Mount Rubidoux Historic District, Riverside California

Little Mount Rubidoux and the Mount Rubidoux Historic District is one of the most impressive neighborhoods in the City of Riverside. I’m biased of course because I love historic homes and I love nature; and it’s in this neighborhood where those two worlds are inextricably intertwined. In 1908 around the tail end of Riverside’s wealthiest period, when American elites, Presidents and other public figures like John Muir, Booker T. Washington and Charles Lummis were spending time here, this neighborhood was subdivided and deed restrictions were put in place to ensure that only the grandest homes were built here. Over the next 25 years this little mountain was developed with incredible homes that have only grown more impressive with time. Gothic and English Revival, California Craftsman, Mission and Spanish Revival all designed by some of the most well known architects in Southern California at that time. Franklin Burnham, Garrett Van Pelt, Henry Jekel, Robert Spurgeon, Stanley Wilson, Seely Pillar all added to the neighborhood’s diversity and to this day when you walk these streets you can’t help but be in awe of the homes and their surroundings. My favorite aspects of the natural terrain, the granite outcrops, mature trees of sycamore, cedar, oak, palm and citrus are mostly hidden in these back gardens but just a short walk down the street you can cross the Buena Vista Bridge and be up on the trails of Mount Rubidoux. If you’re looking for a historic home here in Riverside give me a call, I’ll be happy to help.

 

Little Mount Rubidoux and the Mount Rubidoux Historic District is one of the most impressive neighborhoods in the City of Riverside. I’m biased of course because I love historic homes and I love nature; and it’s in this neighborhood where those two worlds are inextricably intertwined. In 1908 around the tail end of Riverside’s wealthiest period, when American elites, Presidents and other public figures like John Muir, Booker T. Washington and Charles Lummis were spending time here, this neighborhood was subdivided and deed restrictions were put in place to ensure that only the grandest homes were built here. Over the next 25 years this little mountain was developed with incredible homes that have only grown more impressive with time. Gothic and English Revival, California Craftsman, Mission and Spanish Revival all designed by some of the most well known architects in Southern California at that time. Franklin Burnham, Garrett Van Pelt, Henry Jekel, Robert Spurgeon, Stanley Wilson, Seely Pillar all added to the neighborhood’s diversity and to this day when you walk these streets you can’t help but be in awe of the homes and their surroundings. My favorite aspects of the natural terrain, the granite outcrops, mature trees of sycamore, cedar, oak, palm and citrus are mostly hidden in these back gardens but just a short walk down the street you can cross the Buena Vista Bridge and be up on the trails of Mount Rubidoux. If you’re looking for a historic home here in Riverside give me a call, I’ll be happy to help

Verbiage from the City of Riverside Historic District Documents

This district includes large estate homes which were built primarily between 1908-1930 and are the finest of the Mile Square historic housing stock. Large Craftsman and Period Revival homes on estate lots are clustered around Mt. Rubidoux and Little Mt. Rubidoux. Development of the Mt. Rubidoux subdivision first occurred in 1908 at a time when Riverside was entering a new growth period. The large estate lots were meant to accommodate the grand homes of the wealthy and elite in Riverside. The Mt. Rubidoux subdivision also served as an early gateway to Riverside via Seventh Street and the Buena Vista bridge. The architecturally dynamic estate homes which remain in their original and outstanding setting (Buena Vista Bridge and Seventh Street stone gateway, hillside lots, ornamental neighborhood retaining walls and sidewalks, good views, abundant landscaping) are still a much desired and well-maintained component of the Mile Square historic housing stock.