Historical Markers in
Riverside County, California

1890 Menifee School 1909 Indio Schoolhouse 1918 Romoland School 33-barreled Organs 36th Evacuation Hospital (SM) 390th Bomb Group (H) Banning Woman's Club Clubhouse Barren or Bountiful Beaumont Library District Bel Vista House Blythe Intake California-Arizona Maneuver Area Camp Young Airstrip Cannons Catapults Coachella Valley Recipients Corn Springs Corona Founders Corona Historic Preservation Society Corona History Cottonwood School Coxcomb Divisional Camp Crescent Bath House De Anza Camp De Anza Crossing of the Santa Ana River Desert Inn Desert Strike Desert Training Center Desert Training Center Dr. June Robertson McCarroll Dr. Smith / Dr. Peppers Office Dripping Springs Watering Hole Dwight David Eisenhower Eagle Mountain Iron Eisenhower Mountain Eisenhower Walk of Honor Estudillo Mansion First Congregational Church First National Bank Frances S. Stevens School Fred McCall Family Galleano Winery General Telephone Building Giant Desert Figures Gus Lederer 1868-1932 Hamilton School, Anza Hans Christensen Family Harada House Heart o' the Hills Hemet Maze Stone Highgrove Hydroelectric Plant Historic Lake Hemet Dam History of Electricity in the Coachella Valley Indian Wells Jacob Bergman Jacqueline Cochran James B. Ferrell Ranch Jensen-Alvarado Ranch Jimmy Swaggart's "Date" Juan Diego Flats Kenworthy Kings Inn Kirkpatrick Family Kittilson & Brown Lt Col Shunzo Kido LykkenĀ’s Department Store Martinez Indian Agency McCallum House Methodist Episcopal Church Mission Inn Moorten Botanical Garden Motte Brothers Mount Rubidoux National POW MIA Memorial North Shore Beach & Yacht Club Oasis Hotel Old City Hall Old Temescal Road Palen Pass Palm Desert Historical Society Vietnam War Memorial Palo Verde Irrigation District Diversion Dam Parent Washington Navel Orange Tree Patricia H. Birdsall Pinacate Plaza Theatre Pochea Indian Village Site Quail Valley Country Club "Ramona" Riverside Art Center and Museum Romero Pass Rubidoux Grist Mill Site Saahatpa Santa Fe Station Santa Rosa Rancho Scythed Chariots Serrano Tanning Vats Shaver's Well Site of Butterfield Stage Station Site of Contractors General Hospital Site of First Community Church Site of First House in Riverside County Site of Third Serrano Adobe Smiley Place Southern Hotel Soviet Transpolar Landing Site Speed-of-Light Experiment Street Marker Tanning Vat Taylor's Ferry The Chiriaco Family The Cork'n Bottle Building The Desert Training Center The First Marsh Grapefruit Trees into California The Great Oak The Hot Springs The Salton Sea The Wolf Store Tramway Gas Station Transpolar Record Flight Site Treaty of Temecula Trujillo Adobe United States of America Medal Of Honor Memorial Universalist-Unitarian Church USS Liberty Tree - USN Captain William L. McGonagle Veterans Memorial Veterans Remembrance Memorial Walter Zeiders War Dog Memorial Water Trough Welwood Murray Memorial Library Where Are The Joshua Trees? Whitewater Wiley Well William Newport Ranch Young Divisional Camp
The first drive-in movie theater in the world was opened in California in 1933. The theater, called the Drive-In Theatre, was located in Camden, New Jersey. However, the drive-in movie theater became more popular in California and eventually spread across the country.
California random facts
Riverside County, located in Southern California, has a rich and diverse history that dates back thousands of years. The area was originally inhabited by several Native American tribes, including the Cahuilla, Serrano, and LuiseƱo peoples, who lived off the land and established their own unique cultures.

The arrival of Spanish explorers in the 18th century had a significant impact on Riverside County's history. Spanish missionaries established missions in the region, bringing Christianity and agricultural practices. The Spanish rule lasted until the early 19th century, when Mexico gained independence from Spain. The area then became part of Alta California.

In the mid-19th century, gold was discovered in California, sparking the famous Gold Rush. This led to a rapid influx of settlers into Riverside County, as people from all over the world came in search of fortune. Towns such as Riverside and San Jacinto grew rapidly, and agriculture became a major industry in the region.

The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw further development in Riverside County. The construction of railroads connected the region to larger cities like Los Angeles, making it easier for goods and people to move in and out of the area. The county also became known for its citrus industry, with vast orange groves covering the landscape.

In the modern era, Riverside County has grown into a populous and thriving region. It is home to several vibrant cities, including Riverside, Palm Springs, and Temecula. The county continues to be known for its agriculture, but has also diversified its economy with industries such as healthcare, education, and manufacturing. Today, Riverside County is a popular tourist destination, boasting picturesque landscapes, historic sites, and a rich cultural heritage.

This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Riverside County, California.

  • 1774 - Juan Bautista de Anza leads an expedition through Riverside County
  • 1821 - Mexico gains independence from Spain
  • 1824 - Riverside County becomes part of Mexico's Alta California province
  • 1848 - California becomes part of the United States after the Mexican-American War
  • 1850 - Riverside County is established as one of the original 27 counties of California
  • 1870 - The city of Riverside is founded
  • 1893 - The Mission Inn, a historic landmark in Riverside, is first opened
  • 1942 - The Naval Air Station in Corona is established during World War II
  • 1978 - Designated as a "playground of the stars," Palm Springs becomes a popular destination for celebrities
  • 1993 - The State Water Project is completed, providing water to Riverside County
  • 2010 - Riverside County becomes the fourth-most populous county in California