Telling the Riverside Story in 50 Objects
Riverside, California has a rich history, from prehistoric ages to the bustling and ever-changing landscape of today.
What if the story of our city could be told in 50 segments? Better yet, what if the history of Riverside could be shown in 50 pieces?
Curators at the Riverside Metropolitan Museum have carefully selected a wide assortment of 50 objects to represent the city’s past. Inspiration for the exhibit came from the British Museum’s highly touted “A History of the World in 100 Objects.”
Alone, each object may not tell a story; together, however, the pieces give each other context and create a unique historical timeline of Riverside throughout the years.
Included in the 50 objects are mammoth molars, stage coach foot-warmers, cooking stoves, Chinese medicine bottles, photographs, and more, spanning the extensive time-frame of prehistory to around 1930.
People, places, and resources highlighted in the exhibit include Chinatown, Spring Rancheria, John W. North, early transportation, the citrus boom, the Harada family, water, recreation, and public service.
Haven’t seen the story of Riverside in 50 objects exhibit? Better hurry, the last day to view the timeline of objects is Jan. 4, 2014. If you have already explored the exhibit, why not visit again before it’s gone?
The museum is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays, but is closed on major holidays.
The Riverside Metropolitan Museum is only a six-minute drive from our Brockton Avenue office. You could drop by afterwards to tell us what you thought of the exhibit; or, better yet, tweet at @HeitingandIrwin to tell us how you enjoyed the exhibit of 50 objects and the history of Riverside. Heiting & Irwin believes in supporting our local educational and civic interests in Riverside.