California Citrus State Historic Park 9400 Dufferin Ave
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Our Mission California The mission of California State Parks is to provide for the health, inspiration and rassy, tree-shaded education of the people of California by helping G Citrus to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and areas evoke a quieter cultural resources, and creating opportunities State Historic Park for high-quality outdoor recreation. time — an era when the American dream might be found in a leafy evergreen grove, heavy California State Parks supports equal access. with golden fruit. Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who need assistance should contact the park at (951) 780-6222. If you need this publication in an alternate format, contact [email protected]. CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS P.O. Box 942896 Sacramento, CA 94296-0001 For information call: (800) 777-0369 (916) 653-6995, outside the U.S. 711, TTY relay service www.parks.ca.gov California Citrus State Historic Park 9400 Dufferin Ave. / Mail: 1879 Jackson St. Riverside, CA 92504 (951) 780-6222 © 2003 California State Parks (Rev. 2016) V isitors to California Citrus State NATIVE PEOPLE trauma, honoring their Historic Park are greeted at the park The area that is now Riverside County was cultural traditions, and entrance by a replica of an old-fashioned inhabited for centuries by diverse native contributing as vital roadside fruit stand. This charming “big peoples, including Serrano, Luiseño, community members. orange” structure, on the corner of Van Gabrielino-Tongva, Cupeño, Chemehuevi, CREATING THE Buren Boulevard and Dufferin Avenue in and Cahuilla. California Indians traveled CITRUS INDUSTRY Riverside, recalls an era that forever changed seasonally from village to village, following the landscape their food sources and The mission padres of Southern trade routes. They planted the first California. The maintained reciprocal Mediterranean Moro blood oranges park dedicates relationships with varieties on the over half of its neighboring tribes that grounds of Mission San Gabriel around 250 acres to enabled them to trade 1803. Emigrant Kentucky trapper William what was once foods and raw materials Wolfskill developed more acreage from the universal for tool making. Acorns, seedlings he obtained in 1841. In the mid- symbol of elderberries, yucca to-late 1800s, lemon, lime, and orange trees California’s role stalks, and agave roots grew in today’s downtown Los Angeles. in agriculture — were staples in diet. Then, in 1873, Eliza Tibbets of Riverside the citrus groves. Destructive policies obtained two young Bahia, or Washington Of all the crops by the U.S. government navel orange trees, from the U.S. that constitute Old-fashioned orange stand replica and public prejudice Department of Agriculture. California’s towards California agricultural legacy, juicy golden oranges Indians led to a decline of Native conjured an image of romance, prosperity, Americans working in the citrus industry. and abundance. Warm, dry summers and However, the 1903 move of Sherman cool, moist winters provide perfect growing Indian Institute to Riverside reestablished conditions. Between the late 1800s and a workforce of native people. the early 1900s, the groves spread across The school's "Outing System," a Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, Los controversial program supposed to Angeles, and Ventura counties, and into provide vocational training to California the Central Valley. This second California Indian students, essentially offered cheap “gold rush,” combined with innovative labor to local businesses. Hundreds methods of irrigation, fruit processing, of these students at Sherman Indian advertising, cooperative marketing, and Institute worked in the citrus industry railroad transportation, helped establish until the end of the program in the 1930s. California’s image as the land of sunshine Since then, California Indians have and opportunity. been recovering from their historical Harvesting oranges, ca. 1900 The Brazilian native orange was sweeter immigrants To quell conflicts over water, and more flavorful, had no seeds, and moved in to fill the newly formed Riverside its thick, easily peeled skin protected it the need. By Water Company began an during shipping. Today nearly all of the 1900 Riverside’s irrigation canal between Washington navel orange trees grown in citrus industry the Santa Ana River and California are descended from these two employed about Riverside. In order to gain original trees, one of which still grows at 3,000 Japanese title to 640 acres on which he the intersection of Riverside’s Arlington workers, had filed a claim, Canadian and Magnolia Avenues. hired through jeweler Matthew Gage was Japanese labor given three years to bring THE WORKFORCE contractors. water to the land. In the late 1800s, Chinese labor contractors Between 1900 Restoring a citrus landscape Between 1885 and hired Chinese workers to replace the and 1920, 1889, he built a canal California Indian workers. By 1885 nearly Japanese were the largest labor group in 11.91 miles long from 80 percent of the labor force was Chinese. the citrus industry. However, anti-immigrant the Santa Ana River Their considerable horticultural skills and sentiment also drove them out. Around 1919, in San Bernardino knowledge made citriculture enormously Hispanic workers began to arrive, along and later extended successful. However, a climate of anti- with other immigrant nationalities. They it an additional 8.22 Chinese sentiment, came with their families miles. The flume of as well as the Chinese and formed communities the original canal Exclusion Act of 1882, wherever they worked. By (later replaced by caused their numbers the mid-1940s, Hispanics the Mockingbird to dwindle. constituted approximately Canyon Dam) crossed With fewer Chinese two-thirds of the citrus Mockingbird Canyon. available, Japanese industry’s labor force. The canal doubled The Gage Canal Women were the mainstay the citrus-producing in the packing houses area of Riverside and still supplies water to local Modern packing house while men tended the citrus ranches and the groves of California Citrus citrus groves. State Historic Park. Between 1891 IRRIGATION — THE GAGE CANAL and 1893, growers Lured by land promoters and Southern united to form California railroads, the dreams of large and cooperative small investors took root in the California organizations for soil. Riverside, a pioneer agricultural marketing citrus. By settlement, was established in 1870 by the 1908 a partnership Southern California Colony Association. between the Packing house, ca. 1900 Artistic crate label California Fruit Growers Exchange (later The income-producing groves also Sunkist) and the Southern Pacific Railroad provide a backdrop for the palm-tree- launched advertising campaigns to promote lined trails, walkways, entryway, and the sale of citrus in the Midwest and Eastern picnic areas. The Varietal Grove features at U.S. markets. Among the most enduring least 75 varieties of citrus. creations of the citrus industry were The Sunkist Visitor Center / Museum, open crate labels. Fridays – Sundays, Though packing has exhibits on the companies significance of the NATURAL introduced the citrus industry as FEATURES labels to identify well as a sales area. The terrain is somewhat their particular The park is open hilly, with elevations ranging from 920 to products, buyers daily, with extended 1,060 feet above sea level. The Mockingbird soon began hours in summer. Canyon arroyo — a drainage tributary to the ordering fruit by Visitors may take Santa Ana River — bisects the park, abutting specific labels. self-guided tours foothills to the south. Approximately one- The labels, daily or a guided third of the park remains in its natural state designed by some tour on weekends. before the citrus boom. of the era’s best Call (951) 780-6222 The most common native growth along the artists, became to schedule guided river bottom wash of Mockingbird Canyon more and more Tour group at orange sizer tours for schools or is willow and mule fat scrub. Non-native ornate — reaching large groups. plant species such as eucalyptus and giant their peak between 1900 and 1930. Today This “park within a park” reflects typical reed also exist here. Typical species in the these works are collectible, garnering top building design and landscaping of the upland portions of the canyon include dollar for rare originals in prime condition. early 1900s, with Craftsman / California Bungalow-style TODAY AND BEYOND structures. Grassy, tree- California Citrus State Historic Park opened shaded areas evoke a a in August 1993 as a living historical museum quieter time in a leafy reflecting the citrus industry heritage. Nearly evergreen grove, heavy 200 acres of citrus groves managed by the with golden fruit. Friends of California Citrus Park produce Future plans include navel and Valencia oranges, grapefruits, re-creation of the key and lemons. Revenues generated under a components of the historic nonprofit management agreement help fund citrus industry and expanded new facilities and programs and maintain the interpretive programs. citrus groves in the park. Visitor Center California sagebrush, RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES NEARBY STATE PARKS several species of The Sunkist Center is open on Fridays, • Chino Hills State Park buckwheat, blue Saturdays, and Sundays. Visitors may also 4721 Sapphire Rd., Chino Hills 91709 elderberry, miner’s explore the trails, have a picnic, and (951) 780-6222 lettuce, nightshade, attend a Junior Ranger program or an • Lake Perris State Recreation Area and desert thorn. Urban Campfire. 17801 Lake Perris Drive, Perris 92571 The Sunkist Center, set in citrus groves and (951) 940-5600 / 5603 WILDLIFE rose gardens next to a courtyard and gazebo, Though the natural is also available for weddings, reunions, Red-tailed ecosystem has been hawk special events, and meetings. affected by the citrus The group picnic area typifies the look industry, the reservoir and year-round and ambience of the pre-World War II irrigation water attract waterfowl and other period — peaceful, natural, and conducive species that would normally visit only to family picnicking and strolling under seasonally. The dry wash in Mockingbird the trees.