Have not been in the museum since it has been renovated. Limited space to display all of the rich heritage of Riverside and the area.
We stopped here on our way into California. It was close to the freeway. Free parking in the garage. Look at their website for which garage to park in. The suggested donation was reasonable. We wanted somewhere to get out of the car and stretch our legs for a short while. This was just right. It IS small but a lot is filled in this small space. The restrooms were clean, too. We spent about an hour here. Then back on the road.
The exhibit on military service men and women was moving and respectfully done. Enjoyed the Ansel Adams temporary exhibit and the local focus. The exhibits are well maintained and offer more variety than I was expecting. Great was to spend a few hours. Limited hours and donations accepted.
Just happened to be walking by, had not been in years. No entry fee, but request donations. Loved all the habitats that were set up, getting an up close look at the nature in the area. The war exhibit also very interesting. Must go upstairs to see the nature center
Stopped in as I had some time. This would be a great museum for children. Interesting mix of items - some hands on. A nice collection of items related to US armed forces - was a bit surprised to find Civil War artifacts in a museum in California.
The Riverside Metropolitan Museum is a museum for everyone. The admission is free, and the suggested donation is $3/visitor. The museum is not only showcasing different interesting categories, it is also accepting small item donations for the display board. It is one of the most popular sightseeing spots in downtown Riverside.
no charge, donations accepted. took maybe 1 hour to go through ground floor. interesting local info about area and Rin Tin Tin.
The staff was delightful and courteous...just as I remembered from my childhood years. I still love it!!
This small museum is definitely worth a visit when visiting Riverside. The main gallery has rotating exhibits and there is always something interesting to view. There are displays of local history such as animal habitats and native American artifacts. Currently there is a display called "Force of Arms" which features military artifacts from the Civil War, WWI, WWII and present day. Many of the items were donated by and feature Riverside veterans. The display features uniforms, medals and personal papers. There is also a display about Rin Tin Tin which also has a Riverside and military connection about service dogs. Upstairs features a John Muir exhibit. The museum has donation boxes with a suggested $3 donation. A small price to pay for an educational activity. The gift shop has some wonderful books that highlight the Inland Empire but there are toys and small gifts as well. You can view all exhibits in about an hour. Closed Mondays.
This is a great place to start learning about Riverside and the history of the citrus business and how the area developed. Always interesting, across from the Art Museum and Mission Inn, walkable from Marriott.