, hoping to collect expenses and the cost of uniforms and instruments through public donations. As audiences continued to grow, there developed the need for a bandshell to project music to greater

Photographed by Volt Craft, July 6, 2026

3. Fairmount Park Bandshell Marker

distances.

The Fairmount Park Bandshell was built in 1920 and has been designated by the Cultural Heritage Board as City Landmark #10. It was designed by Arthur Benton, whose work at the Mission Inn, the First Church of Christ Scientist, the Riverside Municipal Auditorium, the Hole Mansion, and the Mount Rubidoux Peace Tower is also included within Landmark designations. The bandshell exhibits feahrres such as a tile roof and outer walls of field stone by which Benton's work may be recognized. The new bandshell was inaugurated at a dedicatory concert before an audience of 6,000 on Sunday, September 26, 1920. Gustavus Milverkus, director of the Riverside Military band since 1905, had composed a "Greater Fairmount" march for the occasion, and Benton himself delivered a talk on "Music and Architecture." In later years, Hollywood actors Edward Arnold and Jeanette McDonald performed at the bandshell.

The Fairmount Park Bandshell was severely damaged by an electrical fire on Christmas Day, 1982. Its repair has come about through the joint efforts of the Park and Recreation Department and the volunteer Fairmount Park Citizen's Committee.

Photographed by Volt Craft, July 6, 2026

4. Fairmount Park Bandshell Marker

It is being completely refurbished; the fire damage has been repaired by a contractor hired by the Park and Recreation Department. General structural, electrical, roofing, and painting work, conforming to architectural design of the 1920s, is being accomplished by volunteers. (Submitted on July 8, 2026, by Volt Craft of Riverside, California.)

3. Cultural Heritage Board Item (Fairmount Park, 1985).

The Fairmount Park Bandshell was built in 1920 and has been designated by the Cultural Heritage Board as City Landmark #10. It was designed by Arthur Benton, whose work at the Mission Inn, the First Church of Christ Scientist, the Riverside Municipal Auditorium, the Hole Mansion, and the Mount Rubidoux Peace Tower is also included within Landmark designations. The bandshell exhibits features such as a tile roof and outer walls of field stone by which Benton's work may be recognized. The new bandshell was inaugurated at a dedicatory concert before an audience of 6,000 on Sunday, September 26, 1920. Gustavus Milverkus, director of the Riverside Military band since 1905, had composed a "Greater Fairmount" march for the occasion,
Photographed by Volt Craft, July 6, 2026

5. Fairmount Park Bandshell Marker
(Marker to right of bandstand) Music, thou child of heaven, Thou dost dull care beguile and with they ministry of grace provoke our souls to smile Anno Domini MCMXX September In the Fiftieth year of its municipal life was this pavillion builded by The City of Riverside to Commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the organization of the Riverside Military Band Arthur Benton, F.A.I.A. Architect Albert Braun Schweiger, C.E. Builder
and Benton himself delivered a talk on "Music and Architecture." In later years, Hollywood actors Edward Arnold and Jeanette McDonald performed at the bandshell.

(Submitted on July 8, 2026, by Volt Craft of Riverside, California.)

4. Fairmount Park: Riverside's Treasure (2005).

There were no 1920 original plans of the Bandshell; however, photographs taken after the 1982 fire were used for reference for reconstruction to be as near the original as possible. The outside rock walls were reinforced, and the new structure anchored to them. The arched interior was the most difficult to build. Bob Stewart, who had done extensive repairs in 1984, made elevations and a model of the building. Gerry Cole, of Cole & Frick Architects, used the model to work with engineers to draft the architectural plans.

(Submitted on July 8, 2026, by Volt Craft of Riverside, California.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 8, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 8, 2026, by Volt Craft of Riverside, California. This page has been viewed 4 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 8, 2026, by Volt Craft of Riverside, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.