The Mission Inn poem by John S. McGroarty, Riverside, California, circa 1910

Subject: Hotels & Inns
Card type: Lithograph
Date: c. 1907 (Golden Age)

Back of The Mission Inn poem by John S. McGroarty, Riverside, California, circa 1910, c. 1907 lithograph postcard — Back

About this postcard

The front is a printed poem titled "The Mission Inn," with John S. McGroarty's verses set between line drawings of mission-style arches, towers, and a palm tree; the lower right identifies "California's Mission Inn, Riverside." The Mission Inn is a historic Riverside, California, hotel developed by Frank Miller and noted for its Mission Revival architecture. The card uses McGroarty's poem to present the inn as a romantic stop along California's old mission road.

Postcard Details

Message

No message detected

THE MISSION INN One wandering day, with blue skies o'er me, Through vales aflown 'mong white peaks flung, I trod the way they fared before me In sandal shoon, when Time was young. I trod the way the brown priests led me— They that were dust before I came, Yet spake with me on winds that sped me By fields of bloom and hills of flame. They that are dust I followed af- ter, Till came the dream-day to its close, And on the way, from roof to rafter, The Mission hospice towers rose. On dome and red roof softly cling- ing, I saw the lingering sunset play, And heard the bells of vesper ring- ing Within the campanile gray. Pater and Ave—night winds blow- ing— I passed to peace and waiting shrine, Where, in his niche, with soft lights glowing, There smiled some well-loved saint of mine. Roads of the world and every by- way, They sent us there at candle light To hear, upon the old King's Highway, A new Saint Francis speak "Good- night." John S. McGroarty. CALIFORNIA'S MISSION INN RIVERSIDE --- POST CARD FATHER SERRA'S SHRINE GLENWOOD MISSION INN RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA

PostmarkedCA

Addressed to

Nellie Olson

R 4 Box 88, Osseo, WI

Postcard record

Postmarked	CA
Condition	Very good
Place addressed	Nellie Olson, R 4 Box 88, Osseo, WI
Place depicted	Mission Inn, Riverside, CA
Place mentioned	Mission Inn, Riverside, CA
Stamp	1c George Washington, green, perforated on all sides
Notes	Sepia line art printed on orange-toned stock; full-bleed with no white border. Postmark: [illegible] 8 27 AM CAL. Divided-back layout (printed shrine design left, address right); one-cent green Franklin adhesive stamp; textured tan stock; no handwritten message; light edge wear.

Cite this card

The Mission Inn poem by John S. McGroarty, Riverside, California, circa 1910, postcard, c. 1907. PostalPast Collection. https://postalpast.com/postcard/the-mission-inn-poem-by-john-s-mcgroarty-riverside-californi. Accessed October 25, 2026.