Skip to Main Content

McKinley Bust.

McKinley Bust: Orange Capital Tribute

Field review by the editors.

Redlands, California

In 1901 Redlands called itself "The Land of Flowers" and "The Naval Orange Capital of the World." It was William McKinley's protective tariffs that kept the foreign oranges out of America and made Redlands wealthy. So when the President passed through Redlands on May 8 he was treated like a hero, with the streets covered in rose petals.

Four months later he was dead, shot by a crazed anarchist with a foreign-sounding name.

Exactly two years after McKinley's arrival, his ex-VP and presidential successor, Teddy Roosevelt, came to town. No rose petals this time as Teddy unveiled a memorial bust of McKinley atop a granite pedestal, engraved "Patriot, Statesman, Martyr." The head was sheltered beneath a fancy stone canopy supported by columns. The canopy and columns have since disappeared -- as has Redlands' orange supremacy -- but McKinley's head remains.

Roadside Presidents
Roadside Presidents App for iPhone. Find this attraction and more: museums, birthplaces, graves of the Chief Execs, first ladies, pets, assassins and wannabes. Prez bios and oddball trivia. Available on the App Store.

McKinley Bust: Orange Capital Tribute

Address:
S. Eureka St., Redlands, CA
Directions:
The head and its pedestal are on the east side of S. Eureka St., on the lawn of the Lincoln Shrine, just behind the public library.
Admission:
Free
Save to My Sights

Nearby Offbeat Places

Lincoln Memorial ShrineLincoln Memorial Shrine, Redlands, CA - < 1 mi.
Muffler Man - Paul BunyanMuffler Man - Paul Bunyan, Mentone, CA - 5 mi.
Cruisin' Hall of FameCruisin' Hall of Fame, San Bernardino, CA - 7 mi.
In the region:
Pink Lamb Rock, Moreno Valley, CA - 17 mi.

More Quirky Attractions in California

Stories, reports and tips on tourist attractions and odd sights in California.

Explore Thousands of Unique Roadside Landmarks!

Strange and amusing destinations in the US and Canada are our specialty. Start here.
Use RoadsideAmerica.com's Attraction Maps to plan your next road trip.

My Sights

My Sights on Roadside America

Create Your Own Bizarre Road Trips! ...Try My Sights

Mobile Apps

Roadside America app: iPhone, iPad Roadside America app for iPhone, iPad. On-route maps, 1,000s of photos, special research targets! ...More

Roadside Presidents app: iPhone, iPad Roadside Presidents app for iPhone, iPad. POTUS landmarks, oddities. ...More

California Latest Tips and Stories

Latest Visitor Tips

Sight of the Week

Sight of the Week

JFK's World Famous Twine Ball, Highland, Wisconsin (Mar 18-24, 2024)

SotW Archive

USA and Canada Tips and Stories

More Sightings