Photo by Nathaniel Uy

The Mission Inn first opened in downtown Riverside in 1876 as a humble 12-room adobe boarding house.

By the 1890s Riverside had become one of the richest cities in the United States from a booming citrus industry, and the Inn began to expand. Frank Miller, the master innkeeper, sought to incorporate elements from each of California’s 21 missions in his vision of the Inn. After three decades, the Inn had added four wings and earned a reputation for being a grand resort hotel.

Presently, the Mission Inn has 239 guest rooms, including 28 suites; room rates start at $190. The property is now a national historical landmark and contains meeting and banquet spaces, a large outdoor courtyard, outdoor swimming pool and two wedding chapels.

It also includes a spa and restaurants such as Duane’s Prime Steaks and Seafood, the Mission Inn Restaurant and Spanish Patio, Las Campañas Mexican Cuisine & Cantina, Bella Trattoria and the Presidential Lounge.

Over the years, the Mission Inn has been visited by famous politicians, celebrities and 10 U.S. presidents. It also has an art gallery and a museum within its boundaries. The Mission Inn Museum is open daily from 9:30am-4:00pm.