California Citrus State Historic Park

08/18/2021

Park’s open!
Repair completed.

08/17/2021

Park closed for Repair. We hope to be open by the end of Day.

07/22/2021

Interviews being scheduled now!

Interviews being scheduled now!

06/03/2021

Come by our Visitor Center for your Litter Getter kit. También disponible en Español!

Come by our Visitor Center for your Litter Getter kit. También disponible en Español!

05/14/2021

Interpretive Tours Starting May 21, 2021

Since the majority of our fruit has come and gone, we are transitioning our Varietal Grove Tour to focus on the history of citrus in the area.

Starting May 21, 2021, we will offer one tour a day from 10:00 am to 11:00 am on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. No reservation is necessary. Come one, come all.

We may or may not have fruit available for tasting.

Please take note:

Tour will be approximately 1 hour from start to finish.

Parking fees are required.

Wear comfortable shoes, bring water and sunscreen.

Interpretive Tours Starting May 21, 2021

Since the majority of our fruit has come and gone, we are transitioning our Varietal Grove Tour to focus on the history of citrus in the area.

Starting May 21, 2021, we will offer one tour a day from 10:00 am to 11:00 am on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. No reservation is necessary. Come one, come all.

We may or may not have fruit available for tasting.

Please take note:

Tour will be approximately 1 hour from start to finish.

Parking fees are required.

Wear comfortable shoes, bring water and sunscreen.

05/07/2021

The park will be closed today due to pesticide spraying.

04/19/2021

Climate Change and Chino Hills State Park

Check out this amazing video put together by sister park Chino Hills State Park staff and volunteers about Climate Change and Fire at the park.

Learn about the effects of climate change and fire events at Chino Hills State Park with Ian Bernstein, Jennifer Langer, and Michael Lindsey!

03/18/2021

Varietal Grove Tasting Tours

🍋Additional dates added for
Citrus Varietal Grove Tours 🍊

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/varietal-grove-tasting-tours-tickets-146609431757

For a limited time, we welcome you to join us for a unique experience on a tour of our Citrus Varietal Grove.

02/04/2021

Varietal Grove Tasting Tour

2021 Citrus Varietal Grove Tours

For a limited time, we welcome you to join us for a unique experience on a tour of our Citrus Varietal Grove. In year’s past, we provided free citrus tasting. This year, like last, our operation is limited by COVID restrictions. So we are providing an opportunity for you to join a tour where you will be able to sample some of the more than 70 varieties of oranges, lemons, limes, mandarins, grapefruit and/or kumquats. Sampling is only allowed on one of these tours. Only members of the same household will be allowed on each tour. For more information and to book a tour, go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/varietal-grove-tasting-tour-tickets-139686466983

For a limited time, we welcome you to join us for a unique experience on a tour of our Citrus Varietal Grove.

10/22/2020

State announces Riverside County moved back to purple tier, businesses to adjust within 72 hours

The Park Museum is closed due to updated county COVID restrictions.

https://www.countyofriverside.us/NewsHighlights/TabId/96/ArtMID/487/ArticleID/561/State-announces-Riverside-County-moved-back-to-purple-tier-businesses-to-adjust-within-72-hours.aspx#gsc.tab=0

Oct. 20, 2020 Riverside County NEWS RELEASE Media Contact: Joint Information Line (951) 955-5087 Public contact: 2-1-1 State announces Riverside County moved back to purple tier, businesses to adjust within 72 hours Local officials remind residents to get tested and wear masks to slow the spread The...

07/07/2020

UC Riverside discovers first effective treatment for citrus-destroying disease

Great news from UCR!

UC Riverside scientists have found the first substance capable of controlling Citrus Greening Disease, which has devastated citrus farms in Florida and also threatens California.

05/25/2020

State of California v. Jukichi Harada

In 1916, Jukichi Harada, a Japanese immigrant, fought the state of California for the right to own property in Riverside. Robyn Peterson, Riverside Metropolitan Museum director, shared the story of the Harada Family and the landmark court case that represented the issues of civil rights, immigration, assimilation and U.S. citizenship as part of the “2018 Local Content Vehicles Cities Tour” : https://www.c-span.org/video/?454811-1/state-california-v-jukichi-harada#

In 1916, Jukichi Harada, a Japanese immigrant, fought the state of California for the right to own property in Riverside. Robyn Peterson, Riverside Metropolitan Museum director, tells the story of…

05/24/2020

Palm Trees

Have you ever wondered about all the palm trees we have in the park? Check out this video from Jennifer about the history of the palm tree in Riverside!

05/23/2020

Ken Kramer's About San Diego | Escondido Citrus | Season 2

Check out this video on nearby Escondido, a once-major citrus producing area, providing oranges and lemons for the entire country: https://www.pbs.org/video/ken-kramers-about-san-diego-escondido-citrus/

Escondido was once known around the world for lemons and other citrus fruits grown here.

05/22/2020

The History of the Meyer Lemon

Do you know which of our lemon varieties is the sweetest? Check out this video from Nick about the history of the Meyer Lemon!

05/21/2020

Riverside Chinatown, California: This Place Matters

“In the late 1880s, up to 2,500 Chinese pioneers called Riverside Chinatown home. Today, this place is an archeological site, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.” Check out the video to learn more about this important historical and cultural resource in Riverside! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuH_Wx8-FqA

Riverside Chinatown, 1885-?

05/20/2020

Monomania L.A.: David Boulé and the California Orange

It all started with a souvenir from the past -- an Arcadian vision of a manicured citrus orchard set against snow-capped mountains, printed in color on a penny postcard, and on sale at a paper ephemera show in San Diego. Thirty-five years, numerous flea markets, and countless eBay searches later, David Boulé has assembled what's perhaps the largest single collection of materials related to the production and promotion of California oranges. California Citrus State Historic Park has benefited immensely from this collection, as we have photos and other materials from Mr. Boulé in our various exhibits throughout the park. Check out this short clip to learn more about his collection: https://www.kcet.org/shows/artbound/monomania-la-david-boule-and-the-california-orange-0

David Boulé has assembled perhaps the largest single collection of materials related to the production and promotion of California oranges.

05/19/2020

Agave

Agave play an important role in our local landscape and history. Check out this video from Jennifer to learn more about evolution, natural selection, and genetic diversity while focusing on this unique plant we have in the park!

05/18/2020

As you walk through the park or around your neighborhood, now is a great time to practice being a good nature observer. Stand still and quiet to see what you notice. What do you hear and smell? Can you see anything you would have missed normally? We hope you enjoy these snapshots of the park--can you guess where any of these were taken?

05/17/2020

Article Series (U.S. National Park Service)

Theme studies are important documents prepared under the guidance of the National Park Service to provide a national historic context for specific topics in American history. “This volume seeks to inspire more Americans to discover the stories of America’s Asian and Pacific Island heritage… Designed to be inviting and inspirational, these essays are not intended to be encyclopedic or comprehensive. Instead, we hope to reach local historians, planners, elected officials, AAPI communities, and all Americans interested in linking power of place to the ideas, people, and movements that have been meaningful to American society.” Check out “Finding a Path Forward: Asian American Pacific Islander National Historic Landmarks Theme Study” here: https://www.nps.gov/articles/series.htm?id=37E8E9F7-1DD8-B71B-0B828D45BDC9222D

05/16/2020

A mother shares her food memories of growing up in Mexico

Check out this interesting interview by Patricia Escárcega of her mother, Maria Teresa Escárcega, about picking and packing citrus around the park, their family connection to the Bracero Program, and much, much more: https://www.latimes.com/food/newsletter/2020-05-09/tasting-notes-mothers-day-escarcega-tasting-notes

In honor of Mother's Day, critic Patricia Escárcega asked her mother to share memories of growing up in Mexico.

05/15/2020

The Gage Canal

Built by Matthew Gage between 1885 and 1889, the Gage Canal is nearly 20 miles long and doubled the citrus-producing area of Riverside. Join Nick as he explores this important historical feature that still supplies water to local citrus groves like California Citrus State Historic Park today.

05/14/2020

Asian Americans | Night 1: Breaking Ground & A Question of Loyalty

We’re so excited about the new PBS series “Asian Americans,” which premiered this week. “Asian Americans is a five-hour film series that delivers a bold, fresh perspective on a history that matters today, more than ever. As America becomes more diverse, and more divided while facing unimaginable challenges, how do we move forward together? Told through intimate personal stories, the series will cast a new lens on U.S. history and the ongoing role that Asian Americans have played.” Check out part 1 here: https://www.pbs.org/video/breaking-ground-a-question-of-loyalty-night-one-kqcjmy/

New immigrants arrive and adapt to life in America.

05/13/2020

Cahuilla Uses of Native Plants

Historically, the Cahuilla people would have lived within the area of California Citrus State Historic Park, and continue to play an important leadership role in our region. Check out this video from Jennifer exploring how the Cahuilla people used the native landscape as an important source of food, and where many of these plants still exist near the park visitor center today.

05/12/2020

Easy DIY Bird Feeders! | Full-Time Kid | PBS LearningMedia

This simple activity is a great way to learn about the wildlife and nature that live in your own backyard! With just a few household items, try to create your own homemade bird feeders, and then practice being good nature observers when the birds come to visit!
https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/easy-diy-bird-feeders-full-time-kid/full-time-kid-birdfeeder/#.Xp4ypVNKjOQ

This simple activity is a great way to learn about the wildlife and nature that live in your own backyard! With just a few household items, try and create your own homemade bird feeders. And check out our episode on birdhouses too!

05/11/2020

California Citrus State Historic Park: The Eliza Tibbets Story

This #MondayMemory is brought to you by Snoboy oranges! Who remembers visiting the parent Washington navel orange tree when they were younger? Share your story with us in the comments.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVzYYSAWIp8

Produced exclusively for California State Parks copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

05/10/2020

These two moms are the treasures of Riverside’s Casa Blanca neighborhood

Early Riverside settler Eliza Tibbets’ orange tree seedlings may have given birth to the city’s citrus industry — the golden treasure that made this region prosperous. However, it was two Mexican mothers whose names have been lost to history who are the true treasures – or tesoros, in Spanish – of the Casa Blanca neighborhood in Riverside after they took a bold public stand for their children’s education. Check out this article by Frances Vasquez and join us in celebrating all mothers and mother-figures today: https://www.pe.com/2017/05/11/these-two-moms-are-the-treasures-of-riversides-casa-blanca-neighborhood/

Their names were lost to history, but their fight for their children’s education left a mark on Riverside.

05/09/2020

Exploring Riverside's Chinese American History

Asian and Asian American laborers--including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Filipino, and Sikh--were crucial members of the early citrus industry, bringing horticultural knowledge of citrus from their home countries to Southern California. This month, we celebrate the important contributions of Asian immigrants and Asian Americans to the citrus industry by highlighting the hidden histories and untold stories of their labor. Please enjoy this short video by the California Office of Historic Preservation, which explores Riverside's Chinese American history, including great historic images and information about our local citrus industry: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7lbf-NFOA0&feature=youtu.be

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05/08/2020

Games . Family History Fun | ARTHUR | Official Site | PBS KIDS

Oral histories have been a crucial part of the work of park historians on the Relevancy and History Project and our ongoing efforts to represent hidden histories and untold stories of the diverse groups of people who made the citrus industry possible.

Now is a great time for kids and adults alike to practice connecting with family and friends using oral history, whether it be within your own household or for a virtual visit. This game is a fun way for children to practice their oral history skills by interviewing family members! Build interview questions, decorate your interview sheet, and then print it at the end, and the budding historians out there are ready for their first interview! https://pbskids.org/arthur/games/family-history-fun#/

05/08/2020

Who's ready for the weekend? Tell us your citrus mood in the comments!

05/07/2020

Pachappa Camp

Watch park historian Steven Moreno-Terrill and Prof. Ed Chang discuss Pachappa Camp, the first Koreatown on the U.S. mainland and an important site of community for Korean immigrants in Riverside, as well as an important source of skilled labor for the citrus industry.

05/06/2020

What’s a Supermoon and Just How Super Is It? | Education | PBS SoCal

Keep an eye out this week for the supermoon! The term “supermoon” has been popping up a lot in the news and on social media over the past few years. But what are supermoons, why do they occur, and are they really that super? Learn more here: https://www.pbssocal.org/education/at-home-learning/whats-supermoon-just-super/

The term “supermoon” has been popping up a lot in the news and on social media over the past few years. But what are supermoons, why do they occur and how can they be used as an educational tool for K-12 students?

05/05/2020

Casa Blanca: 104 Years of Cinco De Mayo in a Riverside Barrio

Just down the street from the park is the Casa Blanca neighborhood, a community with a rich history of families who worked in the citrus industry. Simona Valero, a 98 year old community leader featured in our exhibit, reminisces about Cinco De Mayo: "When my dad came in 1911 [to work in the citrus groves], they were already celebrating Cinco De Mayo...The women swept the dirt streets and watered it down for the parade," she says, recalling the early days when a multi-piece band of musicians made of local residents marched down unpaved streets. "Something beautiful about that time. At 5 a.m., the band would play while the American flag was raised, first of course. Then we raised the Mexican flag." Check out this article by Ed Fuentes to learn more about this rich cultural tradition: https://www.kcet.org/socal-focus/casa-blanca-104-years-of-cinco-de-mayo-in-a-riverside-barrio

05/04/2020

Unique "Body Part" Citrus

Check out this video from park historian Megan as she explores the more unique varieties of citrus we have in the park, all named after parts of the human body! From the Moro blood orange to the Australian finger lime to the fingered citron, go on a quick world tour of the weirder side of citrus.

05/03/2020

YOK Center - Welcome

In commemoration of May being Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we will be highlighting each of our Relevancy and History Project community partners this weekend, and all of the wonderful work they do in our local community to preserve the important histories of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Each of these groups has contributed their knowledge and time to the park for our exhibits and events, and we are eternally grateful!

Today we are highlighting the Young Oak Kim Center for Korean American Studies at UC Riverside, whose mission is to “lead the United States in studying issues related to Korean diaspora and Korean American identity issues” and to “encourage and facilitate the free exchange of ideas and perspectives on topics related to Korean American Studies in an environment of respect and civility,” among other things. Pictured here with park historian Steven Moreno-Terrill is Professor Edward Chang, YOK Center Director and Professor of Ethnic Studies at UC Riverside. Visit their website to learn more about this important organization, and to see how you can help their mission: https://yokcenter.ucr.edu/