Evergreen Cemetery Tour

Step back in time with a docent-led walking tour through Evergreen Cemetery, one of Riverside’s oldest and most storied landmarks. Established in the 1870s, Evergreen serves as a living chronicle of the city’s founders, visionaries, and everyday citizens whose lives shaped the Inland Empire’s history.

Over the course of 75 minutes, guests will explore the beautifully landscaped grounds while learning about the people who built Riverside from the ground up. Among those resting here are some of the city’s most influential figures:

• John Wesley North, Riverside’s founder and president of the 1870 Southern California Colony Association
• Luther and Eliza Tibbets, founders of California’s citrus industry
• Frank Augustus Miller, creator of the world-famous Mission Inn
• G. Stanley Wilson, Mission Inn architect and father of the Mission Revival style
• Lyman Waite, water, citrus, and banking pioneer
• Raymond Best, founder of one of California’s largest law firms

Through engaging storytelling, our knowledgeable docents bring to life the challenges, triumphs, and enduring legacies of these remarkable individuals. You’ll also discover the artistry of the cemetery’s monuments and headstones, each a reflection of the eras and families that built Riverside’s character.

Whether you’re a local history enthusiast, architecture admirer, or first-time visitor, this guided historical tour offers a meaningful journey through the lives and legacies that helped shape Riverside’s past—and continue to inspire its future.
Tour starts at the gates on Pine Street.