Museum of Riverside, History and natural history museum in Riverside, United States

The Museum of Riverside is an educational institution in the city that preserves collections about natural history and the development of local society. The collections include ceramics, documents, and objects that tell thousands of years of the region's history.

The museum was established on December 12, 1924, when the widow of Cornelius Earle Rumsey donated his collection of Native American artifacts to the City of Riverside. It opened in the basement of the old City Hall in 1925 and moved in 1948 to the basement of the former Federal Post Office, the current building. It expanded to all floors in the 1960s and 1970s and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

The institution displays artifacts that reflect the diversity of the region and document local craft traditions. Visitors can see the material culture that shaped the lives of earlier inhabitants.

The museum occupies a former Federal Post Office building in the Mission Inn District; its main galleries are spread over several floors. Heritage House, an 1891 Queen Anne-style home, is a separate site managed by the museum and open as a Victorian house museum. Check the museum's own information for access to Heritage House before visiting.

The institution belongs to a small group of museums across the US that have received official recognition for their work. This honor is granted only to facilities that meet strict standards for collection management and education.