riverside metropolitan museum

Quite a collection for such a small museum. Admission is FREE! We gave a donation at the end and on street free parking can easily be found. We have never had any issues with our car, just read the signs.Call ahead for hours - on the website it said 12-4 it was 1:30 - 4:30 today. Came upon a "Spirit Collection" first. Goes on to explain - during the 17th century, scientists in Britain and Europe proved, through experiment, that solutions of alcohol- called "distiller spirits' could preserve soft tissue of living things.Wandering on to the next few windows/exhibits - Snake skins, turtle shells, stuffed shore birds (snowy plover, a long-billed dowicher), SoCal butterflies (information, history etc), pocket gopher, barn owls, raccoon, stripped skunk and a great scene from "a delicate web of life in the Mohave desert'.Then the telling of Riverside's story in 50 objects. An orchard heater (smudge pot from 1914), bicycle from around 1890), stagecoach foot warmer (1875), citrus clippers (1920) and a Bowler Hat (1920) from the Stetson Co. are all in one room with a video playing on a TV on the back wall (lots of black and white photos set to what sounds like square-dancing music).Within this same room a plaque talks about the boom in citrus in SoCal as ranching and cattle industry were declining and colleges began to be built. There are also a few videos playing throughout the museum that are quite helpful (tons of photography).Also, objects from Riverside's second Chinatown (around 1855); Tea tin, Mah Jhongg Tiles, pipes, bowls, and plates. There is also a small plaque telling you the history of Chinatown and the second Chinatown.Native Americans of SoCal are on display as well. Jewelry, weavings, musical instruments, tools, clothing and way of life are all so interesting. John Tortes "Chief" Meyers (1880-1971) major league catcher in baseball and played in four World Series! He was considered one of the best catchers and played alongside Babe Ruth, Jim Thorpe and Casey Stengel.I could go on but why not come and see for yourself?!

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.

Stopped in to see the exhibits. They had a nice small museum and were showing a John Muir collection. Very informative. The animal section was nice and about desert and local wildlife. Other sections were good and informative. Did not take long to see but was worth it and there was no charge. It is right downtown by a lot of other interesting old buildings.

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.

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.

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.

The staff was delightful and courteous...just as I remembered from my childhood years. I still love it!!

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.

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.

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.

I always enjoy what is on display...I wish I didn't live so far away. Very professional, high quality presentations.

RMM does an excellent job of showcasing local artists in rotating exhibits throughout the year. They also have a more formal gallery that shows their other collections, such as Plein Air artists of last century. Thier gift shop is a wonderful place to find everything from local crate labels to handmade jewelry and scarfs at great prices. They also do an art sale of local artists once a year to support the museum - which is a great time to get your own paintings for home. Stop in, then stop in quarterly to watch the changing art.

Went for special exhibit on contemporary Native women artists, stayed two hours. Military artifacts, history of citrus agricultural, live animals and natural history museum. By donation. Also, tiny but fantastic gift shop where we purchased art by one of the exhibitors. Docents very helpful.worth going to Riverside just for it. Just be careful with outside construction/scaffolding. Looks strange but ignore and get inside to enjoy!