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This site explores the past, present, and future of downtown Riverside, California — one of Southern California’s truly historic downtowns, and indeed, a nice surprise within the suburban sprawl that is Greater Los Angeles.
The name Raincross Square comes from a downtown civic plaza of the 1970s and 1980s. It is also a derivative of “Mile Square,” the original 1870s street grid for the City of Riverside.
Within the Mile Square district of downtown are numerous historic homes and buildings, a handful of museums (including The Cheech), a four-block pedestrian mall, and the magnificent Riverside County Courthouse as well as the eclectic Mission Inn. Many stand as testament to the riches attained from Southern California’s once-mighty navel orange industry, which originated in Riverside in the mid-1870s.
Latest Posts
- 33rd annual Festival of Lights in Riverside
This year, 2025, marks the 33rd year for the annual Festival of Lights surrounding the Mission Inn in downtown Riverside. It also marks the first Festival following the death of… - Two iconic downtown Riverside buildings turn 50When gazing upon the skyline of downtown Riverside from atop Mount Rubidoux, two office buildings tend to stand out: Riverside County Administrative Center (the “glass box” and city’s tallest building)…
- Expansion for Museum of Riverside set to beginA ceremonial groundbreaking was held June 27th for the long-awaited and oft-delayed expansion for the Museum of Riverside, which has been shuttered for nearly eight years. Between 150-200 members from…
