Museum of Riverside Celebrates 100 years

The Museum of Riverside is turning 100. As much as we all wish we could visit for a birthday party at the museum, the expansion and renovation are still underway. I have a special place in my memory for the tattered taxidermy, dingy darkness,  and dusty dioramas. Still, I am so excited to see what emerges in the upgraded galleries and brand-new building expansion. For now, we have to celebrate the museum away from the museum. A formal late fall recall of the Roaring 20s and the genesis of the Museum of Riverside will be held at the Riverside Municipal Auditorium.

Guests are invited to immerse themselves in a 1920s-themed evening, complete with an authentic speakeasy experience and all the glamour that defined the Jazz Age. The event begins with a cocktail hour at 5:30 p.m., where attendees can enjoy classic 1920s-inspired drinks and appetizers, with a special VIP Speakeasy that requires a password for entry.

Attendees are encouraged to dress in formal wear or go all out with flapper dresses, pinstripe suits, and other period attire. The night will feature a live jazz band, Charleston dance performances, and 1920s characters mingling with the crowd, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of clandestine gatherings of the time. The menu is curated to evoke the era, while signature cocktails will be served to elevate the experience further. In a heartfelt acknowledgment of the history of Southern California’s Indigenous communities, the museum will recognize its place on the traditional lands of the Cahuilla, Gabrielino-Tongva, Luiseño, and Serrano peoples. This is part of a larger effort by the museum to include the stories of the local native people as they would have them told.

The Museum of Riverside’s 100th anniversary gala is a celebration of the museum’s history, a salute to Riverside’s cultural legacy, and a glimpse into the future. With live and silent auctions and interactive experiences, the Gala promises to be a night long remembered.