California Citrus State Historic Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids California Citrus State Historic Park |
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The California Citrus State Historic Park visitor center
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| Location | Riverside, California, United States |
| Area | 248 acres (100 ha) |
| Established | 1993 |
| Governing body | California Department of Parks and Recreation |
California Citrus State Historic Park is a special outdoor museum in Riverside, California. It's part of California's state park system. This park helps us understand the amazing story of the citrus industry. This industry shaped Southern California's history and growth. The park shares the experiences of many different people who came to California to work in the citrus groves.
This California State Historic Park shows how important citrus was. It explains the cultural, political, and environmental sides of the time when "Citrus was King" in California. The famous Navel orange from Riverside played a huge role in this history. The park, which is about 248 acres, first opened in 1993.
Contents
How Citrus Became King in California
The Start of the Orange Craze
The story of California's oranges really took off in 1873. A woman named Eliza Tibbets, who lived in Riverside, planted two special orange trees. These trees came from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
These two trees grew very well and produced delicious oranges. Their success started the huge orange industry in the area. These were the first Washington Navel orange trees in California. People quickly realized how perfect the climate was for growing citrus.
What You Can See and Do at the Park
Exploring the Park's Design
The park is designed to look like a city park from the early 1900s. It has many fun things to see and do. You can find an activity center, a special building with information, and an outdoor theater called an amphitheater. There are also picnic areas where you can enjoy a meal.
Discovering Citrus Groves
The park also has demonstration groves. These are like small farms with many different kinds of citrus trees. Even today, the land in the park still grows high-quality fruits. A cool part of visiting is that you can often get free samples of unique citrus fruits!
The Citrus Museum
Inside the park's visitor center, there's a museum. This museum tells the whole story of California's citrus industry. You can learn about how oranges were grown and harvested. Around the park, you'll also see old farm equipment that was used in citrus groves long ago.
Learn More About Citrus
