Big news for those acquainted with the historic Mission Inn in Riverside CA and the historic art collections on display that have been owned by Duane and Kelly Roberts since 1985 when they bought the closed down historic property which initiated a revitalization in the downtown area. It also added new breath to the Mission Inn Foundation and the community support organization, The Friends of the Mission Inn.
Since 1985, Fine Art Conservation Laboratories and Scott Haskins, Art Conservator, have been assisting the preservation and restoration of art efforts for the collections that are on the three separate inventories of the above organizations. But the hundreds of historical collectible artifacts and fine art were all part of the collection put together by Frank Miller for his fantasy, Hearst Castle-type retreat that has been a favorite getaway of the famous and infamous for the last century (many presidents of the US have stayed there). If you haven’t been there and seen it, you’ve been missing out.
“Authors Row” at the Historic Mission Inn in Riverside CA where famous writers came to “camp out.”
An inner courtyard with the specialty rooms known as “Author Row”… just a small part of what there is to see.
Have questions about your own family heirlooms or artwork? Call Scott Haskins or Virginia Panizzon, Art Conservators at (805) 570-4140 or email Gena.FACLBusinessManager@gmail.com. We would like to chat with you.
How FACL’s Art Restoration Relationship with the Mission Inn Began
In 1985, A very famous component of the Mission Inn art collection came up missing. Scott Haskins, Art Conservator, was able to locate the famous Missions of California paintings (painted between 1874 – 1889 on site at the missions!) by Henry Chapman Ford which had been sequestered by a disreputable art dealer. Unknown to the art dealer, Mr. Haskins met with a sympathetic accomplice who, under cover, let him into a storage unit and took possession of all the original framed 38 works of art on behalf of the Friends of the Mission Inn. These paintings, extremely important to California history, were then a major multi-year project of professional art restoration undertaken by Fine Art Conservation Laboratories and were later featured in a PBS special.
Mission Santa Cruz Before Conservation 1986
In 1986, Scott Haskins was asked to tour and hunt down — it was like a treasure hunt for a lost priceless hoard — every corner, attic and closet of the fenced off, closed down ghost-property of the abandoned Mission Inn to look for randomly placed artwork and collectibles, even in the haunted catacombs. All these items were gathered into a storage area at the bottom of the famous circular staircase. The Friends of the Mission Inn undertook the inventorying and cataloging.
The Circular Staircase, The Historic Mission inn
During that collection survey, proposals were made for preserving and restoring the variety of paintings and their frames to the new owner, Duane Roberts, and over the following years hundreds of paintings were readied for permanent exhibition within the historic complex.
Since that time, Mr. Haskins and FACL have been providing quality art restoration treatments, consultations, speaking at events and generally enjoying the association with the organizations that oversee the collections.
Buddha in Ho-O-Kahn Room, Mission Inn
The Mission Inn Riverside Art Restoration Work — What Was Saved
FACL preserved and restored all of the artwork and designed the layout in the Spanish Art Gallery at the Mission Inn. Also, all the statuary was prepared for the walls of the Galleria. Notable restorations funded by the Friends include: The Espousal of the Virgin, St. Francis and the Flying Cross, The Good Samaritan, Charge Up San Juan Hill, the two McBurney paintings, and the 36 California Mission paintings by Henry Chapman Ford — highlighted by a PBS Special.The Mission paintings by Henry Chapman Ford are a national treasure to the history of California, were widely published and greatly influenced the Spanish-style architecture in California. They are an eminent part of the identity of the Mission Inn itself.
Read about the Henry Chapman Ford and Edwin Deakin Mission paintings conservation project here.
Spanish Colonial Alter and Tiffany Windows in the Chapel, Mission Inn, Riverside CA
So, What Will Happen to the Art Collection?
There’s already been a panic about the last owners wanting to take with them several of the very important works of art, which are fundamental to the identification of the Historic Mission Inn, with them. They would presumably sell them to maximize their profits.
However, these works of art are part of the identity of the Mission Inn and are listed in the inventory of their historic registrations with the United States Historic Preservation and California State Preservation offices. Presumably that will create a difficulty for them to remove anything from the collection.
Frankly, I’m surprised that having been so intimately associated with the running of the Mission Inn Hotel and the importance of its historic heritage that the old owners would want to dilute and detract from its historical status, art collections and reputation by taking these important works of art.
But we have something else going for “us”… Several of the things they want to take with them are gigantic in size and not easily re-sold. I hope that causes a big enough problem to dissuade them.
More on this later… with good news for the integrity of the collection, I am hoping.
New Ownership — A New Chapter
The San Manuel Investment Authority has completed its acquisition of The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa. Pyramid Global Hospitality has been retained to manage day-to-day operations.
As a sovereign nation with deep ancestral ties to the Inland Empire, the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation is invested in the preservation of the property. Chairwoman Lynn Valbuena stated at the acquisition: “The Mission Inn is more than a landmark. It is a living institution — one that has witnessed more than a century of California history and has been woven into the lives of this region’s families, including our own. We are honored to carry that legacy forward with the same dedication to maintaining its historic dignity and prominence.”
It’s unknown at present if the new owners will continue the working relationship with Mr. Haskins and FACL — but the Friends of the Mission Inn continue to be anxiously hopeful.
If you have a question about your artwork’s condition/stability call Scott Haskins or Virginia Panizzon, Art Conservators at (805) 570-4140, or email Gena.FACLBusinessManager@gmail.com.
The Historic Mission Inn, Riverside, CA
More on past FACL art conservation projects at the Mission Inn:
- PBS Program on Henry Chapman Ford Mission Paintings
- 300-Year-Old Buddha Conservation at the Mission Inn
- Friends of the Mission Inn Art Conservation Team
- Mission Inn Foundation Fundraiser with Bonhams
- California Mission Paintings by Ford and Deakin
External link: The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa
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