Riverside, Calif., is filled with rich history, and one of the best places to learn about it is the Heritage House, located on Magnolia Avenue within walking distance of California Baptist University. The house offers free tours on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. Reserve a spot on Eventbrite.com under Museum of Riverside’s Heritage House.
Workers built this home for Catherine Bettner in the late 1890s. It remains a unique piece of Riverside history, a reminder of the Victorian-style homes that once lined Magnolia Avenue. Visitors on a Heritage House tour are transported back in time, learning about Riverside’s past and the story of the home’s original owner.
During October and early November, tours take on a festive theme called “Behind the Black Veil.” Unique elements include docents dressed in black, veils draped over mirrors and insights into Victorian mourning practices.
Jo Matzo, who has volunteered at the Heritage House for 17 years and serves as docent chairperson, expressed her joy for these themed tours.
“All the docents really enjoy doing it because it’s something different. I enjoy passing on the knowledge of these traditions and where the practices we do today might have stemmed from. Part of working at the Heritage House is telling people where they came from,” Matzo said.
The October tours give visitors a glimpse into Victorian mourning practices, with decor that includes black-veiled mirrors, mostly closed windows and a wake vignette. Docents wear all-black Victorian mourning dresses during the tour.
Museum educator Teresa Woodard Belding shared her favorite details about the “Behind the Black Veil” tours.
“For me, it’s exciting to see many of our docent volunteers get into the spirit of the season. They all dress as if they are in mourning and give tours that focus on these rites and rituals, some of which are no longer practiced. It’s also wonderful to teach the community about the way Victorians mourned their deceased loved ones,” Woodard Belding said.
The Heritage House offers a meaningful connection to Riverside’s history, highlighting differences in mourning customs then and now. These discussions can bring the Riverside community together, sparking curiosity about how practices have evolved from the late 1800s to today.
Matzo has a talent for helping tour attendees connect with one another, even if they don’t know each other before the tour.
“People are people no matter when or where they were born. We may mourn the passing of loved ones differently, but everybody still mourns,” Matzo said.
These tours offer attendees a chance to explore Riverside’s community and history in a unique way. Many things have changed, but some remain the same.
Woodard Belding hopes visitors leave with a better understanding of their city after a tour at the Heritage House.
“My hope is that visitors will learn about the ways in which Victorian customs have changed or remained the same compared to how we mourn our dead today,” Woodard Belding said.
The Heritage House stands as one of Riverside’s jewels. As one of the last remaining Victorian homes in the area, it preserves a piece of the city’s heritage.
Not many residents know about the Heritage House or the tours and events held there. For a unique experience this October, a “Behind the Black Veil” tour is a perfect choice.
