California Citrus State Historic Park
| California Citrus State Historic Park | |
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The California Citrus State Historic Park visitor center
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| Location | 9400 Dufferin Ave., Riverside, California, USA |
| Coordinates | 33°53′50″N 117°25′18″W / 33.89722°N 117.42167°WCoordinates: 33°53′50″N 117°25′18″W / 33.89722°N 117.42167°W |
| Area | 248 acres (100 ha) |
| Established | 1915 |
| Governing body | California Department of Parks and Recreation |
California Citrus State Historic Park is an open-air museum in the state park system of California, USA, interpreting the historic cultural landscape of the citrus industry. The story of the citrus industry's role in the history and development of California is told in the visitor center. The California Citrus State Historic Park is in the city of Riverside in Riverside County, California, United States. The 248-acre (100 ha) park was established in 1915.
This California State Historic Park recaptures 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.
In the early 1900s, an effort to promote citrus ranching in the state brought hundreds of would-be citrus barons to California for the "second Gold Rush." The lush groves of oranges, lemons and grapefruit gave California another legacy—its lingering image as the Golden State—the land of sunshine and opportunity.
In 1873, the U.S. Department of Agriculture forever changed the history of Southern California when it sent two small Navel orange trees to Riverside resident Eliza Tibbets. Those trees, growing in near perfect soil and weather conditions, produced an especially sweet and flavorful fruit. Word of this type of orange quickly spread, and a great agricultural industry was born.
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.
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.
In 2002 Huell Howser Productions, in association with KCET/Los Angeles, featured the park in California's Golden Parks; the 28 minute program is available as a VHS videorecording.
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