Nancy Wenzel's involvement in Riverside has been extensive and deeply impactful. She graduated from Pitzer College with a BA in art history and, through the years, has worked in the photo archives of the Southwest Museum, taught kindergarten at St. Paul Lutheran School, where her husband was pastor, and worked at the Mission Inn Foundation/Museum as Curator of Education and History. After that, she worked for the Riverside County Regional Park and Open Space as a Supervising Interpreter at the Jensen/Alvarado Historic Ranch and Museum. Now retired, she serves on the boards of the Riverside Historical Society and the Riverside County Heritage Association with her husband, retired Pastor Glenn Wenzel, promoting their passion for local history. They have seven children and nine grandchildren.
To Nancy, Riverside embodies a sense of continuity and connection. It is a place where history, community, and personal legacy intertwine. The city's vibrant tapestry of past and present resonates deeply with her life's work and personal experiences, making Riverside not just a place but a meaningful part of her identity and family history.
"Riverside has been our chosen home since 1987. I remember driving around the fenced-in Mission Inn on my first visit to Riverside and wondering about this building. Little did I think it would become such a big part of my life." Nancy remembers, "While training the Mission docents for 11 years, I learned more and more about the history of Riverside and came to love Riverside. It is our home, a big city with a small-city feel."
What is your Mt. Rubidoux summit count (estimated)? We have climbed Mt. Rubidoux regularly as a family since 1986. Too many trips to count, now made with our children's children who call it Grandpa's mountain.
What is your favorite restaurant outside of Downtown or Magnolia Center? Cactus Cantina in Mission Grove.
What is the most beautiful building in Riverside? The Historic Courthouse.
What is your favorite Riverside non-profit organization? Riverside Historical Society.
What is your go-to sandwich in town? Grilled pastrami and Swiss on sourdough from Simple Simon's.
What is your idea of a perfect weekend day in Riverside? Church followed by a family gathering at our house.
Do you call it the Galleria or Tyler Mall? Tyler Mall.
What is one place in Riverside you would bring back if you could? Mission Inn Museum.
