The birthplace of the California citrus industry, Riverside is famous for its Brazilian navel oranges that were first planted in 1874 by Eliza Tibbets. This newfound citrus business brought a multitude of people west to California and in less than 10 years, Southern California had more than half a million citrus trees, with half in Riverside. Due to its prosperity, Riverside built the Mission Inn, which became a popular place for presidents, royalty, and movie stars to visit. A special chair was even made for President William Howard Taft to accommodate his size.
The California Citrus State Historic Park in Riverside commemorates the importance of the citrus industry in Southern California, especially in Riverside. The open-air museum was established in 1984 and is 248 acres. The city has numerous museums besides the California Citrus State Historic Park, including the Riverside Art Museum, the Riverside Metropolitan Museum, and Heritage House Museum. Riverside hosts many events throughout the year, such as the Riverside Dickens Festival, which was created to enhance a sense of community for Southern Californians.
In 1939, Riverside Fox Theater held the first screening ever of Gone With the Wind. Riverside is also home to the "World's Largest Paper Cup," which is actually a sculpture made of concrete. The cup is over three stories tall and located in front of what used to be the Dixie Corporation's manufacturing plant. The Riverside National Cemetery is the third largest cemetery managed by the National Cemetery Association. The Medal of Honor Memorial and the Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Memorial lie within the cemetery.
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