Description:

Emphasizing aspects of regional history ranging from Native American to natural to that of the citrus industry, the Riverside Metropolitan Museum has a collection of more than 75,000 artifacts to help tell its tales. Permanent displays include dioramas of the region's native plant and animal life, collections of items and traditions of the Native American groups that once flourished in Southern California and artifacts relating to citrus growing in the 20th century. The Nature Lab features more than 30 live animal species native to the region and the Water Wise Garden showcases plants that help preserve resources through efficient water usage. The downtown museum sits beside the Riverside Art Museum, the Mission Inn Museum and the University of California Riverside California Museum of Photography.