The Mission Inn Foundation welcomed hundreds of visitors to its new Main Street location during opening weekend Nov. 15-16, marking the organization's return to the pedestrian mall after a year away.
The foundation now occupies three storefronts at 3598 Main St., at the northeast corner of Sixth and Main streets, directly across from the Mission Inn's Amistad Dome. The new location opened with "On Peace and Friendship," an exhibit commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Frank A. Miller Testimonial Peace Tower on Mount Rubidoux.
"It feels like coming back home to be on Main Street again," said Christal Pennington, a Mission Inn Foundation docent. "The Foundation has done such a great job telling the story of Riverside, not just the Mission Inn, and so to be where they are physically more visible to more people is great. What a welcoming force for visitors and Riversiders alike."
Nancy Wenzel, who curated the Peace Tower exhibit, worked at the Mission Inn Foundation and Museum from 1990 to 2001 as curator of education and later both education and history. For her, the opening marked a personal return to downtown after 24 years.
"While installing the exhibit last week, we were happy to see streams of pedestrians on the mall," Wenzel said. "The Exhibit Opening on Sunday saw hundreds of people flocking into the MIF space. We were very happy to see so many people eager to see the exhibit and enjoy the new space."
The opening also showcased the foundation's educational mission through personal connections between visitors and local historians.
Adlyn Strelecki, writing on the Riverside History Enthusiasts Facebook page, described watching her son interact with local historian Glenn Wenzel during the opening.
"He was utterly engaged by our city's storyteller," Strelecki wrote. "Leaving the gallery, I realized the most valuable artifact wasn't behind glass or even the exhibit itself. It was the shared moment of connection between people. It's always about people."
The foundation's return to Main Street comes after its eviction from the Mission Inn in 2024. After spending a year at 3750 Market St., the organization secured the more prominent Main Street location ahead of the Mission Inn's Festival of Lights season.
"We can't wait to open our doors and continue celebrating Riverside's heritage, right where it belongs, on Main Street," Foundation President Jenn Gamble said when announcing the move.
The new space houses the foundation's retail operations, where visitors can purchase Glenn Wenzel's companion book "On Peace and Friendship," local photography, artwork, home decor and gifts. The location also serves as the departure point for the foundation's docent-led Downtown walking tours and specialty tours including historic churches, Olivewood Cemetery, the courthouse and murals, Mount Rubidoux, and architecture tours.
A commemorative walk up Mount Rubidoux is scheduled for Dec. 13, the actual 100th anniversary of the Peace Tower dedication.
More information: Mission Inn Foundation, 3598 Main St. Visit missioninnmuseum.org or call 951-781-8241. Tour bookings available at the foundation's website. The Mission Inn Foundation is open Sundays and Mondays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
