The Mission Inn in Riverside California, built over a sixty year period beginning in 1876, is a living museum full of priceless art and antiquities. It has two onsite chapels, one is dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi and has glass works designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany in 1906 for a chapel in New York.
Many Della Robbia style ceramics from Italy,
are on stunning display throughout the property.
The Inn is a National Historic Landmark which you can tour on your own or with a docent. The art and artifacts overflow the spacious Inn and there is a museum with more art across the street that can also be toured.
Ten US presidents have visited The Inn,
and there is a presidential lounge dedicated to them.
The mission style interiors are comfortable and spacious, but the most amazing spaces for me are all the inner courtyards which are like beautiful outdoor rooms full of whimsical artwork and constant surprises.
Exploring is great fun as everywhere you look you find precious art and artifacts.
The clock tower has a glockenspiel with full size rotating figurines that is a replica of the original built in Nuremberg Germany in 1709.
The Inn has over 400 antique bells. One from Nanjing China dates from 1247 and is the oldest bell in Christendom.
Cheers to you from the fascinating and fun Mission Inn in Riverside California~
cindyknoke.com 
Ten US presidents? The place is nearly a western White House. Impressive, one way or the other.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a magnificent architecture!!
And 400 antique bells.. Wowwww… To manage such a grand place is beyond my imagination.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I am going back to see The Holiday lights. They had cranes and scaffolding on site and I hear the lights are spectacular. It must take a an army to light up the entire Inn!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Enjoy your time Cindy, and we we will be waiting for some more wonderful pictures!
LikeLike
Smiling. So kind & so appreciated Deeksha. Be well my friend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know, and the big question to me is why had I never heard of it until now. I’m making up for lost time though, we are going back to see the holiday lights which I hear are spectacular.
LikeLiked by 2 people
That might honestly be the most beautiful building I’ve ever seen: every inch is full of detail, and both the exterior and interior is extraordinary.
LikeLike
Thanks much! I am happy you see it like I do. We are going back to see The Holiday lights.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I look forward to those pictures!
LikeLike
So appreciated. Be well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You too!
LikeLike
❤ ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cindy, your photography is simply beautiful!
LikeLike
Reblogged this on charles french words reading and writing and commented:
Once again, here is more beautiful photography from Cindy Knoke!
LikeLike
Friends like you are why I so love blogging! Thank you Charles. You are very kind.
LikeLike
Good one!
My story;
https://wp.me/pb2uFu-6q
LikeLiked by 1 person
Merci beaucoup!
LikeLike
Fascinating architecture Cindy. 💛
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks & happy you enjoyed!
LikeLike
If you did not say it is in California I never guess that. The architecture is so eclectic that it can belong to Europe, Latin America or somewhere else. Beautiful!
LikeLike
Yes, it especially reminded me of the beautiful and creative architecture and design one finds in the colonial cities of Mexico.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a great place. I love the cozy seating area in front of the fireplace.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s perfect for a rainy day isn’t it.
LikeLike
Such a treat to view these gorgeous photos. What a beautiful place. <– Total understatement.
Thank you, Cindy! ♥.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awwww, what a lovely comment! Thanks so much Niki & cheers my friend ❤
LikeLike
So gorgeous! My older kid interviewed for grad school at UC Riverside…and if he’d chosen that instead of U of Chicago, I’d make a trip out there to visit him and tour this place. 🙂 Hope you’re having a lovely week, Cindy! ❤
LikeLike
I think your child made a good choice, even though I am a biased UCSD grad, U of C is my mother’s alma mater and she is still quite loyal. Still, it would have been quite nice to stay at The Inn whilst visiting. Cheers to you Teresa and thanks for stopping by.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stunning, Cindy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Merci beaucoup mon ami ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
🥰
LikeLike
What a fascinating journey Cindy, definitely a place that I could lose myself in, and your pictures are a credit, brilliant with color and really detailed.
Thanks for sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your comment makes me happy I posted. Thank you for your kindness ❤
LikeLiked by 2 people
So very beautiful….Stunning workmanship…Your images Cindy as always highlight everything and take me to places I probably won’t visit in person…Thank you 🙂 x
LikeLiked by 2 people
Awwww thank you so much for such a lovely comment Carol and be well my friend ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure, Cindy…Hugs x
LikeLike
💞
LikeLike
I never would have guessed this was in California – looks more like a European location (like Spain from my distant memory).
LikeLiked by 1 person
It does look like Spain doesn’t it, which makes sense since Spain built all the California missions, but this one definitely outdid itself!
LikeLiked by 2 people
So beautiful! It feels like you could spend days there and only see half of all the amazing works!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly how I feel and why I plan to go back!
LikeLiked by 1 person
So beautiful😸Pawkisses🐾😽💞
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hugs back to you and cheers too ❤
LikeLike
A lovely visit through your lens.
Thanks for stopping by and enjoying my posts 🙂
((Hugs)) from a chilly autumn – amazing how time flies.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy Thanksgiving Jules and thanks so much for stopping by. We are having an epic rainstorm at The Holler, two inches in several hours and it is still coming down. Such good news for the land of fires. Hope you have a peaceful holiday my friend and cheers to you ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now some of that rain is needed for the Australian fires…
Once your rain stops things will fast forward in the blooming department!
LikeLike
Beautiful photos and tons of history. Thank for you sharing.
Have an awesome day!
Will
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much & lovely to meet you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Did you take any meetings in the presidential lounge? (lol) 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
So happy to be retired and no longer having ANY meetings especially presidential ones!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Looks like it has just dropped out of a fairy tale 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes! This is exactly what it feels like, especially at night.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀
LikeLike
One for my bucket list, Cindy. I love Mission architecture especially if my family had been there. So many to visit, so little time. Wonderful photographs.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I love mission architecture to and you are so right, so much to see, so little time ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely stunning!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hugs and thank you Joey ♡
LikeLike
exquisite photographs
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. I look forward to getting to know you.
LikeLike
FANTASTIC PHOTOGRAPHS CINDY ON SUCH A GREAT CRAFTSMAN, CHINA
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on LIVING THE DREAM.
LikeLike
Thank you for your kindness my friend & all the best to you ♡
LikeLike
I love the look & feel of the presidential lounge. Let’s meet there for drinks, shall we? 😉
LikeLike
Oh, please yes, shall we!
LikeLike
I love the Mission Inn… I’ve been during the day in the summer and at night at the holidays… thanks for these great photos. Now you make me want to visit again!
LikeLike
I haven’t seen it at night during the holidays. I know it is magic. I want to see it.
LikeLike
Wow, it looks like they’ve taken the best ideas and art from all over. I’d love to visit.
LikeLike
When you visit to sing (note I did not say if), you must let me know so I can come hear you and give you tips on where to go and what to see.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The architecture is amazing! Thank you for the beautiful tour, Cindy!
LikeLike
So happy you came along Amy. You make it more fun!
LikeLike
Thanks for sharing this place with us, Cindy. x
LikeLike
Thank you more for your kind appreciation & be well my friend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow! This looks like history of another time just wraps you up into another world! Really liked the outdoor seating areas too, Cindy; comfort another era! 😊
LikeLike
It is magical isn’t it. So happy you enjoyed and let me know. Cheers to you Felipe.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s amazing how much beauty there is to still see on Earth, so glad you shared it with us! 😊
LikeLike
We will never have enough time to see it all and that is how it should be. The earth will always hold on to her mystery.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes! So very true, and yes, so very comforting I think too ❤️
LikeLike
Wonderful,many kisses from Romania
LikeLike
Visa versa 2UX2 in gorgeous Romania ❤ ❤
LikeLiked by 2 people
I look forward to welcoming you in Romania
LikeLiked by 1 person
I so look forward to meeting you and Romania. Thank you ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
That looks a really great place to spend a little time in.
LikeLiked by 1 person