She's still a Queen in my books!!
We were to meet her and her husband Don Bertoli in Riverside, as that is approx 1/2 way between Orange County, where they live, and Twentynine Palms. We had arranged to meet them for lunch at the Old Mission Inn there. As we had never been there before were not too sure of our route, but the GPS in our jeep sure proved it's worth and we met them right on time at 11:30AM. The old Mission Inn is a very large old hotel that many of the US Presidents and many movie stars have stayed at. Shirley and Don had stayed there once, and so she knew here way around and gave us a Great Tour of the place, with some great photo oportunities. Here is a brief history
borrowed from there brochure;
borrowed from there brochure;From its modest beginnings as a 12-room adobe boarding house to its current stature consisting of 239 guest rooms, the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa has been th
e keystone of Downtown Riverside since 1876. In the late 1800’s wealthy easterners and Europeans flocked to Riverside in search of a warmer winter climate along with the desire to invest in the area’s profitable citrus industry. By the 1890’s Riverside was the richest city per capita in the United States. This consistent influx of tourists to Riverside made Frank Miller, the Master of the Inn, recognize the dire need for a grand resort hotel.
Frank Miller opened the first wing of his new
e keystone of Downtown Riverside since 1876. In the late 1800’s wealthy easterners and Europeans flocked to Riverside in search of a warmer winter climate along with the desire to invest in the area’s profitable citrus industry. By the 1890’s Riverside was the richest city per capita in the United States. This consistent influx of tourists to Riverside made Frank Miller, the Master of the Inn, recognize the dire need for a grand resort hotel.Frank Miller opened the first wing of his new
hotel in 1903. The Mission wi
ng was built in
ng was built in Mission-Revival style architecture and sought to incorporate different structural elements of the 21 California Missions. Mr. Miller went onto add three more wings to his hotel: the Cloister, Spanish and completed it with the Rotunda wing in 1931.
Over the years the hotel has served as host to numerous celebrities and dignitaries.
The Presidential Lounge pays homage to the 10 U.S. Presidents that have passed through the doors of the Mission Inn. The current bar stands where President Theodore Roosevelt once slept during his visit to the hotel in 1903 and the lounge is also the site of Richard Nixon’s wedding to his wife Patricia. Whether it’s the JFK Cosmopolitan or the Herbert Hoover lemon drop, the lounge’s signature cocktails will leave you feeling very stately.
Over the years the hotel has served as host to numerous celebrities and dignitaries.
The Presidential Lounge pays homage to the 10 U.S. Presidents that have passed through the doors of the Mission Inn. The current bar stands where President Theodore Roosevelt once slept during his visit to the hotel in 1903 and the lounge is also the site of Richard Nixon’s wedding to his wife Patricia. Whether it’s the JFK Cosmopolitan or the Herbert Hoover lemon drop, the lounge’s signature cocktails will leave you feeling very stately.
In the middle of the lobby sits a rather unique chair made especially for President Taft who weighed roughly 350lbs. and stood six-foot-five. Frank Miller heard the rumors of President Taft getting stuck in the White House bathtub, so he had a special chair commissioned for this very prestigious and rotund guest for the banquet that was to be held in his honor. A prime example of arts & craft style furniture, the Taft chair has been a spacious photo spot for Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Robert Redford, couples and countless schoolchildren.
Frank Miller traveled extensively throughout Europe and Asia on family vacations. Mr. Miller would always return with more “stuff” than he went with. Whether it was antique furniture, paintings, statuary or a bell, Frank could never resist a great bargain. The Miller family bell collection once exceeded 800 and today 400 of the Miller family’s’ bells can be seen strewn throughout the exquisite grounds of the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa. Las Campanas, the hotel’s authentic Mexican restaurant, is home to an array of historic bells. The Nanking temple bell nicely adorns the Cantina section of the restaurant. This bell was one of the first items to leave China after the Boxer Rebellion in 1912 and Louis Comfort Tiffany once wrote Mr. Miller a blank check in an attempt to purchase this bell in which Frank ultimately declined. Another prized bell in the Miller family collection can be seen in its new location. The oldest dated bell in Christendom, A.D. 1247, is now being showcased right outside the Mission Inn Restaurant in the California lobby. On a trip to England, Mr. Miller purchased this bell and two others for around twenty-five dollars. When Mr. Miller returned to pickup the bells that he’d purchased, the shopkeeper only brought out two. The shopkeeper realized his mistake and told Frank that the bell wasn’t for sale. Frank objected with a written receipt of purchase and returned proudly to the Mission Inn with the oldest dated bell in the world.
Frank Miller traveled extensively throughout Europe and Asia on family vacations. Mr. Miller would always return with more “stuff” than he went with. Whether it was antique furniture, paintings, statuary or a bell, Frank could never resist a great bargain. The Miller family bell collection once exceeded 800 and today 400 of the Miller family’s’ bells can be seen strewn throughout the exquisite grounds of the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa. Las Campanas, the hotel’s authentic Mexican restaurant, is home to an array of historic bells. The Nanking temple bell nicely adorns the Cantina section of the restaurant. This bell was one of the first items to leave China after the Boxer Rebellion in 1912 and Louis Comfort Tiffany once wrote Mr. Miller a blank check in an attempt to purchase this bell in which Frank ultimately declined. Another prized bell in the Miller family collection can be seen in its new location. The oldest dated bell in Christendom, A.D. 1247, is now being showcased right outside the Mission Inn Restaurant in the California lobby. On a trip to England, Mr. Miller purchased this bell and two others for around twenty-five dollars. When Mr. Miller returned to pickup the bells that he’d purchased, the shopkeeper only brought out two. The shopkeeper realized his mistake and told Frank that the bell wasn’t for sale. Frank objected with a written receipt of purchase and returned proudly to the Mission Inn with the oldest dated bell in the world.
We had a great lunch. We all elected just to have salads, as well all need to look after our figures. All were great, and we had time to chat about some of our ancestors and lineage. Funny, how when you get "ON IN AGE" that these things start to get more important. After a couple of hours we broke up our party and went our separate ways. Arrived back to ELTORO by 4:00PM.JUST ANOTHER GREAT DAY!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment