The restored Riverside History Walk features 33 commemorative stones embedded in the sidewalk on Main Street between 10th and 12th streets near the historic courthouse. (Courtesy of Claudia Rodriguez)
After 13 years in storage, Riverside's History Walk is returning to Main Street — a collection of 33 commemorative stones that tell the story of the city's transformation from frontier settlement to flourishing California community.
The bronze medallions embedded in granite mark pivotal moments spanning more than a century of civic and cultural history, from the city's founding and agricultural heritage to the establishment of its educational institutions.
Soroptimist International of Riverside will rededicate the walk at 11:30 a.m. Dec. 9 at the corner of Main Street and University Avenue — exactly 49 years after the stones were first installed as a Bicentennial gift to the city.
"This was and is a significant project for the Soroptimists, one that they take very seriously," said Claudia Rodriguez, who led endowment fundraising. "As I understand it, they have an ongoing committee dedicated to the walk."
The original 31 stones were installed Dec. 7, 1976, in the Forest of Lights plaza at Main and Fifth streets in front of Raincross Square Convention Center. When the convention center was renovated in July 2012, the stones went into Museum of Riverside storage.
After multiple failed attempts, the stones were permanently reinstalled on Main Street between 10th and 12th streets near the historic courthouse. Two new stones were added during the July 2025 reinstallation commemorating Riverside National Cemetery and the establishment of California Baptist University, bringing the total to 33.
Building community support
Rodriguez said building an endowment to ensure long-term maintenance required reaching out to organizations committed to preserving local history. She contacted the Old Riverside Foundation for their preservation work and Friends of Mount Rubidoux because one stone commemorates the Sunrise Service.
"My pitch to the non-sponsors wasn't much more than asking to help preserve history and the walk itself," Rodriguez said.
The endowment includes 23 contributing organizations and individuals. Old Riverside Foundation and Uptown Kiwanis made leading contributions, joined by groups including the Military Affairs Committee of the Riverside Chamber of Commerce, Friends of the Mission Inn, La Sierra University, Riverside Historical Society, League of Women Voters, Spanish Town Heritage Foundation and others.
"Their donations confirm the commitment within the community to preserving history and getting the exposure for service groups to support their causes," Rodriguez said.
New signage added
New interpretive signage will provide context for the walk with a project history, press pictures from the 1976 installation and a QR code linking to detailed descriptions of each commemorated event.
"I would hope people will scan the code to learn more, but that most will walk stone to stone to see the events captured," Rodriguez said.
The City Council approved guidelines in November allowing new stones for post-1976 events. Proposals must represent events in cultural, social, economic or political history and will be reviewed by the city's Historic Preservation Officer with input from Soroptimist International and local history organizations including the Cultural Heritage Board, Old Riverside Foundation and Riverside Historical Society.
Proposing organizations must fund fabrication and contribute $500 to the endowment. Future stones will follow the walk's pattern south toward 14th Street, then cross Main Street and continue north to City Hall.
More information: The Riverside History Walk rededication ceremony will be held at 11:30 a.m. Dec. 9 at the corner of Main Street and University Avenue. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit raincrossgazette.com/calendar.
Full list of endowment sponsors: Old Riverside Foundation, Uptown Kiwanis, Military Affairs Committee of the Riverside Chamber of Commerce, Friends of the Mission Inn, Daughters of the American Revolution - Aurentia Chapter, La Sierra Chamber of Commerce, La Sierra University, Soroptimist International of Riverside, Friends of Mount Rubidoux, Riverside Historical Society, Riverside City Teachers Association, Riverside Community Players, Exchange Club of Magnolia Center, Zonta Club of Riverside, League of Women Voters, Riverside Rotary Club, Kiwanis Club of Riverside, First Congregational Church, Spanish Town Heritage Foundation, Native Daughters of the Golden West - Jurupa Parlor #296, Frank L Ricker Inc., Riverside County Bar Association, RCBA Dispute Resolution Services, Claudia and Matt Rodriguez, and Bill Gardner.
The annual event features vendors from Ten Thousand Villages, Inlandia Institute and dozens of nonprofits, with all proceeds benefiting community causes.
For 17 years, Frank Miller hosted Armistice Day services atop Mount Rubidoux, raising flags from nations around the world. In 1927, Canada took center stage in a ceremony featuring bagpipes, doves and a tribute to cross-border friendship that endures today.
