Originated
as a Latin American mutation of a variety from the Iberian Peninsula,
the Washington Navel orange was first brought to the area in 1873 and
soon became a major catalyst to the eventual development of California's
Citrus Industry. But, the story goes back much further…
According to Ingersoll's
Century Annals of San Bernardino County, covering the period from 1769
to 1904, Anson Van Leuven brought the first orange trees, six in number,
to San Bernardino Valley from San Gabriel Valley in 1857. In 1869, Lewis
F. Cram was given the opportunity to buy 500 trees, but opted to purchase
only enough rootstock to plant 1 ¾ acres. By 1887, he showed a net profit
of $1,757 on this meager planting, over $1,100 net per acre; a good
fortune in those days. In 1873, the U.S. Department of Agriculture sent
California's two original orange trees to Eliza Tibbets. The tree's
eedless oranges won awards at major expositions for their superior quality
and taste, and Ms. Tibbets soon had a booming business selling buds
from her celebrated stock. By 1910, one year before the National Orange
Show began, at least 100,000 acres in the state were planted with the
progeny of her trees, and California navel orange sales had reached
$200 million.
Along with the growing
industry, a series of citrus fairs were held in the 1880s and 1890s,
with the world's first Citrus Fair staged in Riverside in February of
1879. It was at this fair that the Washington Navel was first exhibited
and its superior qualities recognized. This fair was such a success
that a second fair followed in February 1880, and a third in March of
1881. The citizens of Riverside were so delighted with the success of
the fairs that they determined to make them an annual event and, in
turn, erected a pavilion for the 1882 fair. This annual event was held
in Riverside, except for one or two that were held in Colton, until
1891. At the same time, similar fairs were being held in Los Angeles
and San Bernardino County.
In
1889, the very first "Orange Show" was staged in San Bernardino.
This premier show was scheduled to run a week, but the promoters were
doubtful as to whether or not the show would last. Each day, a brief
message appeared in the Courier (the forerunner of San Bernardino's
newspaper, The Sun) urging committee members to obtain exhibitors. When
the show opened, fifteen county communities were represented in the
citrus exhibits. Other county products that were also on display included
raisins, walnuts, lemons, limes, grapes, apples, and Cucamonga wines
and brandies. The show opened with the City of San Bernardino band playing
from a Van Dorin Building balcony on Third Street. The event cost $744.25
to produce, with $1,180.25 in revenue. Since financial success was apparent,
and the show was so well received by the community, the event was extended
to an eleven-day run.
The
"Orange Show" went "National" in 1911 with tents
pitched at Fourth and "D" Streets in San Bernardino. By that
time, the impact of the citrus industry on San Bernardino economics
had escalated. For example, the 7,511 orange trees in 1872 had grown
to 1,347,911 by 1900; the 15,000 boxes of oranges shipped in 1881 stood
at 1,562,108 boxes by 1902-03; and the cash value of the orange crop
had grown from $2,450 in 1860 to $1,634,783 in 1900. This introduction
provided the setting and circumstances for the genesis of the National
Orange Show, which has taken place every year since its inception in
1911, with the exception of four years during World War II.
Over the years, the
National Orange Show has evolved into one of the Inland Empire's premier
events centers, hosting hundreds of interim events, including concerts,
trade shows, and festivals, as well as a handful of annual events and
year-round attractions. But, the festival has remained at the heart
of the National Orange Show.
In
1998, after reducing the run of the fair to five days, the content of
the fair was restructured to the needs of the surrounding areas. Since
there are children in this area who have never seen a pig or a cow,
and who have no concept of where their food comes from, or what their
clothes are made of, the National Orange Show has developed livestock
and agricultural programs to cater to education rather than competition.
In addition, the festival has stepped away from the industry-wide Schools
Involvement Program to create a program that fits the needs of local
educators. Furthermore, the National Orange Show's carnival company
offers affordable prices so families can enjoy an economical day at
the festival. Above all else, the National Orange Show strives to present
an event that is memorable, different, and innovative.
It is safe to say
that the National Orange Show's long and storied history is an integral
part of San Bernardino's history. As the decades pass, and needs and
trends change, so must the National Orange Show in order to continue
the tradition of giving back to the community.
Originated
as a Latin American mutation of a variety from the Iberian Peninsula,
the Washington Navel orange was first brought to the area in 1873 and
soon became a major catalyst to the eventual development of California's
Citrus Industry. But, the story goes back much further…
In
1889, the very first "Orange Show" was staged in San Bernardino.
This premier show was scheduled to run a week, but the promoters were
doubtful as to whether or not the show would last. Each day, a brief
message appeared in the Courier (the forerunner of San Bernardino's
newspaper, The Sun) urging committee members to obtain exhibitors. When
the show opened, fifteen county communities were represented in the
citrus exhibits. Other county products that were also on display included
raisins, walnuts, lemons, limes, grapes, apples, and Cucamonga wines
and brandies. The show opened with the City of San Bernardino band playing
from a Van Dorin Building balcony on Third Street. The event cost $744.25
to produce, with $1,180.25 in revenue. Since financial success was apparent,
and the show was so well received by the community, the event was extended
to an eleven-day run. 
The
"Orange Show" went "National" in 1911 with tents
pitched at Fourth and "D" Streets in San Bernardino. By that
time, the impact of the citrus industry on San Bernardino economics
had escalated. For example, the 7,511 orange trees in 1872 had grown
to 1,347,911 by 1900; the 15,000 boxes of oranges shipped in 1881 stood
at 1,562,108 boxes by 1902-03; and the cash value of the orange crop
had grown from $2,450 in 1860 to $1,634,783 in 1900. This introduction
provided the setting and circumstances for the genesis of the National
Orange Show, which has taken place every year since its inception in
1911, with the exception of four years during World War II.
In
1998, after reducing the run of the fair to five days, the content of
the fair was restructured to the needs of the surrounding areas. Since
there are children in this area who have never seen a pig or a cow,
and who have no concept of where their food comes from, or what their
clothes are made of, the National Orange Show has developed livestock
and agricultural programs to cater to education rather than competition.
In addition, the festival has stepped away from the industry-wide Schools
Involvement Program to create a program that fits the needs of local
educators. Furthermore, the National Orange Show's carnival company
offers affordable prices so families can enjoy an economical day at
the festival. Above all else, the National Orange Show strives to present
an event that is memorable, different, and innovative.