Located on Magnolia Avenue, down the street from California Baptist University, resides Riverside’s Heritage House.
The Heritage House is a Victorian-style home owned by the Riverside Metropolitan Museum. It is free to visit and just a short walk from the university’s main campus, in the center of Riverside.
The elaborate home originally belonged to James and Catherine Bettner. The married couple settled in Riverside soon after it was built in the 1870s.
The home was built in 1891 for Catherine Bettner. It stands out because it is designed with a raised foundation in a prominent location that at one point in time could be seen by all of the Bettners neighbors.
The Bettners home became the Riverside Heritage House in 1963, when the Junior League of Riverside wanted to find a home that depicted what life was like in the 1890s.
Lia Riccio, sophomore history major, said conserving history and honoring it is important.
“It is good to take time to remember history so that you can pass on the stories of who lived here before, learn form the past, and use it to shape the future,” Riccio said.
Riccio also recommended all students take time to check out the Heritage House.
“It is a good thing for students to attend because a lot of CBU students aren’t from around the area, so it is good for them to learn about the city they are living in now,” Riccio said.
The Heritage House hosts many events in which students can participate in. Estimates from its website show that 15,000 people visit every year and events boast well over 1,000 participants.
Kimberly Gledhill, junior sociology major, said sh would like to see what is inside the house but has not attended any events yet.
“I saw the Heritage House on Magnolia Avenue but did not know that you could tour it and that they have events,” Gledhill said. “I would love to go there because it is gorgeous. I enjoy learning about the history of where I live and I love museums.”
Melissa Filmore, resident director of the Point living area, mentioned other ways for students to see historic Riverside.
“It’s really special to have something so unique and close by. There are quite a few historic landmarks right in Riverside that are easy to check out, and all have stories that give you insight into the area of Riverside,” Fillmore said.
The Heritage House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
It is open to the public Friday through Sunday and operating hours start at 12 p.m. admission is free.
