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According to Merriman-Webster Dictionary a home is "one's place of residence" or "the origin where one comes from".  To me home is not only the building which gave me shelter, for eighteen years of my life, it is also the town and people around me whom I grew up with.  I hail from a place called Riverside, California.  It is really not a town but a huge city that is still growing in size and population.  Even though Riverside is a big city, it still has the small town touches to it.  

There is historical architecture located all around Riverside, one of my favorite historical buildings is the Mission Inn hotel.  Built in 1876 as a boarding house and later on from 1902-1931 other wings were gradually added on, turning it into a hotel.  The hotel is known for its beautiful architecture, luxury spa, and many different style rooms, such as the St. Francis Chapel, Spanish style dinning patio, Chinese room.  Not only is the Inn known for its wonderful features, but there are rumors that the famous hotel is haunted.  Weather that is true or not one must go on a tour or inquire from an employee.  The hotel is also known for two different presidents getting married there.  These people are President Nixon and Reagan.  During Christmas the Mission Inn is covered in decorations, from lights, a big Christmas tree, angels, bears, presents.  It is a beautiful sight that has to be seen by anyone who goes and visits.  

Another famous building is the Riverside Art Museum.  The museum was built in 1929 and designed by architect Julia Morgan.   Ms. Morgan is well known for designing Hearst Castle on the coast of Northern California. Julia found her inspiration in designing the museum by taking aspects of the Mission Inn Hotel and the Riverside Municipal Auditorium.  Today the museum is used to hold local artists work and to benefit the local Riverside community.  Other buildings that have amazing architecture are the homes built in the late nineteen-hundreds and the old train station, now a restaurant, and the old carriage houses that have been restored.  

Riverside is not only known for its beautiful architecture but all the citrus it harvests each year.  A hundred years ago Riverside was covered with orange trees in every direction.  Today, there are not as many because there are homes being built every where.   Land is being cleared to make room for the growing population of today.  I must say that Riverside oranges taste better than any other orange imported to the local grocery story.  The beautiful thing about living in Riverside is when it comes to orange season.  The first few weeks of spring the orange blossoms in the grove and the city is blessed with an amazing scent of citrus fruit.  

One more great aspect about Riverside is the great food that can be found there.  The Mission Inn servers Mexican and American food and there is the Old Spaghetti Factory that sits inside of the old train station.  Across the street is a Spanish restaurant Sevillas which sits in a restored, run downed building.  This restaurant brings back life, love, dancing, and amazing food for every one to enjoy.  The is also casual dining that can be found in odd areas of the city but they are very homey at the same town.  

My home in Riverside is the roof that I have slept under for many years with my family.  It is also the place that I have grown up in and participated in many different activities with friends and family.  Riverside is the place which has helped shape the person I am today because of the people who live in this town.  It may not be famous on the map, but it is famous to me because this is wear I come from and the city now holds a little part of me.