California Citrus State Historic Park is an open-air museum in the city of Riverside, California, United States. As part of the state park system of California, it interprets the historic cultural landscape of the citrus industry. The park’s museum exhibits and interpretive features share the story of the citrus industry's role in the history and development of Southern California, and is told through the experiences of the diverse migrant and immigrant groups who made it all possible.[1] The 248-acre (100 ha) park was established in 1993.[2]
This California State Historic Park reveals the cultural, political, and environmental aspects of the time when "Citrus was King" in California, especially the Navel orange from Riverside, and recognizing the importance of the citrus industry in Southern California.
The design of the park is reminiscent of a 1900s city park, complete with an activity center, interpretive structure, amphitheater, picnic area, and demonstration groves of citrus tree orchards. The land contained within the park still continues to produce high-quality fruits. Free samples of the unique citrus fruits are available for visitors.[1]
The park's visitor center houses a museum about California's citrus industry, and antique citrus grove farm equipment is on display around the park.[1]
In popular culture
In 2002 Huell Howser Productions, in association with KCET/Los Angeles, featured the park in California's Golden Parks.[4]