Updated: October 5, 2006

rank Miller and his guests were thrilled to learn of Orville Wright’s 12-second flight on December 17, 1903, the same year Miller opened his mission-styled hotel. Riverside was headed for an adventure in the skies that continues over 100 years later.

Despite the successes of the Wright Brothers and many other Americans, France, Britain, Germany, and Italy were at the forefront of aviation. The Army and the Navy were seeking to expand their fledgling aviation programs in the United States. Planes, airfields and trained flyers were needed. Could the Army be persuaded to establish an airfield in Riverside? Many believed it was possible, including Frank Miller, who had successfully helped establish Riverside County, the Citrus Experimental Station (now UC Riverside), the Sherman Indian School and of course, the Mission Inn. Miller and other community leaders convinced the U.S. government to locate an airfield east of Riverside. With the backing of the Riverside Chamber of Commerce, Frank Miller signed the deed transferring 640 acres of Alessandro Ranch to the Army Signal Corps. The first military plane landed at the new airfield on March 1, 1918, and by July, cadets were in training. Thus began an extraordinary part of Riverside County’s military history.

In a letter to friend General Hap Arnold, Dewitt Hutchings (Frank Miller’s son-in-law) once described himself as “Air Minded.” Although the term was not exclusive to the Miller-Hutchings family, they were the embodiment of it. They embraced flight with unmatched enthusiasm. The result was an extensive and eclectic military and civilian aviation collection, comprised of travel brochures, souvenirs, insignias, photographs, and a variety of other materials (even a bottle of Graf Zeppelin oil). The Miller-Hutchings had a circle of friends who shared their “Air Mindedness", including many associated with March Field, such as Generals Hap Arnold and Jimmy Doolittle. The family also had collected memories of flights to South America, Europe, Asia, and points beyond.

The family's aviation-related objects were displayed in several locations throughout the hotel. Many were exhibited in a small structure called the “Pilot’s Roost” located above the St. Cecilia Chapel (opposite the entrance to the St. Francis Chapel). A small conference and dining room reserved for the military housed even more flight-themed objects.

In 1932, the International Shrine of Aviators was opened, encompassing the St. Francis Chapel and the adjoining St. Francis Atrio; the Atrio hosts the Famous Fliers’ Wall, which was used by the Miller-Hutchings family to recognize notable aviators. Today, 151 fliers or groups of fliers—most of whom were in attendance for their induction ceremonies--are honored there. Each aviator’s signature is etched onto a 10-inch wide pair of copper wings attached to the wall.

The "Air Mindedness" of the Miller-Hutchings family brought a soaring new element to the Mission Inn, and helped Riverside fly boldly into the future.

Enter Aviation