A Riverside house is decked out for Christmas from top to bottom — without twinkling electrical lights.
Welcome to Heritage House, which is giving tours this holiday season of its authentic Victorian-era decorations.
Volunteer Michael Bussee, seen downstairs with guests, leads a Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, tour of Riverside’s Heritage House, which is adorned with Victorian holiday décor for the Christmas season. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Father Christmas is depicted on a card in the parlor of Heritage House in Riverside, which is seen Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, with Victorian holiday décor. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Eli Southworth, a 5-year-old Riverside resident, reaches out Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, to touch the Riverside California W.H. Dupree Trophy won by Robert Bettner while playing polo. It’s on display at Heritage House in Riverside, which is offering tours of its Victorian holiday décor. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
The dining room is seen Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, at Heritage House in Riverside. Museum of Riverside officials are giving tours that showcase its Victorian holiday decorations. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Volunteer Michael Bussee leads a tour Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, of Heritage House in Riverside, which is adorned with Victorian Christmas décor. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
The Heritage House in Riverside, seen Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, is giving tours of its Christmas decorations, which evoke the Victorian era. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A copy of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” is seen Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, at the Heritage House in Riverside as part of the Victorian holiday décor now on display. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Victorians used candles placed on a Christmas tree to light it, as seen Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in the parlor room of Heritage House in Riverside. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Cranberry and popcorn garland show Victorian holiday décor Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, at Heritage House in Riverside. The city is offering tours of the home’s Victorian holiday décor this season. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A music box tree from Germany is seen Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in the Music Room, during a tour of Heritage House in Riverside. The home is decked out in Victorian holiday décor for the season. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Victorians used candles to light Christmas trees, as seem in the parlor of Heritage House in Riverside on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
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Volunteer Michael Bussee, seen downstairs with guests, leads a Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, tour of Riverside’s Heritage House, which is adorned with Victorian holiday décor for the Christmas season. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Rather than strings of blinking lights, synthetic garland and plastic ornaments shaped like Santa or reindeers, the home built in 1891 has candles, popcorn garland and greenery adorned with red bows.
Free tours of the Magnolia Avenue home — which is part of the Museum of Riverside — are given Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Though they are a regular part of the city museum’s program at Heritage House, tours taken through Jan. 4 will include the Victorian holiday overlay.
For tour information, call 951-826-5273 or click here.
These tours aren’t the only time to catch the quaint decorations of the past.
Heritage House is hosting its annual Victorian Christmas Open House from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14.
As usual, the event will feature live music, cider, cookies, crafts inspired by the time period and an appearance by Father Christmas.
The house is at 8193 Magnolia Ave., near its intersection with Adams Street.
