The Doors Open event is back! The City of Riverside, in partnership with the Old Riverside Foundation, the Riverside Arts Council, the Riverside Downtown Partnership, and the Mission Inn Museum and Foundation are hosting the City’s second annual Doors Open event.
Doors Open events began over 30 years ago in France and has since spread across Europe, North America, and Australia. These events provide free access to captivating historic sites that are often closed to the public. By opening the doors to these architectural gems, event organizers hope to increase awareness of historic architecture and the community’s collective heritage.
“This event showcases Riverside’s historic architecture which spans more than a century and is part of the Downtown soul,” said Erin Gettis, City of Riverside’s Principal Planner and Historic Preservation Officer. “Last year’s event drew more than a thousand attendees” she said.
On Thursday, May 11, from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m., select buildings in downtown Riverside will open their doors. Guests will be taken on a riveting tour of each exquisite building and will learn about each building’s intriguing history. Tours begin at 6 p.m. and occur every twenty minutes.
A number of downtown restaurants located in historic buildings will be offering specials before, during, and after the tours. Visitors can stop at the event’s information station located outside the Main Library and pick up a map or use the website to locate participating buildings and get directions.
Some of the historic buildings that will be opening their doors include: the Riverside Art Museum (former Riverside YWCA), Fox Theater, Metropolitan Museum, Municipal Auditorium, First Church of Christ Scientist, First Congregational Church, Universalist Unitarian Church, the RCC Center for Social Justice and Civil Liberties (former Citrus Trust), the Culver Center for the Arts (former Rouse Department Store), the California Museum of Photography (former Kress Department Store), the Arcade Building occupied by Krieger & Stewart, Loft.84 in the Aurea Vista Building, the Bonnett Building and more.
Please visit the official Doors Open Riverside website to review the complete list of participating locations, and view images and restaurant specials only available during the event. www.DoorsOpenRiverside.com
