Future Birthplace of James T. Kirk

Having trouble finding the marker? Take the path on the right of the New Image Salon and head around back for Captain James T. Kirk's future birthplace.

For the true Star Trek aficionados—head up the street to Murphy’s Bar & Grille and look for a plaque in the back room marking the point where Captain Kirk will be conceived. The plaque was once affixed to the bottom of the pool table, but now hangs on the wall.

As of May 2021 it’s been moved to a spot next to city hall on Greene St.

If you are a sci-fi geek- or even if not and just want to hit things on a road trip- make the slight detour off the highway. Won’t take long and now you can say you’ve seen it!

It anyone is having a hard time finding the monument, like it did. There is a small path to it between 41 and 51 West First street.

Trek fest still goes on the last week in June. I had a hard time finding the monument so I am posting a pic of the yellow hair salon that it is behind. The salon is between the larger buildings on Main st.

The last weekend of June each year there is "Trek Fest" which involves a parade, costume contest, and other city wide events. Other highlights for visiting: There is a rock pictured above which is tucked away behind a beauty salon in the town as well as a Museum with the USS Riverside.

Could not find the marker! We looked around for an hour and asked several people but nobody could tell us where it was!

Worth it for the photo op if you are a Trek fan. Not much else really in the area, and all this is is a marker. There is a museum nearby if interested, but the highlight for me was getting a picture with the monument.

You have to park and go behind the yellow cottage building, it’s a hair salon right now. I love that there’s a bench in front of the marker where you can sit and reflect on... idk Kirk’s legacy I guess? Or the life and times of William Shatner? Either way, I cannot recommend this stop enough. Hit up the museum a bit down the toad while you’re at it.

Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek, asserts in his book The Making of Star Trek that the character of James Tiberius Kirk had been born in the state of Iowa. In March 1985, when the city of Riverside was looking for a theme for its annual town festival, the Riverside City Council decided their town was going to be the birthplace. So they put up a monument, started a festival and just claimed it. It's non-canon, but several references have since been made to it.

The marker is a nice marble affair that's situated in a little park behind a hair salon. You have to hike down an alley to find it. It's almost hidden. There's also a little museum that's heavy on the cheesy/homemade vibe, but with a lot of memorabilia. Heavy on the toys and books.

They also have their town history museum in the same place and are quick to herd you in there after seeing the Trek stuff. The town was also the unwitting stars of a Spike reality TV show in 2004 where Shatner came to town under the guise of filming a scifi movie. They took the joke in good spirits and made THAT memoribilia a part of their collection as well. I don't know if this town is just the most relaxed group of people in the world or if they'll pimp anything to bring a little commerce to town. Everyone in the town seems to send you on to the next business. The museum suggested the other museum, then the restaurant, who suggested the marker, etc.