Thursday May 12th, 2016, from 6 to 9p.m., now see what’s inside the architecture you’ve always loved.
RIVERSIDE, Calif. – An international movement known as “Doors Open” is coming to Riverside on May 12th, 2016.
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, is hosting the city’s first Doors Open event Thursday (5/12/16) from 6 to 9 p.m. in historic downtown Riverside.
[ecko_quote source=”Erin Gettis, Riverside’s Historic Preservation Officer”]“Riverside has something unique in the Inland Empire: a downtown full of a variety of building types spanning over a century. The Doors Open event is an opportunity to witness this soul of our City.”[/ecko_quote]
Doors Open events began more than 30 years ago in France and have since spread across Europe, North America, and Australia. These events provide free access to captivating historic sites that often are 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.
Some of the historic buildings that will be opening their doors include:
- Fox Theater
- Metropolitan Museum
- Municipal Auditorium
- First Church of Christ Scientist
- First Congregational Church
- Universalist Unitarian Church
- RCC Center for Social Justice and Civil Liberties (former Citrus Trust)
- Culver Center for the Arts (former Rouse Department Store)
- California Museum of Photography (former Kress Department Store)
- Arcade Building occupied by Krieger & Stewart
- Loft.84 in the Aurea Vista Building
- Bonnett Building and more.
“This event showcases Riverside’s historic architecture, which is part of the Downtown soul,” said Erin Gettis, City of Riverside Principal Planner and Historic Preservation Officer.
Guests will be taken on a riveting tour of each exquisite building and will learn about each building’s intriguing history. Tours will begin at 6 p.m. and continue every 20 minutes.
A number of downtown restaurants located in historic buildings will offer dining specials before, during, and after the tours. Visitors can stop at the event’s information station outside the Main Library on Mission Inn Avenue and pick up a map or use the website – www.DoorsOpenRiverside.com – to locate participating buildings and get directions.
