Corona Heritage Museum
In the 1937 building which was long the company store for the Foothill Lemon Ranch, the 10,000 sq. ft. museum was opened in 2000 and has been busy collecting important local artifacts ever since. We are honored to have a professional curator of lifelong experience, Noella Benvenuti, who has created a museum experience far beyond that which you would expect from a small town collection of old relics.
The museum is open Tuesdays -Saturdays, 10 am - 2 pm. Closed Sundays, Mondays and holiday weekends. And it's free.
The Arts Colony
We're not following the Mayan calendar with any of our planning for 2012. It's another year of long-term growth and this year we'll be focusing on growing more art.
Since the beginning, the park has become somewhat known as an art colony. We are attempting to remove the "somewhat" and create a broader,more encompassing, more available organization of visual artists not only for this community, but for the region. In fact, we've decided to call it The Arts Colony.
If you show up tomorrow looking for The Arts Colony, there'll be little to see. We're starting with a clean canvas and have thought hard over the last few months on what can make TEC as different and efficacious as the rest of the park.
Now is the time to get involved at the ground floor. If you would like to help develop the next great arts organization in SoCal, you can email your interest or questions to info@theartscolony.org, or call 951-898-A-R-T-S.
Art Classes and Studios
The Corona Heritage Artists-In-Residence are professional artists and/or degreed educators that operate their studios and provide classes here art the park. These currently include two glass blowers, a woodworker, potter, printmaker, photographer and children's art educator.
These artists comprise the core faculty of our educational campus. Visit this link for help navigating the many fluid and seasonal art class schedules.
Homework Club & Tutoring
To help children and families realize their potential by using their gifts while closing the achievement gap and impacting the community. At Education 1st, all ages and subjects welcome, including students with disabilities. (Classes are held in the Conference Room and are wheelchair accessible) Our programs are designed to reinforce classroom instruction and are standards based. We also offer tutoring and consulting for students pre-school to college.
Se habla español. Call Natasha Rumsey at 951-271-6126 or email edfirsttutor@yahoo.com.
Hampton House Standing since 1911, this beautifully maintained home was built by S.B. Hampton, the founder of Corona Foothill Lemon Company, the once largest lemon ranch in all of California.
It is presently home to Common Ground Corona, an interfaith spiritual center.
Herkelrath House
We've always called it the art house because it's been the Corona Art Association's gallery and hosted dozens of great art shows over the years. It was built in 1921 and was home to Carl Herkelrath, the accountant for the Corona Foothill Lemon Company.
No doubt the house will continue to be called the art house as it will soon become the main gallery space for The Arts Colony.
Earl Hardison managed the company store at the lemon ranch. Now the 1922 house is home to the Corona Model Railroad Society where you can see "HO" scale choo-choo's chug in their re-creation of the Santa Fe Lines, yards and businesses from Fullerton to Riverside with Corona as the centerpiece. A favorite of local school field trips, the 1949-era transportation system shows how people shipped and traveled before jets, computers and FedEx.
Hotel Del Rey
If the 1904 Hotel Del Rey had once received the attention it deserved, it would be as important now to Corona as the Mission Inn is to Riverside or the Del Coronado is to San Diego. The city manager at that time offered to burn it down though the Corona Historic Preservation Society was able to have it professionally disassembled and stored for later restoration here at the park. Various setbacks have delayed the fundraising and reconstruction but it's not the dead issue the prosaic would believe. The continuing efforts to restore this lost jewel in Corona's crown remains the pivotal impetus that will propel the organization's future.
Call Ranch House
Moved in 2004 from California and Ontario Streets, the 1903 house is now nestled in our half-acre specimen lemon grove. With a foundation designed and built to last at least the next hundred years, the house has begun its transformation.
In yet having any permanent utilities hook ups, the house has had several temporary uses including a facility for occasional police SWAT and K-9 training.
Garden Society
The Corona Heritage Garden Society is dedicated to furthering the education, enjoyment and interest of gardeners, but also organize field trips to discover the many various and beautiful gardens, nurseries and other locations in Southern California with interest to gardeners. The Garden Society also helps enhance the park with many varieties of plantings and the completed Honor Rose Garden. For information call Cynthia Dee at 951-371-0048.
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Wedding Gardens
Gardens Weddings in a Historic Setting is the call for the best outdoor wedding location in Corona. With mounting numbers of weddings happily transpired in the last few years, we're well on our way to making it the "perfect place." Heritage Park Garden Weddings has extensive information online to introduce you to this unique venue that can accommodate up to 300 guests for weddings and receptions.
Meeting Spaces
Our Conference Room is a quiet, private space for depositions, training, board and club meetings and holds up to 35. Our Meeting Hall is great for larger meetings, seminars, presentations, intimate indoor weddings, parties and receptions up to 100 persons. Please call 951-898-0687 for availability.
Group Educational Tours and Class Field Trips
All tours are no charge and on-site. Available for any group of persons of 8 years and up by appointment only. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Group must arrive within 15 minutes of appointment time or tour may be rescheduled for another date. Call Karen Grayer at 951-264-5350 or email at karengrayer@coronaheritage.org.
Local History (CNUSD Third Grade Curriculum)
Corona history highlighting development through mining and citrus growing. Fact-finding scavenger hunt with incentive items provided for completion. Overview of artifacts, road races, Foothill Lemon Company and the mission of Corona Heritage Park and Museum.
Model Railroad
An entire house filled with an HO scale layout depicting the Santa Fe lines from Fullerton to Riverside and Corona in between. Shows how the railroad transportation and freight system operated in it's heyday of 1949.
Trees
There are 25 species of mature-growth trees at the park that range from unusual to exotic. One thing they all have in common is that they did not grow here by themselves. Most are in the 80-90 year-old range and were planted by S.B. Hampton, brought back from overseas journeys. As a bonus, there have been 29 species of birds identified that nest at and migrate throughout the park. We can't always count on the birds, but all the trees are scheduled to be here.
Individuals
Please feel free to come and look around. Museum exhibits are self-explanatory. Studios are accessible when open.
Foothill Agricultural Research
The world's largest entomological grower of a beneficial bug, Aphytis melinus, which consumes deadly scale on citrus trees. The insectory and labs are an integral part of the park's commercial income and citrus heritage.
Good Cents Vintage and Thrift
Our 80 year-old mule shed has become the perfect setting for a quaint and unique antiques shop. If you're looking for that one-of-a-kind gift or decor, that doesn't have back-stock in every mall in the country, try this country store for the most unusual finds. Visit on FaceBook or call Terri at 951-818-9977.
Corona Antiques & Collectibles Faire
This year will be our eleventh. It's simply the biggest antiques show in town, and it's free. You can find it this year on Saturday, June 2, 2012 from 8 am - 3 pm. For information, click here or call Shellie Norland at 951-302-0080.
Friends of Bill W.
Whether you received a DUI for the holidays or just want the steps to a better life, AA fellowships currently meet at 7pm on Mondays and 9am on Saturdays in the Conference Room off the central courtyard.
Christian Vision Bible Fellowship
Sundays at 10am in the Meeting Hall. For more info call Rev. Fred Williams at 951-532-7235.
Film Shoots
The Corona Heritage Park offers a variety of different scenic backdrops for filming located on its 5 acre site. The park has eleven historic buildings constructed between 1911 and 1937, three of which are former residences, the rest packing houses and sheds with many mature-growth shade trees, a half-acre specimen lemon grove, garden areas, rustic farm equipment and metal sheds, and a large company store which is now the museum. Read more
Other Links:
Primary Contacts and Phone Numbers
Web Links for Local Historic Facilities
Calendar for 2012 Park Meetings and Events
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