Riverside is a charming village with a rich historical tradition. It is widely acknowledged as one of the first planned suburban communities and has also been designated a National Historical Landmark. To this day the community makes every effort to keep a sense of their grand history present, even keeping over 350 of the traditional gas lanterns along their streets for a more traditional feel. Riverside was designed by Fredrick Law Olmsted, who also designed such beautiful landscapes as the gardens at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina and Central Park in New York City. Riverside was no exception to Olmsted's commitment to excellence and has remained one of Chicago's most beautiful suburbs because of it.

The homes of Riverside are all beautiful but have a great range of diversity in style and price. There are a number of large Victorian homes and homes designed by well-known architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright that draw attention for their architectural significance. There are also a number of homes built in the 1920's and 1950's style and several that are small but well preserved bungalows. The downtown area of Riverside is a captivating mix of old and new, containing some modern restaurants as well as a few antique shops that echo back to the city's heritage.