Vintage Mission Inn, Pt. 2

Moving ahead five years, I present a batch of images from 1956 of the Mission Inn Hotel in Riverside, California. This waterfall is still at the Inn, located at the entrance to the Las Campanas restaurant:

I can't really give high marks to the 1956 photographer; this image appears to show a glimpse of the hotel’s pool:

Shot from the Spanish Patio, this image shows Author’s Row:

A few different paint colors, but still about the same:

A vintage view of the Spanish Patio fountain…

and a contemporary detail shot of the same area:

The Anton Clock in the Spanish Patio:

Still ticking away!

Vines create a canopy over the wooden archways near the entrance:

Although my shot is facing the wrong way, I believe this is the same pathway as it looks today:

See more vintage and contemporary Mission Inn photos at my main website.

Vintage Mission Inn, Pt. 1

A few shots from 1951 showcasing one of my favorite historic (and extremely ecclectic) hotels, the Mission Inn located in Riverside, California. On a hot summer day like today, that pool sure looks good!

A vintage exterior shot; love that classic car. I know a few of my readers can ID it!

The entrance:

A blue classic convertible?!? Only thing missing for me is a rumble seat!

The entrance courtyard:

The same bell can still be found there:

See more vintage and contemporary Mission Inn photos at my main website.

Back to the Mission Inn

Less than two hours away, the Mission Inn in Riverside is one of my favorite historic hotels to visit. It had been about two years since my last visit, so I was definitely due. Each room is unique, full of interesting architectural details. This time I got to photograph Room 413. Come on in!



Hard to look at this picture as temperatures begin to climb this summer. No fire in the fireplace today! But it still looks neat.



This place was never an actual Mission; it just played one on TV. Sorry...bad pop culture reference. But seriously...it was never a Mission. It just kind of looks like one and has little details that would make you think it might have been one at one time.



Nice big comfortable bed:



How about that vaulted ceiling? No claustrophobia here.



I don't think the bathroom tile is vintage, but it’s still really cool (and appropriate design wise).



Even the hardware is unique! NOBODY is getting in this place when the lock is being used!



The daytime can be fairly crazy on the property, with a plethora of events and weddings going on. I love to explore at night when things are a bit quieter. This trip I was able to access the Ho-O-Kan Room, which I hadn't been to in seven years:



What a light fixture! Digging the green pendants.



No trip to the Inn is complete without a visit to the International Rotunda:



or the Spanish Gallery:



As with any place, lighting is key when it comes to presentation. The Mission Inn truly looks magical after sunset:



See more Mission Inn photos at my main website.

Traveling Thursdays: Riverside & The Mission Inn, Pt. 2

Although it can be difficult, I love photographing Disneyland at night. The lights transform it into a completely different place that seems magical. The Mission Inn is no different. I found myself prowling around at night into every area of the hotel, attempting to capture the cool glow that the evening lighting provided.









Since I didn't have a tripod with me, objects nearby provided the stability that I needed. For this particular photo, a trashcan did just fine!







This section of the Inn, called Author's Row, is one of my favorites at night:







This was the view from my room:



The rotunda is also an amazing place to shoot, night or day:











Shooting down onto the Spanish Patio made me think of Cary Grant in "To Catch A Thief":





See more vintage & current Mission Inn in Riverside, CA photos on my Mission Inn web page.