Mount Rubidoux facts for kids
Mount Rubidoux is a special mountain located just west of downtown Riverside, California, in the United States. It's known as a city park and a famous landmark. This mountain was once a very popular spot for tourists in Southern California. It's still famous for hosting the oldest outdoor non-religious Easter Sunrise service in the United States.
Many important markers and memorials are found on the mountain. The most noticeable is a large cross at the very top. This cross honors Father Junipero Serra. Most of Mount Rubidoux is owned by the City of Riverside. However, a small part at the very top (about 0.43 acres) is now owned by Rivers & Lands Conservancy. This happened after a legal issue about the cross, which led the city to sell that part of the mountain.
The Santa Ana River flows right at the bottom of the mountain. This river forms the border between the city of Riverside and the Rubidoux area, which is part of Jurupa Valley.
The mountain got its name from Louis Rubidoux. He started a ranch called Rancho Rubidoux in 1847. He bought this land from Benjamin Davis Wilson, who was the second mayor of Los Angeles.
Quick facts for kids Mount Rubidoux |
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,331 ft (406 m) NAVD 88 |
| Prominence | 484 ft (148 m) |
| Geography | |
 Mount Rubidoux
Location in California
Mount Rubidoux
Location in the United States
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| Parent range | San Bernardino Mountains |
| Topo map | USGS Riverside West |
Contents
History of Mount Rubidoux
Many local historians believe that Mount Rubidoux was originally called Pachappa. They think that an early owner of the Rancho Jurupa changed the name Pachappa to a different, smaller hill. This might have been done to make the Rancho Jurupa bigger. The original Pachappa hill marked the southeast corner of the Jurupa Rancho, which was given to Juan Bandini by the Mexican government in 1838. Moving the name to the current Pachappa Hill would have made the Rancho Jurupa much larger, including all of what is now downtown Riverside. It's also possible the United States government renamed the hills to meet the size rules of the original Mexican land grant.
Developing the Park
In 1906, Frank Augustus Miller, who owned the famous Mission Inn, teamed up with Henry E. Huntington and Charles M. Loring. They formed a group called the Huntington Park Association. This group bought the mountain with a plan to build a road to its top. Their goal was to turn the mountain into a park for the city of Riverside.
The park was first called Huntington Park. But in 1955, Frank Miller's family gave the land to the city. After that, its name was changed to the Frank A. Miller Mount Rubidoux Memorial Park. On December 13, 1925, a special tower called the Testimonial Peace Tower was dedicated to Miller. The bridge on the mountain is a copy of a famous bridge in Alcántara, Spain. A plaque was placed on the bridge in 1934 for Shunzo Kido. He was an Olympic equestrian in 1932 who gave up a medal to save his horse.
The first improvements, including the road, were finished in February 1907. The first memorial on the mountain was a cross and a tablet at the top. It honored Father Junipero Serra and was dedicated on April 26, 1907. People believed that Serra often traveled through the valley and rested at Rubidoux Rancho.
In 1909, a sunset over Mount Rubidoux inspired Carrie Jacobs-Bond to write her famous song "A Perfect Day". For many years, this song was played every day as the last tune on the Mission Inn's carillon bells.
Mount Rubidoux was named Riverside City Landmark no. 26. It has been a city park since 1955, thanks to Frank Miller's family donating the land. The park has 3.5 miles of paved and dirt trails for hiking.
Easter Sunrise Service
In April 1909, Jacob Riis from New York visited Riverside. He was a friend of President Theodore Roosevelt. Riis suggested holding an Easter sunrise service at the top of the mountain. The very next Sunday, the first non-religious outdoor Easter Sunrise Service in the United States was held there.
In 1912, about 3,000 people came to hear Henry Van Dyke read his poem, God of the Open Air. Each year, more and more people attended. By 1918, there were plans for a huge outdoor theater that could hold 10,000 people. However, these plans were never built.
The yearly service became famous across the country and even internationally. It attracted large crowds and celebrities, like opera singer Marcella Craft. In 1915, the Southern Pacific Railroad offered a special train service from Los Angeles to Riverside just for the event. The Pacific Electric trolley system also added special services from Los Angeles, Corona, Redlands, and San Bernardino. In the 1920s, attendance was reported to be over 30,000 people.
The popularity of the Mount Rubidoux Easter sunrise services inspired many other similar services across the country. One famous example is the yearly service at the Hollywood Bowl.
Legal Battle Over the Cross
In November 2012, a group called Americans United for Separation of Church and State sent a letter to the City of Riverside. They threatened to sue the city because a large cross was on city-owned land. This group believed that owning the cross went against a rule in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. This rule says that the government should not establish or favor any religion.
On January 22, 2013, the Riverside city council decided to sell the cross on Mount Rubidoux. They also decided to sell the small piece of land (0.43 acres) beneath it. This land included part of the rocky hilltop, the cross itself, the steps below it, and a small part of the paved area at the bottom of the steps. The land was to be sold at a public auction on April 11, 2013, with a starting price of $10,000.
In response to the possible lawsuit, a group called "Totally Mt. Rubidoux" was formed. This group was a team effort by the Friends of Mt. Rubidoux, Mission Inn Foundation & Museum, and Rivers & Lands Conservancy. Their goal was to make sure the land at the peak of Mt. Rubidoux stayed mostly the same, was well-kept, and remained open to the public. They started a fundraising campaign to buy the peak at the auction and take care of it forever. With help from the community, Totally Mt. Rubidoux raised almost $260,000.
On April 11, 2013, Totally Mt. Rubidoux made the winning bid of $10,500 for the peak of Mt. Rubidoux. They bought it in the name of Rivers & Lands Conservancy. This made Rivers & Lands Conservancy the only owner and manager of Mt. Rubidoux Peak. After paying for the purchase and setting aside money for three years of management, education, and care, about $190,000 was put into a special fund. The interest earned from this fund will be used to manage the land forever.
Mount Rubidoux Today
Mount Rubidoux is still a very important landmark and a valuable place for the people of Riverside. On April 12, 2009, the 100th anniversary of the Easter Sunrise service was held at the top of Mount Rubidoux. The city also launches its main fireworks show from the top of the mountain every Fourth of July.
Mount Rubidoux Park is open from dawn until dusk. It covers about 161 acres and has 3.5 miles of paved roads and several dirt hiking trails. The park is closed to cars, but improvements made in 2009 led to more people walking, jogging, and biking there every day. The hill is also a popular spot for bouldering, which is a type of rock climbing, especially for beginners.
All the roads and trails are kept in good condition by the city and by the Friends of Mount Rubidoux. This is a non-profit group made up of volunteers. They work to fix, protect, and make Mount Rubidoux Park more beautiful. They also help people learn about the park's rich history and enjoy their visits.
