First Christian Church of Rialto
Why it's listed
Built in 1907 at 201 N. Riverside Avenue, this one-story wood-frame church in Rialto blends Late Gothic Revival design with Craftsman details. A three-story corner bell tower, pointed-arch windows and stained glass reflect the Gothic style, while shingle walls, bracketed eaves and stickwork reflect the Craftsman style. Inside, the sanctuary follows a version of the Akron Plan, with curved pews on a sloping floor facing a corner pulpit. Architect H.M. Patterson of Los Angeles designed it for a congregation organized in 1905. Rialto remained a small town until after World War II, and many of its early civic buildings were later demolished, leaving this church as the city's most outstanding architect-designed building from that era. The congregation owned it until 1964, when local residents bought it to prevent demolition. The city restored it in 1979-80, and it now serves as the Rialto Historical Society museum and a venue for meetings and weddings. The building retains a high degree of integrity.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is an excellent example of a sophisticated architect-designed building and of the Late Gothic Revival style in Rialto. It remains the most outstanding architect-designed building from the city's early years, as many other early civic and public buildings have been demolished. It also retains a high degree of integrity.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 03000037, listed February 20, 2003. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 201 N. Riverside Ave., Rialto |
|---|---|
| County | San Bernardino County |
| Listed | February 20, 2003 |
| Reference number | 03000037 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1907 |
| Architect / builder | Patterson, H.M. |
| Architectural style | Late 19th Century Revival: Late Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the City of Rialto and leased to the Rialto Historical Society since 1974; it functions as a museum and is also used for meetings and weddings. Restored in 1979-80. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 34.10267, -117.36992 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 03000037.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5452650
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.